 GIBSON | | ACOUSTIC: L SERIES | There is a great deal of confusion about the difference between the small bodied L-0 series and L-00 series guitars. The L-0 was introduced in 1926 in the "Robert Johnson" shape. By 1928, it was produced with a mahogany top, back and sides. The L-0 was redesigned circa 1930 as a Martin 00 shaped guitar. It had a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and 12 frets were clear of the body. By 1932 the L-0 had 14 frets to the body, and by 1933, it had been discontinued in favor of the more popular L-00. The L-0 was reintroduced in 1937 as a black guitar with a tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard and remained in the line until 1942.
The L-00 was introduced in 1932 with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, Black finish and a white pickguard. By 1933, the L-00 was available in a Sunburst finish with a striped celluloid pickguard. The L-00 Series was discontinued in 1942.
In terms of L Series desirability, an early Robert Johnson style shaped instrument is less than the post-1930 design. A mahogany top is less valuable than spruce. Rosewood and maple sides with a mahogany back will add to the rarity and price, while a maple back and side will be even more desirabile. Brazilian rosewood back and sides are the most desirable in this series. 12 frets to the body will be less desirable than 14, while the infrequently encountered 13 fret Nick Lucas will be somewhere in between. | | STYLE L | | - arched spruce top, round soundhole, bound body, wood inlay rosette, maple back/sides/neck, 13/19-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead, three-per-side tuners, available in Orange Top finish, mfg. approx. 1902. |
| L-0 (1926-1933 MFG.) | | - spruce top, round soundhole, bound body, two-stripe rosette, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret ebonized fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony pyramid bridge with black pins, blackface peghead with screened logo, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Amber Brown finish, mfg. 1926-1933. |
| L-00 | | - small body guitar, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with single multi ring rosette, top body binding, back body binding (1937-1946), mahogany neck, 14/19-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, black headstock overlay with screened logo and "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner (1943-46), three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, rosewood straight bridge, black bridge pins, tortoise or white pickguard, available in Ebony (1932-38), Natural (1941-46), or Sunburst top with mahogany red back and sides (1933-1946) finish, 14.75 in. body width, 19.25 in. body length, mfg. 1930-1946. |
| L-00 3/4 | | - similar to Model L-00, except has 3/4 size body, approx. 35 mfg. 1938-39 only. |
| L-00 (1936 REISSUE) | | - spruce top, round soundhole, two-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/19-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, rosewood bridge with white pins, three-per-side nickel tuners with plastic buttons. Patterned after Gibson's older 00 size body, available in Antique Walnut, Vintage Sunburst, or Ebony (new 1999) finishes, mfg. 1992-96, reissued 1999-2002. |
| 1937 L-00 (MODEL HL37) | | - detailed edition of a 1937 Gibson L-00, small body style, solid Adirondac spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with rosette, single-ply top and back binding, mahogany 1937 profile V-shaped neck, 14/19-fret Madagascar rosewood fingerboard with MOP dot inlays, black headstock with script Gibson logo , three-per-side reporduction nickel tuners with white buttons, Madagascar rosewood bridge with MOP dots and white pins, 1937 style celluloid teardrop pickguard, available in Vintage Sunburst finish, 24.75 in. scale, Red Line case included, limited production of 25 guitars per month, mfg. 2007-present. |
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| NICK LUCAS (GIBSON SPECIAL) | | - slightly arched spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, bound body, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, rosewood bridge, "The Gibson" headstock logo, special round Nick Lucas label, this model underwent redesign several times in its short production span, originally introduced as a mahogany/spruce "Robert Johnson" shaped guitar with at least a 4.5 in. depth and 12 frets to the body, models can be found with 12, 13, and 14 fret-to-the-body fingerboards in mahogany, rosewood, and maple, available in Sunburst finish, original body width was 13.5 in., later mfg. was 14.75 in. wide, 19.25 in. long, 4.5 in. deep, mfg. circa 1928-1941. Limited mfg. (probably less than 250 instruments). |
| NICK LUCAS REISSUE CLASSIC (L-00 VARIANT) | | - solid spruce top, flame maple back/sides, rosewood fingerboard/bridge, patterned after the original Nick Lucas model, includes 1930s Nick Lucas label, available in Vintage Sunburst finish, mfg. 1999-2003. |
| Nick Lucas Elite (L-00 Variant) | | - similar to Nick Lucas Reissue, except has Ebony fingerboard, maple neck, abalone Lucas style fretboard inlays, top trim, and rosette, vintage gold hardware, available in Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst, mfg. 1999-2002. |
| Nick Lucas 1929 Reissue | | - mahogany, maple, or rosewood, 12 or 14 frets, limited mfg. 2005. |
| Nick Lucas 1929 Historic Signature | | - Vintage Sunburst finish, mfg. by Custom Shop beginning 2005. |
| Nick Lucas Historic Signature Koa Special | | - similar to 1929 Historic Signature model, except has koa back/sides, mfg. by Custom Shop beginning 2005. |
| L-1 ARCHTOP | | - carved spruce top, bound round soundhole, raised tortoiseshell pickguard, bound body, two-rope pattern rosette, birch back/sides, maple neck, 13/19-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, slotted peghead, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Orange Top/Mahogany finish, mfg. 1903-1925. |
| L-1 Flattop | | - spruce top, round soundhole, bound body, three-ring rosette, mahogany back/sides, maple neck, 12/19-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony pyramid bridge with black pins, painted peghead logo, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, mfg. 1926-1937. |
| L-1 FLATTOP REISSUE | | - small body L-style guitar with a circular lower bout, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with two-stripe rosette, top and back binding, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, black headstock overlay with "The Gibson" logo, three-per-side nickel tuners with plastic buttons, rosewood bridge with pyarmid ends, white bridge pins, available in Vintage Sunburst finish, 13.5 in. body width, 24.75 in. scale, mfg. 1991-95. |
