1930 Gibson L-1

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1930 Gibson L-1

With a Factory Order Number in the mid 9500s, this very early 1930 Gibson L-1 is from one the very first batches of the larger bodied L-1 model. Gibson increased the body size of their L-model flat tops from 13.5” (AKA the Robert Johnson Model) to 14.75” at the very end of 1929. These new L's were built exceptionally lightly, with ultra-thin tops, backs, and sides, thin braces and tiny maple bridgeplates that weren’t much more than a two business cards thick. They sounded great thanks to this light construction; but unfortunately, so many of them haven’t survived the years well. The heavy steel strings of the era took their toll on the lightly built tops, and many of the early 1930's L series guitars (0's, 1's and 2's) we encounter today have been heavily (and often badly) repaired as a result. We offer here a guitar that has endured the years wonderfully, without warpage, damage, cracks or too much playwear.

Tonally, this guitar is among the best of them. Its light weight, age, and wonderful condition work together to offer up a vintage Gibson voice that is rich in harmonic overtone, open and woody, with well-developed tonal response across the fretboard. It is less boxy and mid-range heavy than similar Gibson flat-tops just a year younger, and fatter and punchier than a similarly aged Martin 00-18. It’s welcoming and darkly woody like a 1930 Kel Kroydon or L-2, but offers focus and fundamental that those ultra-lights generally can’t provide. We’re pretty much in agreement here that it’s the perfect 12 fret Gibson. Play it fingerstyle or with a flat pick, as you prefer – it excels at both.

The body is spruce and mahogany, bound in a single layer of white celluloid, and finished in a hand rubbed Cremona sunburst with Sheraton brown back and sides. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, "The Gibson" headstock logo, three-on-a-plate tuners with white buttons, full-depth C shaped neck with a 1-3/4" ebony nut and 24.75"scale length. Straight tapered braces, .045” thick maple bridgeplate.

A crack free guitar in excellent condition, neck reset and small popsicle brace added by our shop in 2009, new frets installed by us last month. Original bridge with an invisibly repaired crack at the saddle slot, new aged bone saddle. No internal issues other than two very cleanly reglued brace ends. The original maple bridge plate is in perfect condition, and the top shape is nicely domed. Original nut, bridge pins, tuners, and finish.

Action is set at 5-6 64th with custom gauged 12-50 strings.

With modern hardshell case
1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1
  • 1930 Gibson L-1

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Folkway Music in Guelph, Ontario Canada

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We've spent thirty years building relationships with musicians, collectors, and fellow dealers across Canada and the US. Every guitar we sell has been inspected, played, and approved by hands that know the difference.

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