GIbson L-12 (c. 1936)

Description

Gibson's pre-war L-12s remain among the most sought-after of the company's archtop guitars, and it's not every day that we get to represent one in such fantastic condition as this one, which dates from 1936 or 1937. With a bright, direct, and powerful sound courtesy of some remarkably open cuts of spruce and maple as well as X-bracing under the hood, this instrument is a jazz guitarist's dream and will make for an incredible addition to any player's collection. Gibsons of this era are notorious for significant variation from year to year (or even month to month), and as such, this one sports a rare headstock inlay based on the company's parallelogram pattern and a Brazilian rosewood bridge. The rest is all classic L-12, with parallelogram inlays, a stunning sunburst finish, and the original cast tailpiece.

This instrument arrived in our store in excellent condition and features far less in the way of playing wear than most instruments of its age. Due to the fragility of vintage plastics, the tuners have been replaced with more durable and modern gold Grover open-gear machines, but the originals are still included with this instrument upon sale. There are no cracks or any structural damage that impacts this guitar's playability, and the action is low and comfortable throughout and will fit a wide range of playing styles. Included in the price is the original Geib hard-shell case, itself a highly collectible item that the vintage Gibson aficionado will not want to pass up.

*Please note, per our return policy, all sales on used and consignment instruments are final.*