Body: there is a hole on the lower bout of the treble side; the top, back, and sides all show some easily noticeable scuff marks, scratches, dings, and dents, plus there is some really cool looking humidity cracks throughout the lacquer--moderate to heavy buckle rash; the pickguard has some scuff marks and scratches from years of playing; the binding is all in place, but does have an aged tint to it as well as a few noticeable scuff marks and small dings in a few areas; the bottom strap hook is missing
Neck, Fretboard, and Headstock: both sides of the fretboard have some noticeable wear/chips in the lacquer, plus some small to medium-sized indentations can be found under the high e-string between the 15th and 20th frets; there is a large section of wood filler sanded down on the back of the neck; the back of the neck has plenty has plenty of humidity cracks in the lacquer as well as some chips in the lacquer, plus the lacquer on the treble side of the neck has lost almost all of its sheen; scuff marks, scratches, and small dings can be seen on the back of the neck and on the neck heel; the headstock has some obvious scuff marks, scratches, and scrapes that can be seen on the front, back, and sides
Action and Playability: the action is about medium, but the neck has a very slight forward bow, however there is no neck heel separation
Frets: light wear
Hardware: the bottom strap hook is missing, and the tailpiece and the tuners have been replaced and are in fantastic condition; the screws and the bracket for the pickguard are heavily rusted
Includes: acoustic guitar (original tailpiece, tuners, and case/gig bag not included)
These L-48s from the '40s and '50s were some of the best budget Gibson guitars you could get...they tend to have a lot of punch and volume and do well with both flatpicked "chop" chords and also strummed, folksy stuff. You can always hear these when they're played in jams (because they cut through in a midsy range) when someone is using them compared to your average flattop which tends to get lost. This Gibson archtop acoustic has a 16-inch-wide body, a mahogany top, a maple back, mahogany sides, and a mahogany neck. It also features a rosewood fretboard with pearl dot inlays, two f-holes, and a raised tortoise pickguard. Other specs include a trapezoid tailpiece, an adjustable rosewood bridge, and a three-on-a-plate tuner layout. This vintage beauty has some obvious wear and tear and some of the hardware has been replaced, but for a guitar that is 68 years old it's in amazing shape and can still deliver the goods!
Features
- Archtop acoustic guitar
- Mahogany top with f-holes
- Arched maple back and mahogany sides
- Gloss sunburst finish
- Aged white binding around the top and back
- Raised tortoise pickguard
- Mahogany neck
- C-shaped neck profile
- Rosewood fretboard
- 20 frets, 14 frets to the body
- Pearl dot inlays
- Chrome aftermarket tuners
- Adjustable rosewood bridge
- Aftermarket chrome trapeze tailpiece
- Lower bout diameter: 16"
- Body depth: 3-3/8"
- Scale: 24.5"
- Nut width: 1.6875"
- Made in U.S.A.
