rar Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Anne insisted on going to our fave local guitar shop today -- Gryphon in Palo Alto -- and, as those of you who have been following along know, that pretty much guarantees that something interesting will be there. We get there and, sure enough, there's an all-original 1939 Gibson L-37 -- so new to the shop that it wasn't on the website -- hanging on the wall. Picked it up to give it a try, and it was a great one in really nice condition (except for one gnarly repaired crack in the top that's semi-hidden by the tailpiece). Unfortunately, buying it right now would have been completely insane, for excellent economic reasons. While I'm playing, Anne's looking around and notices that a couple of ukes we had there on consignment are no longer on the wall. So, when we wander to the back of the store to chat with Frank, as we always do when we visit, Anne asks him if they've sold. He checks, and they have, and says he'll just write us a check for them while we're there. He comes back with a check for the exact price of the L-37. To the penny. Well, on the theory that you can't argue with Fate, no matter what your economic situation, the L-37 came home with us. Since Gryphon hadn't taken any pictures of it yet, you'll have to be satisfied with my feeble attempts for the time being: She sounds and plays as sweet as she looks! -- Bob R UPDATE: Good news! I was wrong about Gryphon not haven taken any pictures -- they'd just immediately updated the website -- and here some of them are: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazzelectro Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Very very sweet...nice timing. Everytime I walk into a guitar shop and head to the section of the store where they keep their nice used guitars my heart starts to race just a little in anticipation of what might be hanging on the wall. Have not had that special find for some time. The hunt never ends...I suppose that's half the fun. Congrats! Kazz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry K Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 What a beaut! Top looks like adirondack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 What a beaut! Thanks! I think so too. Top looks like adirondack. It is. Those were the good ol' days, when even budget models were made of what are now considered premium materials. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 congrats. it's a beauty. :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Nice.... I love fate! :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Dog Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Very nice, rar. Has it opened up yet? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Dog Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Nice.... I love fate! :- Love your Group Shot, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 Has it opened up yet? :-) Hard to tell, since I just got it. Check back with me in another 70 years and I'll let you know. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Dog Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Hard to tell' date=' since I just got it. Check back with me in another 70 years and I'll let you know. -- Bob R[/quote'] :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR GIBS Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Well, I sit here, guis and what I see: I see things that make my mouth water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I think it may have begun to open up a little bit anyway. Very fine guitar, Bob. Made my day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosewoody Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Very nice, indeed. I'm guessing the neck is quite a handful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 I'm guessing the neck is quite a handful? It's a typical '30s Gibson V-profile, 1-3/4" wide at the nut -- my personal fav. A handful by modern standards, maybe, but tiny compared a '42 baseball bat. Those really fill your hand. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Bob, That guitar has "mojo" written all over it!!! Nice snag! When are you going to put pics of Anne's new lefty Gibson on the forum???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 Bob' date=' That guitar has "mojo" written all over it!!! Nice snag! When are you going to put pics of Anne's new lefty Gibson on the forum????[/quote'] Unless she's snuck one into the house I don't know about -- not that likely, since I'm not one of those apocryphal spouses who can't tell guitars apart -- there were a couple posted here. (I've got to get better pictures of that guitar one of these days!) -- Bob R Edited to fix the link -- I did know about this guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Those musta been SOME ukes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 VERY cool! Congratulations. I was laughing at the first two words in your first post tho'.... 'Anne insisted....'. Uh, how hard of a sell was that? LOL As usual, tell Anne her quilt is very pretty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerpopper Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 That is a gorgeous instrument. Congratulations on your fated acquisition. Not to be a wiseass here, but what kind of music will you play on it? Or what kind of music is it best suited to/intended for? Jazz? Acoustic Blues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 ... what kind of music will you play on it? Or what kind of music is it best suited to/intended for? Jazz? Acoustic Blues? These are actually pretty versatile little guitars. A friend of mine had one, and she used it very effectively for pretty much the full range of '30s music, from Tin Pan Alley to Hokum, as well as for her own compositions in similar styles. But the main reason I've been looking at archtops is for cowboy songs, a la Gene and Roy and Co. While a Super 400 or L-5 would be a better rhythm instrument in a western band context, the L-37 is great for the kind of solo/duo playing I/we do. Turns out that I like it a lot for fingerpicking country blues, too. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 RAR.....I know what you mean about those guitars. I have a '34 Martin R-18 (exact size of a 00-18, with a flat back and domed top - not carved) which has become my favorite guitar. The R-18 was a direct response by Martin to guitars like yours. I also do country, and BLUES on this baby, but it is not a true archtop sound, so even Beatles and songs like that sound good. We will have to get together again at Gryphon and compare sounds.....Wily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acousticat Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Nice score rar. Looks like a real beauty. Congratulation :- =D> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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