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1939 Gibson L-30 Archtop Acoustic Guitar w/ Modern Hard Flight Case
Estimated price for orientation: 1 154 $
Category: Acoustic Guitars
Class:
Description Dexterity: Right-Handed Exact Year: 1939 Soundboard Style: Archtop String Configuration: 6 String Brand: Gibson Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Model: L-30 Body Type: Archtop
Travel back in time with this vintage acoustic guitar. Made by Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1939 (factory order number EG 2821 is stamped on back of peghead). Dating is from "Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars (Third Edition)." On page 169, it lists the letter codes used 1935-1943. "Many instruments from 1935-1941 have a letter designating the year of production... 1938-1941: 2 or 3 letters precede instrument ranking number. Code is either ink-stamped onto the label or impressed into the back of the peghead... Second letter indicates brand of instrument: G=Gibson..." Below that, also on page 169: "Ex... 1939 (E, followed by any other letter)." It's a classic old American guitar from the World War Two era. I do believe that it is all original. Kluson tuners. The tuning buttons are still original and sturdy. Original unbound elevated pickguard. Truss rod. The plus of this guitar is that it just sounds fabulous. The minus is that the lower frets are quite worn, as is the lower fingerboard. There is a pair of long hairline cracks along the grain in the top on the bass side of both the upper and lower bout (please see photos). The prior owner said the cracks had been there forever. Myself, I wouldn't cleat them, but I'm sure others disagree. Front and back binding. Neck heel is firmly on the guitar with no separation. 12th fret action is very nice, between 2/32" and 3/32". Significant ordinary play wear all over. This guitar came from southern Ohio, was in the same family until very recently, and has been much played and loved. Comes in a modern sturdy flight case. Like I said, I just love the sound of this guitar. It's been a players guitar, not a collectors guitar. If you're looking for a sweet old Gibson archtop to play, not to just hide in the closet, this could be the one. Questions? If will be well-wrapped with plenty of either foam wrap or 1/2" bubble wrap and shipped in a stout new 45"x18"x6" guitar box. Please check out my Ebay store, “The 1970 Time Travel Trailer,” for more cool vintage stuff, including a bunch of vintage guitars (and a few ukuleles, banjos, fiddles, mandolins and amps, as well as fiddles, brass, woodwind, and various oddball musical instruments and old instrument brochures & catalogs). And please check out our new YouTube TV show, “Musical Treasure Hunting,” to see more of our adventures searching for old musical instruments.
Description
| Dexterity: | Right-Handed | Exact Year: | 1939 |
| Soundboard Style: | Archtop | String Configuration: | 6 String |
| Brand: | Gibson | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Model: | L-30 | Body Type: | Archtop |
Travel back in time with this vintage acoustic guitar. Made by Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1939 (factory order number EG 2821 is stamped on back of peghead). Dating is from "Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars (Third Edition)." On page 169, it lists the letter codes used 1935-1943. "Many instruments from 1935-1941 have a letter designating the year of production... 1938-1941: 2 or 3 letters precede instrument ranking number. Code is either ink-stamped onto the label or impressed into the back of the peghead... Second letter indicates brand of instrument: G=Gibson..." Below that, also on page 169: "Ex... 1939 (E, followed by any other letter)." It's a classic old American guitar from the World War Two era. I do believe that it is all original. Kluson tuners. The tuning buttons are still original and sturdy. Original unbound elevated pickguard. Truss rod. The plus of this guitar is that it just sounds fabulous. The minus is that the lower frets are quite worn, as is the lower fingerboard. There is a pair of long hairline cracks along the grain in the top on the bass side of both the upper and lower bout (please see photos). The prior owner said the cracks had been there forever. Myself, I wouldn't cleat them, but I'm sure others disagree. Front and back binding. Neck heel is firmly on the guitar with no separation. 12th fret action is very nice, between 2/32" and 3/32". Significant ordinary play wear all over. This guitar came from southern Ohio, was in the same family until very recently, and has been much played and loved. Comes in a modern sturdy flight case. Like I said, I just love the sound of this guitar. It's been a players guitar, not a collectors guitar. If you're looking for a sweet old Gibson archtop to play, not to just hide in the closet, this could be the one. Questions? If will be well-wrapped with plenty of either foam wrap or 1/2" bubble wrap and shipped in a stout new 45"x18"x6" guitar box. Please check out my Ebay store, “The 1970 Time Travel Trailer,” for more cool vintage stuff, including a bunch of vintage guitars (and a few ukuleles, banjos, fiddles, mandolins and amps, as well as fiddles, brass, woodwind, and various oddball musical instruments and old instrument brochures & catalogs). And please check out our new YouTube TV show, “Musical Treasure Hunting,” to see more of our adventures searching for old musical instruments.