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1933 Gibson L-00
More importantly, with the deepest depths of the Depression felt around them, Gibson was surely looking to cut expenses wherever they could. Because their early flat-tops were quite good at collapsing under string tension due to how incredibly lightly they were built, Gibson seems to have changed their spec on top thickness and brace dimensions in late 1933 thereby significantly reducing their warranty repair workload. While inconsistencies are the norm in vintage Gibsons, there is a very clear trend towards a marked thickening of tops evident in 1934.
In short, an L-00 from before 1934 is generally a very different thing than one built from 1934 on.
This example is the latest tuxedo L-00 that we’ve ever encountered. It features the earlier, thinner top and back thickness specs, and the lighter and more tapered bracing along with solid, rather than kerfed, linings - which add marked stiffness to the sides, and increase the top’s effective area by roughly half an inch. Added-up, this L-00 is an exceptional sounding instrument, with more bass-end warmth and openness than the majority of guitars its size. Amazing power, excellent clarity and focus. It’s the consummate 14 fret L-00, and if it had a shorter list of repairs we’d have priced it higher than any other we’ve had.
This L-00 has just recently come through our shop with a fresh neck reset and new nut and saddle. In the guitar’s distant past a number of top and back cracks were repaired, and a length-wise split in the neck’s grain (caused by an over-tightened truss rod) was glued. We opted to redo most of the crack repairs, and removed a number of large and unnecessary cleats from the top. We also touched up the finish on the neck in the area behind the nut. The original frets were dressed, and the guitar has been set-up with fingerstyle action and EJ-16s.
Playability is delightful, and the neck carve has a rounded V shape with medium thickness that’s much less of a pronounced V than you’ll find on slightly younger Gibsons. 1-3/4 nut, 2-3/4” string spread at the bridge, 24.75” scale. Two-piece red spruce top, mahogany back and sides, white bindings to the top and back (that’s rare, too), original tuners.
With modern hardshell case
