1914 Gibson L-3 Carved-Top Archtop Guitar

Overview: The old, smaller-bodied, Gibson L-series archtops from this time are such arts-and-craftsy cool objects that every time they come into the shop for sale, they're picked-up and handled all the time because they've got a strange magnetism about them. They're not the best-sounding carved-tops out there but they have a sound that makes people want to keep playing them. They often have big old necks like this guy. They're often on the rougher side when it comes to conditon. All that said, they have the special interest that makes you want to play them

Tone: It's woody, midsy, and mellower and rounder in the lower mids than most of these are. It will do the "snappy archtop" thing in a pinch but I almost feel like this is better suited as a bluesy fingerpicker or choppy chordal backup guitar for old-time than it is something suitable to trad-jazz chord-stomping.

Feel: The neck is a big old V shape but the board has a 12" radius which feels positively modern compared to other companies' products from the time. That said, the neck is huge, just like most of these. Beware if you don't like 'em that way.

Interesting features: The pumpkin-colored natural top finish is a nice look, especially against that fancy rosette shape. It's rather alarming, also, that this instrument still has it soriginal celluloid-capped tailpiece and the original pickguard and fastening assembly. It still had the (very warped) remains of the original bridge when it came in but it was no longer useful.

Repairs included: Jose gave it a level/dress of the frets, touched-up some old hairline crack repairs on the top, fit a new adjustable rosewood bridge, and set it all up. It's playing bang-on and is ready to go.

• Weight: 3 lbs 15 oz
• Scale length: 24 1/4"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: big V
• Board radius: 12"
• Body width: 13 1/2"
• Body depth: 3 1/4"
• Top wood: carved solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: carved birch
• Bracing type: tonebar
• Bridge: replacement adjustable rosewood
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: none
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: The most egregious offenses with this guitar are the two, longer, old repairs to the top hairline cracks. They were done with spliced wood and fill and, as they run alongside the tonebars, can't really be cleated to a useful extent. They've been stable in service, however, and are ready to roll. Someone stuck some little padded, self-adjesive "grabber" to the back of the guitar to help the pickguard bracket assembly stay in place. The tuners are non-original and date to the late '60s or early '70s.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: SWK