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1949 Gibson L-7C

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Serial #: A-13665, white oval label

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Finish: Sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Hand-carved solid spruce top; solid figured maple back; three-piece maple neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with split-parallelogram mother of pearl inlays; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Original Gibson 102-SCN ("McCarty") single coil finger rest pickup with 1/4" jack. Vintage correct antique nickel hardware includes Gibson trapeze tailpiece, Kluson style tuners with single ring tulip keys, compensated adjustable ebony bridge.

Notes: The L-7C was produced between 1948 and 1972, and constructed with the same body size, bracing and scale length to its costly cousin, the L-5C. This remarkable guitar is one of just 97 of its type from the second year of production, and has been carefully maintained since new.

At just 5lb, 7oz, this guitar is an exceptionally lightweight example, with a particularly vibrant acoustic voice, and excellent clarity and projection. The deep Cremona sunburst finish is remarkably free of pick, buckle or thumbwear, with a dusting of light older overspray showing some light scattered checking to vouch for its considerable age. The neck has a comfy C profile, moderate in depth and quite contemporary in feel, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup.

Happily, the instrument is fitted with a Gibson "McCarty" single coil finger rest pickup with a 1/4" jack under the guard, and original volume and tone controls, pots and cap, with old jack hole professionally plugged and retouched in the lower side. The floating pickup is notably faithful to the acoustic tone, with clear, detailed highs rolling off to warm, rich midrange and bass. Vintage correct antique nickel hardware includes Gibson trapeze tailpiece, Kluson style tuners with single ring tulip keys, compensated adjustable ebony bridge.

A true 40's vintage jazzer with a magnificent voice, at a fraction of the cost of a comparable L-5, this handsome classic is a compelling reminder of just how fine a nice old Gibson can be. One only: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished. Action set to 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light relief.

Case: Original Gibson arched plush lined deluxe hardshell case.