1936 Gibson L-7

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1936 Gibson L-7

Gibson’s L-7 was introduced in 1933 as a more affordable option to the L-5 and quickly became the company’s best-selling archtop model. It remained in the catalog for the better part of half a century. Like the L-5, in 1934 the L-7 was redesigned with a larger 17” body to offer more volume to players. At that same time Gibson started X-bracing in their archtops which opened up their voices, warmed up the bass, and added some extra woodiness and resonance to their tone. The 17” archtops built in the mid 1930’s are highly regarded by acoustic jazz players for their wonderful tone, classy vibe, and contemporary feel. Although the Loar-era L-5 was a revolutionary design, it’s these early 17” models that set the standard in archtop design and construction.

This 1936 Gibson L-7 features a carved spruce top and carved maple back with an attractive subtle figure under its dark finish. It’s completely original but for new frets installed here at Folkway and is in excellent condition. Unique to this period of L-7 are the ornate picture-frame inlays on the fingerboard, and curlicue pearlwork on the headstock. Original tuners, nut, bridge, pickguard, and tailpiece. Original finish throughout. The neck has a contemporary feel with a C shaped carve that has a slight hint of a V, a 1-11/16” nut and a scale length of 24-3/4. The neck finish shows playwear, and there’s a minor grain split behind the truss-rod that we’ve just repaired – a common find on 30’s Gibsons. The body shows relatively little wear and tear, the top and back are crack-free, and there’s a minor side crack that we’ve glued. X bracing is all tight and factory original.

It's a wonderful sounding guitar, with plenty of airiness, woody midrange and a rich low end. A very different playing experience than a post-war L-7, if that’s your frame of reference. Expect a breathier and more open guitar with a wider spread in its frequency response and less of a push through it midrange than the later, more heavily built, versions of this model.

With original ‘Red Line’ hardshell case
1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7
  • 1936 Gibson L-7

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Folkway Music in Guelph, Ontario Canada

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