1952 Gibson L-50 Carved-Top Archtop Guitar

Overview: The last time I saw this guitar was back in 2022 when its owner took it home. He's moved-on to different-style guitars, though, and so this one is back here for sale.

This is a chunky-sounding, forward-projecting, player's L-50 -- it feels quick and easy in the hand and "home base" for many Gibson players in feel. It's definitely got good kick in the mids and will chord-chomp easy-peasy for backup work all night long. It's hard to overstate how perfect the Gibson carved-top sound is for backup and chordal work!

It's got a carved, solid spruce top over solid maple sides and a ply maple back. This is pretty common for the time. The top has "sagged" a bit over time, too, necessitating the bridge to be jacked-up on its adjusters a bit more than usual. The tops on these have kerfed (lines cut into them) bracing which means, as they age, the tops tned to "settle" down. It's not a reversible thing and doesn't hurt the sound or structure one bit.

Repairs included: It got seam repairs, a level/dress of the frets, cleaning, and setup work back in the day. This time around it just needed minor tweaks to the bridge and truss rod to get it playing spot-on again.

• Weight: 4 lbs 8 oz
• Scale length: 24 3/4"
• Nut width: 1 11/16"
• Neck shape: medium C
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 0.9"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.92"
• Body width: 16"
• Body depth: 3 1/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce (carved)
• Back & sides wood: solid maple sides, ply maple back
• Bracing type: kerfed tonebar
• Bridge: adjustable rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-narrow/low

Condition notes: It's entirely original (save for the tuners) and, despite some heavy pickwear on the upper bout, is in good order. It's a handsome-looking rogue of a guitar. Note that, per the usual for these guitars, the top has settled down a bit as it's aged. There's also a smaller hairline crack (upper bout) that's repaired. 

It comes with: It's got a good hard case.

Consignor tag: MMKN