1948 National 1145 (Gibson L-48/L-50) Carved-Top Archtop Guitar

National and Gibson were both owned by the same parent company in the '40s and '50s and so an interesting relationship occurred for a while where (at first) a number of National models were simply rebadged and slightly restyled Gibsons without adjustable truss rods. By late '49, however, this had changed to Gibson supplying bodies for higher-end National models and National installing their bolt-on "Stylist" necks to fit to them.

This 1948 model 1145 is wholly a Gibson build but it was probably sprayed and adjusted by National to suit their own market. It's basically a Gibson L-50 in that it has a solid, carved spruce top and a solid, carved maple back. It's more like an L-48 in the styling department, however, as it lacks binding and fancy inlay on and in the fretboard. It has the Gibson-made set neck, too, but a 12" radius to the board and no adjustable truss rod compared to the 10" radius of a normal Gibson-style neck.

Suffice to say, it sounds and handles like an L-48/L-50 -- it's loud, punchy, aggressive, and perfect for use as a big band/jazzy chord-chucking monster. My guy Ancel did a board plane and refret on it, too, so it handles more like a modern instrument (easy-peasy) than an old Gibson with their teeny-tiny, low frets.

This guitar is a winner if you're looking for an old-fashioned jazzbox -- it's got style, it's got individual looks, it's got good parentage, and it has the sound.

Repairs included: a neck reset, board plane and refret, cleaning, minor seam repairs, and setup.

Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz

Scale length: 24 7/8"

Nut width: 1 3/4"

Neck shape: medium C/D

Board radius: 12"

Body width: 16 1/8"

Body depth: 3 1/2" + arching

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid figured maple

Bracing type: tonebar

Bridge: rosewood adjustable

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 54w, 40w, 30w, 22w, 16, 12

Truss rod: non-adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Condition notes: it's all-original save replacement tuner buttons and a replacement bridge. The pickguard and its bracket are also missing. There's an old seam repair to the lower-bout-rear that's not aligned properly with the back but it is stable and serviceable. I've taken a photo of it. There's plenty of small scuffs, scratches, nicks, and dings in the finish but overall it looks worn but friendly. You may have noticed that the tuner plate covers are upside-down -- but that was done at the factory as the wear marks indicate they were only ever fit that way. Oops!

It comes with: a good hard case.