Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends
archtop.com
1965 Gibson L-4C
Price and Status: For pricing and hold status of this instrument, please check here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold. To be notified of examples of this or any other model in the future, please email your specific requests to [email protected].
Serial #: 300443, orange label
Body size at lower bout: 16" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16' Neck depth: .82/.98, 1st/10th frets
Materials: Carved bookmatched solid spruce top; slab-cut arched maple back; solid mahogany neck with adjustable truss rod; solid rosewood fingerboard; parallelogram fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; 3-ply body binding, bound fingerboard.
Hardware: All original nickel hardware includes Kluson Deluxe tuners; raised parallelogram trapeze tailpiece; adjustable compensated rosewood bridge; 5-ply beveled black pickguard. Vintage DeArmond 1100 Adjustable Rhythm Chief floating pickup, with control box, volume and tone controls, tone switch and cable.
Notes: One of the best-kept secrets in the vintage Gibson line, the L-4C is exceptionally comfortable to hold, and positively zippy on the fingerboard. Introduced in 1949, the same year as the ES-175, the L-4C shares the same body shape and scale length as its electric cousin. But while its counterpart has an all-laminate body, the L-4C boasts a solid carved spruce top, with a fine, warm voice, whether amplified or unplugged. And the lovely suspended rosewood fingerboard is well clear of the top, allowing the soundboard to resonate fully.
This gleaming guitar has been preserved in showroom condition, and is one of just 61 examples shipped in its model year. The soundboard shows distinctive bearclaw figure in the solid carved spruce, and has been nicely aged, giving it a clear, open voice. Exceptionally light in weight, the instrument tips the scales at a scant 5b 6oz, and is deftly balanced on the lap.
A special plus, this gleaming guitar was equipped with a genuine DeArmond 1100 Adjustable Rhythm Chief floating pickup. Their clear, detailed tone has made them the most sought after, and costly, pickup in the archtop world, with fine examples like this one fetching some $1000 and up on the vintage market at this writing.
Exquisitely maintained, the instrument shows all original nickel hardware and a gleaming all original Cremona sunburst finish, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and only a few faint wisps of age checking. The neck has a solid gentle C profile, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup, with fine original fretwork.
A wonderfully versatile instrument, this handsome guitar delivers true vintage tone, and true '60's Gibson quality, all nestled snugly in its deluxe brown Gibson 'California Girl' reissue plush lined hardshell case. They simply don't come nicer. One only: call now.
Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
