gavcaz Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 I recently acquired this at a Yard Sale. I can't seem to find much information on it. Here are some pictures. Does anyone know anything about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Are the back and sides mahogany or maple? What about that top? It's unclear from the photos whether it is maple or spruce. It apears that guitar had a finish that was removed. Could it have been all black or was it possibly sunburst? If you're not sure, some additional photos would help us. What does the top measure at its widest? That would would help, too. The impressed serial number (or factory order number in this case, I think) might indicate a guitar from 1938-1941, but Gibson is famous for having many exceptions to its ever-changing serial and factory order number rules. They also made lots of dealer specials that vary in spec from regular production models. More photos and some mesurements might possibly help us narrow down the possibilities. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 I recently acquired this at a Yard Sale. I can't seem to find much information on it. Here are some pictures. Does anyone know anything about it? Did you pay a lot of $ for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavcaz Posted May 30, 2010 Author Share Posted May 30, 2010 At its widest it measures 14 3/4 " and that's the bottom. I really am not sure what type of wood it is. It does look like some hardware was removed at some point. Perhaps a pick guard and bracket. It only cost $5. I'm not sure the person knew what they had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Wow, $5!! That is the kind of find I have been dreaming of. That would be so much fun. That is a spruce top, what about a picture of the back/sides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 It only cost $5. I'm not sure the person knew what they had. I'll give you double that right now!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 It could be an L-37. They came in f-hole and round hole versions, and some had pearl headstock inlays (as yours seems to from the photos). They came in black and sunburst finishes, with single bound floating pick guiards. The other specs seem about right, too: 14 3/4" bodies with unbound fret boards marked with dots, trap tailpieces, height-adjustable floating bridges, and three-on-a-strip tuners. Is the back on yours flat or arched? L-37s have flat backs. I think these sell currently in the $1200 to $1500 range. You really should have your guitar looked at it by a qualified appraiser, as there may be tell-tale signs that identify it that we can't see from the photos. Nice score. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Whoa! That's actually in pretty good shape for a $5 garage sale find. Congrats. I'd like to know what you end up doing to/with it as far as bringing it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Having had the finish removed drastically devalued this guitar. I'll see the $10 and raise you $10.00 and give you twenty bucks.... plus S&H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavcaz Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 Thanks for the information everyone. Would restoring this guitar enhance it's value any? This guitar plays and sounds great so even if it's worth the $5 I paid for it I'm happy. I just figured I would get an idea of what I had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 If it were me, I would never sell that guitar. It would be worth far more to me than to anyone else. What Tommyk said was true about the finish. You probably wouldn't get more than a few hundred if that. You would probably spend more restoring it than you could get for it. If it were me I would do whatever I wanted with it (which would be nothing besides playing it!). So if you want it restored, go for it! But I wouldn't do it expecting to make money. Did you ever get a picture of the back and sides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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