spooneyb Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Hello guys! I have recently received what i think is a L-4 Acoustic Archtop. The original finish has been sanded down and there is some damage to the back. What shal i do with it. It looks and sounds amazing. Is it worth getting repaired professionally back to its former glory? or will this lower the value more. No serial number, no pick guard. Any info at all on this guitar would be amazing! - i think i came to the right place :) Can provide more photos if needed. Thanks, Spooneyb http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0228.jpg http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0230.jpg http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0243.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooneyb Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 Two more photos http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0237.jpg http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0240.jpg Thanks, Spoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooneyb Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 http://www.folkwaymusic.com/images/instruments/gibson/1929_l-4.jpg The closest I can see on my google searching is something like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Hello guys! I have recently received what i think is a L-4 Acoustic Archtop. The original finish has been sanded down and there is some damage to the back. What shal i do with it. It looks and sounds amazing. Is it worth getting repaired professionally back to its former glory? or will this lower the value more. No serial number, no pick guard. Any info at all on this guitar would be amazing! - i think i came to the right place :) Can provide more photos if needed. Thanks, Spooneyb http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0228.jpg http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0230.jpg http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0243.jpg None of your five photos shows the back, and the damage you refer to. If you're serious about seeking help, you should at least include a photo of the back, and the damage. Normally, it's tricky business to refinish vintage guitars, and it can devalue the guitar if it wasn't already in very bad shape. However, if it's true that your guitar has already been sanded down, then it's not going to devalue it further to get it professionally (properly) refinished. If you love the guitar and can afford it, by all means have it repaired. It will never be worth as much as an all-original example in nice shape, but if it's still a nice player, it deserves some TLC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooneyb Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 None of your five photos shows the back, and the damage you refer to. If you're serious about seeking help, you should at least include a photo of the back, and the damage. Hello jim. Thanks for the swift reply. http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j193/dogsintransit/DSC_0246.jpg here is a photo of the back and the damage. From what I can see it split and to try and repair it tiny holes have been drilled along the crack (too add more surface area I presume) then glue and small dowel rod has been placed in the holes for strength. Its a pretty shoddy repair but its holding up fine. I am just assuming that the guitar has been sanded down as I can only find similar guitars in a sunburst finish. I am not rushing into anything don't worry. The repair job would never take place with the intention of making a profit. I would like like to make sure no more damage would take place to the guitar in its current state. First of all I would commission a pick-guard to be made. Mainly i am looking for some information on when this guitar was made. and what it would be worth in its current state v.s if i got it repaired. Thanks again Spooneyb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 This doesn't look like an L-4. The L-4 is 16 inches wide. This guitar looks more like the size of the L-00, which is 14.75. These size were early L-50 I believe. Maybe it is just the angle. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooneyb Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 This doesn't look like an L-4. The L-4 is 16 inches wide. This guitar looks more like the size of the L-00, which is 14.75. These size were early L-50 I believe. Maybe it is just the angle. Terry Yes your exactly right the widest point on the guitar is 14.7 inches. Thank-you so much terry. Early L-50 you say? How old do you reckon this beast is? I will measure up all the dimensions and post them tomorrow. Cheers, Spooney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Hello, No need for the measurements now. These guitars were first built around 1932 according to current wisdom. They made several models in this size and it can get confusing. The pearl logo seems to go with the early L-50 which became a 16 inch F hole guitar in the mid thirties. Some in this size and footprint had F holes. I have never played one, although I have a early 30s L-10. They come up on ebay in batches it seems. I have seen this model with very nice original sunburst finish with asking price 1200-1500. If your guitar is playable as is it would bring maybe $600. Not a lot of demand for the model and it is most certainly a buyers market. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Maybe it's just the photos, but the body looks smaller than 16" across the lower bout. Is it 14 3/4" wide? The c1933 L-50 had a 14 3/4" x 17 1/2" body with the round sound hole, elevated bridge & tailpiece. Your guitar's shape looks like that. I would not have had an elevated pickguard if it's a 1933. They had glued-on pickguards. What's a puzzle is the "Gibson" small script logo inlaid in pearl, which suggests either an earlier version, or a different model. The c1933 L-50 would have the larger 30s-style Gibson logo silk screened in white. If it's 16", then I would agree that it's an L-4 from C1929-1933, which did have an elevated PG & pearl logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlondieL50 Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 We have a 1944 L-50 and it looks very different from your guitar. First it has an upper bout of around 12, lower bout of around 16, about 20 inch body and F holes. The word "Gibson" is in a script and the pickguard is plain. I guess years ago they changed all the time...adding this and that. I think your guitar is really beautiful. Personally, I would get the crack fixed. My kids play string intruments and people repair cracks on violins all the time. I wonder if these arched top guitars crack a lot like violin tops. Enjoy your guitar. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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