zombywoof Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Sweated this one out as the day wore on (and on and on) but all turned out well and the L-1 was finally deposited in my sweaty little hands. Getting to give the guitar a good eyeballing, turns out the confusion came in as I was told it was a 1931 guitar. It ain't. It rolled out of Kalamazoo in 1932. Hard to read but it does have a three digit FON. So the pickguard and "Gibson" logo with no "the" all make perfect sense leaving the only anomaly the soundhole binding which you do not see much on the L series after 1929. All original with the exception of the TRC. My long drawn out search down a road strewn with potholes for a small body Gibson is finally at an end. This one is certainly not going to win any beauty pageants. It has been rode hard and put away wet. But it does play perfectly and the shaded finish is beauteous. Light as a feather with a lower bout a bit over 14.75". A fairly modern feeling C neck carve. This little sucker has some power to it. It has a fundamental sound rather than one rich in overtones and a fairly quick decay. Just gives you one big note out of the starting gate and then quickly gets out of the way. Just the way I like them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Sexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Alright! At long last. Sweet, sweet guitar. Your description of the tone and volume is right on, at least compared to my L-OO Legend. Interesting on the neck carve. I would have expected a more pronounced V-shape. There is nothing like a NOGD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Here is a somewhat better photo. While the center is more amber than yellow, the tiger stripe effect around the edges is pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Here is a somewhat better photo. While the center is more amber than yellow, the tiger stripe effect around the edges is pretty cool. Wow! That stripe effect on the top is really unusual, and very striking. It's amazing how differently these old 'bursts photograph depending on the lighting and angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Wow! That stripe effect on the top is really unusual, and very striking. It's amazing how differently these old 'bursts photograph depending on the lighting and angle. I have never been able to photograph a burst to get it to look right. Always too yellowy. The finishes on these were supposedly hand rubbed rather than sprayed. I think the sprayed "bursts" come in around 1934 or 1935. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Nice ....congratulations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 I have never been able to photograph a burst to get it to look right. Always too yellowy. The finishes on these were supposedly hand rubbed rather than sprayed. I think the sprayed "bursts" come in around 1934 or 1935. Was it still a lacquer finish, or was it something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Unbelievable tiger affect on that burst- a bright shiny new one with that same finish would only pale in comparison. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Wow, that’s different. I don’t recall ever seeing a finish that brought out that type of look. Gorgeous and very cool. Great your long search ended so very well. Congrats! B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacamartin Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Zomby does it again! That is the best looking top I've ever seen. Never let this one leave your stable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Was it still a lacquer finish, or was it something else? All I know is these are referred to as stained shaded finish. I have also seen it referred as an amber finish. In the 1910s into the 1920s Gibson used a varnish that was applied like a French Polish. I do not have a clue what they were using in the later 1920s and early 1930s. The term "burst" though does not seem to have yet been commonly used in the early 1930s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Super-looking guitar. Wish I could be comfortable holding one of those, but just makes me slump-forward while playing and kills my back...Maybe if I was 21 and not 71...lol......Love to hear a tune on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 [quote name='zombywoof' Light as a feather... It has a fundamental sound rather than one rich in overtones and a fairly quick decay. Just gives you one big note out of the starting gate and then quickly gets out of the way. Just the way I like them. Sounds like it sounds great! I have a 1936 Epiphone Masterbilt Zenith that has that fundamental sound with a fairly quick decay, also light as a feather. Prewar guitars really can have a phenom different sound from their all hand made old world craftsmanship. Sounds/looks like you’ve got a real keeper. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 a piece of history that makes music too!. how cool is this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Phew! That looks fabulous! Congratulations!. BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Such a beautiful piece! It has the flatter bottom like my L0 and the bridge seems shifted a little further south of the hole like mine, but with that exquisite thin top it must have a delicate voice. My mahog is a little stiffer and more substantial. You'll have to get comfortable with it's sweet spots, but I'm sure you're all over that. Fine vintage stuff...a testicle to old wood! Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 If it sounds half as good as it looks, it's a keeper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generaldreedle Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 This is not helping my lust for a Nick Lucas L100 Maple on sale somewhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Yeah Yuh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 That's a beauty ZW! Even with the new guy at the helm, my bet is they will never build them that light again. The tone that you describe is exactly what I would expect from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 29, 2019 Author Share Posted March 29, 2019 Such a beautiful piece! It has the flatter bottom like my L0 and the bridge seems shifted a little further south of the hole like mine, but with that exquisite thin top it must have a delicate voice. My mahog is a little stiffer and more substantial. You'll have to get comfortable with it's sweet spots, but I'm sure you're all over that. Fine vintage stuff...a testicle to old wood! Enjoy. I consider the square bottom 12 fret Ls as transitional guitars. They were not around very long. I believe that Gibson shifted the soundhole, bracing and bridge north when they went to the 14 fret versions. But I am a big fan of 12 fret guitars. I do not know if it is that the bridge is more centered in the lower bout or what. I really like the balance and in particular that characteristic deep bass. As I said, this L-1 also has a slightly larger lower bout. Not a big difference but apparently just enough to make for an uncomfortably tight fit in a 1960s LG-2 case so it ended up making its journey in a dobro case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirNed Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Fine vintage stuff...a testicle to old wood! Enjoy. ? I'm assuming that's a typo but you are talking about old wood...lol. Anyway that guitar is beautiful and unique. Nice acquisition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 ? I'm assuming that's a typo but you are talking about old wood...lol. Anyway that guitar is beautiful and unique. Nice acquisition! Auto-correct run amuck. I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 30, 2019 Author Share Posted March 30, 2019 ? I'm assuming that's a typo but you are talking about old wood...lol. I like it as stated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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