Stunted Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 Hi guys, I've recently come into the possession of a Gibson guitar, I've recently taken it into a shop and they were able to confirm it was genuine and built in Kalamazoo in 1961. The guy didn't seem 100% sure what the model of the guitar was or how much it was worth. It's in pretty good condition, a few signs of wear as you'd expect from something this old but nothing major. Does anybody have any clue as to what model this might be and how much it would be worth these days?
fp Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 Me thinks it's a lot older then 1961 ! I've never seen that old style logo on a 61. I'm guessing it's an L50 or L48 ? Pre 1947 ?
Stunted Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 Me thinks it's a lot older then 1961 ! I've never seen that old style logo on a 61. I'm guessing it's an L50 or L48 ? Pre 1947 ? The original owner said it was 1941, but the guy in the guitar shop said 1961. Possible the guitar shop guy is wrong?
j45nick Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 How did they identify it as a 1961? That is a pre-WWII logo on the headstock. Does it have any kind of label or serial number visible inside the f-holes? My guess is that it's an L-30 from the late 1930's. It looks to be in excellent shape, but it is not a particularly valuable guitar, as it was an inexpensive guitar even when it was built. Measuring the width of the body over the lower bout (the wide "hips" of the guitar) would help. It is most likely either 14.75" or 16".
Stunted Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 How did they identify it as a 1961? That is a pre-WWII logo on the headstock. Does it have any kind of label or serial number visible inside the f-holes? My guess is that it's an L-30 from the late 1930's. It looks to be in excellent shape, but it is not a particularly valuable guitar, as it was an inexpensive guitar even when it was built. Measuring the width of the body over the lower bout (the wide "hips" of the guitar) would help. It is most likely either 14.75" or 16". He looked it up in his database but I'm not sure which database exactly he was looking at. I'll post more details when I get it back, he's still doing some research on it currently.
j45nick Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 The original owner said it was 1941, but the guy in the guitar shop said 1961. Possible the guitar shop guy is wrong? Yes, I would say he is. The original owner's description of 1941 could well be correct. 1961? I don't think so.
Jayyj Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 As already said, not a chance this is a 60s guitar. The body proportions looks like it's the L00 sized 14.75" small body, however I thought the sunburst F hole version of the L30 (also L37 and 47) had a silk screen logo and brown back and sides? I'm wondering given the pearl logo and sunburst back and sides if this might be an L50, in which case it only existed as a small bodied, f hole guitar for a brief period between 1934-35. The trouble is there are so many misidentified Ls out there it's hard to know what Gibson intended them to be. The sunburst looks very unusual as well for a 30s guitar but always hard to judge in a photo. Either way, none of these 14.75" archtops were in production by the end of WWII.
Stunted Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 As already said, not a chance this is a 60s guitar. The body proportions looks like it's the L00 sized 14.75" small body, however I thought the sunburst F hole version of the L30 (also L37 and 47) had a silk screen logo and brown back and sides? I'm wondering given the pearl logo and sunburst back and sides if this might be an L50, in which case it only existed as a small bodied, f hole guitar for a brief period between 1934-35. The trouble is there are so many misidentified Ls out there it's hard to know what Gibson intended them to be. The sunburst looks very unusual as well for a 30s guitar but always hard to judge in a photo. Either way, none of these 14.75" archtops were in production by the end of WWII. Provided this post is correct I would say 1941 is probably accurate. http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibson-les-pauls/72246-gibson-headstock-logos.html Any idea how you would tell the difference between an L-30 and L-50? I'm going to get the guitar back tomorrow so I'll be able to provide more details. I'll also get my proper camera out and do some shots of it.
j45nick Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 Any idea how you would tell the difference between an L-30 and L-50? I'm going to get the guitar back tomorrow so I'll be able to provide more details. I'll also get my proper camera out and do some shots of it. Need some more photos, and an FON (factory order number) (probably ink-stamped inside one of the f-holes), and body width to try to pin this down.
Stunted Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 Need some more photos, and an FON (factory order number) (probably ink-stamped inside one of the f-holes), and body width to try to pin this down. Ok thanks man will post tomorrow when I pick it up.
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