1934? Gibson L-4

[DBLovett]

A few weeks ago I bought a 1934 L-4 Archtop round hole acoustic at Cowtown Guitars in Las Vegas. It has the V shape neck, which I thought might be difficult to get used to, but I was wrong, it feels good. They told me it was a 1934 L-4. The label on the inside was lost long, long ago. The salesman said the seller, it was consigned, told them the serial number stamped inside the guitar at the neck was 1994. I figured that wasn't correct, but bought the guitar anyway. The number 1994 is stamped inside at the neck in numerals about 3/8" high. Any thoughts on the meaning of the 1994 stamp?

[Jayyj]

The four digit code is more likely a factory order number (fon) - a code given to a batch of guitars, usually of the same model, when they entered production. There is an excellent book by Joe Spann that lists hundreds of factory order numbers and what the batch was made up of, but I can't find my copy to check your particular code.

[zombywoof]

1934 was the last year for the round soundhole L-4s so that seems right. Your are correct, however, in that the FON indicates a guitar made late in the decade. But everything sounds right including the doodad on the headstock. As I would think Cowtown knows what they are doing I would not worry about it and would say you can rest easy knowing you own a 1934 L-4.

[BMJ]

I have one of these. I bought in York P.A. The shop owner picked it up from Nashville. It now resides with me, back in Oldham in the North of England.

 

It has a round sound hole rather than F holes which dates it to 33-34 I believe. It's in it's original case which is full of Mojo. Lost it's scratch plate along the way, but I like the way it looks without it.

 

Mine has number 8904(?) on the paper label inside. I think?. It's hard to read as it is now very faded.

 

It also has 474 stamped into the neck when you look through the sound hole.

 

It's a real honour to own it. I would love to know who owned it in the past and where it has been. It's been well played as the neck is worn out by thumb on the neck at the low open chord position.

 

I dream that it belonged to one of my old Delta Blues hero's.

[suburude63]

How does it sound !! S.

[BMJ]

How does it sound !! S.

 

It has a "Bell like" chime to it. Sweet, higher frequencies on the G, B, E strings.

 

It resonates forever. Put your ear to the wood and pluck a string, it goes on and on.