| L-1 ROBERT JOHNSON (MODEL LSRL) | | - patterned after Robert Johnson's original L-1, shallow L-1 body, Sitka spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, ebony fingerboard, 12/19-fret, ebony bridge, period hardware, Robert Johnson signature at bottom of fingerboard, Vintage Sunburst only, 25 in. scale, mfg. summer 2003-present. |
| L-2 ARCHTOP (1910-1923 MFG.) | | - carved spruce top, round soundhole, raised tortoise pickguard, bound body, three-rope pattern rosette, birch back/sides, maple neck, 13/19-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, snakehead peghead with pearl logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Orange Top finish, mfg. 1910-1923. |
| L-2 Archtop (1924-26 Mfg.) | | - carved spruce top, round soundhole, raised tortoiseshell pickguard, bound body, two-ring rosette, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 13/19-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, snakehead peghead with pearl logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Amber finish, mfg. 1924-26. |
| L-2 FlatTop | | - spruce top, round soundhole, three-stripe body/rosette, bound body, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 13/19-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony pyramid bridge, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Natural or Sunburst finish, mfg. 1929-1934. |
| L-3 | | - carved spruce top, bound round soundhole, raised tortoiseshell pickguard, bound body, three-ring wooden inlay rosette, birch back/sides, maple neck, 13/20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Orange Top/Mahogany finish, mfg. 1902-1933. |
| L-4 | | - arched carved spruce top, oval soundhole, wooden inlay rosette, raised tortoiseshell pickguard, bound soundhole/body, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 12/20-fret bound ebony pointed fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece with black pins, bound blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with buttons, available in Black finish, mfg. 1912-1956. |
| L-4 C | | - single pointed cutaway body, arched spruce top, f-holes, raised laminated pickguard, bound body, carved maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 19-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl parallelogram inlay, adjustable rosewood bridge/trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl flowerpot/logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Natural or Sunburst finishes, mfg. 1949-1970. |
| L-5 | | - carved spruce top, f-holes, raised multi-bound pickguard, multi-bound body, carved figured maple back/sides, figured maple/ebony neck, 14/20-fret bound ebony pointed fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, multi-bound blackface snakehead peghead with pearl flowerpot/logo inlay, three-per-side silver plate tuners with pearl buttons, Master Model/Lloyd Loar signature labels, available in Natural or Cremona Brown Sunburst finish, limited in mfg. 1922-1958. |
| L-5 P (Premiere)/L-5 C | | - single rounded cutaway body, arched spruce top, bound f-holes, raised multi-bound pearloid pickguard, multi-bound body, carved figured maple back/sides, figured maple neck, 14/20-fret multi-bound ebony pointed fingerboard with pearl block inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/gold trapeze tailpiece with silver insert, multi-bound blackface peghead with pearl flowerpot/logo inlay, three-per-side gold tuners, available in Natural or Sunburst finishes, mfg. 1939-1989. |
| L-5 CT | | - similar to L-5 C, except has thin body, shorter scale length, available in Red finish, approx. 35 mfg. 1959-1961. |
| L-7 | | - arched spruce top, f-holes, raised bound black pickguard, bound body, carved maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl multi-design inlay, adjustable rosewood bridge/trapeze tailpiece, bound blackface peghead with pearl fleur-de-lis/logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Natural or Sunburst (most common) finish, 16 or 17 in. body, approx. 1,200 mfg. 1932-1956. |
| L-7 C | | - single rounded cutaway body, arched spruce top, f-holes, raised black laminated pickguard, bound body, carved maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl parallelogram inlay, adjustable rosewood bridge/trapeze tailpiece, bound blackface peghead with pearl crown/logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Natural or Sunburst (most common) finishes, mfg. 1948-1972. |
| L-7C REISSUE (MODEL SJL7) | | - classic L-7 archtop single cutaway body style, arched solid Sitka spruce top, solid maple arched back, maple sides, two f-holes, multi-ply top and back binding and marquetry, maple neck, 14/19-fret rosewood single-ply bound fingerboard with MOP split parallelogram inlays, bound black headstock with MOP Gibson logo and crown inlay, three-per-side nickel Gotoh tuners with pearloid Keystone buttons, adj. rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece, raised black pickguard, available in Vintage Sunburst finish, 25.5 in. scale, mfg. 2007-present. |
| L-7 E Variations | | - please refer to the Acoustic Electric section for information and values on the L-7 E, L-7 ED, L-7 CE, L-7 CED, L-7 CEN, and L-7 CNED models. |
| L-10 (1931-39 MFG.) | | - 16 or 17 in. body, arched spruce top, f-holes, raised tortoiseshell pickguard, carved maple back/sides, mapleneck, 14/19-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/wrapover trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, three-per-side nickel tuners, available in Black finish, mfg. 1931-39. |
| L-10 (CS-CAL10VSNH) | | - reissue of original L-10 mfg. in 1929, carved spruce top, carved figured maple back and sides, muli-ply checkerboard binding on top, single ply white binding on back, one-piece mahogany neck, 19-fret ebony with 6 fret extension fingerboard, split L-10 inlays, Waverly button tuners, nickel hardware, rosewood bridge, bale tailpiece, ES rounded profile, includes Custom Shop case, certificate of authenticity and custom care kit, Vintage Sunburst finish only, built in Nashville, mfg. 2004-present. |
| L-12 | | - acoustic hollowbody, arched spruce top, carved maple back/sides, two f-holes, bound body, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret bound ebony fingerboard with elaborate hollow rectangle inlays that have a different design in each one, bound black headstock overlay with a pearl vase/design and logo inlays, three-per-side gold tuners, adjustable ebony bridge, trapeze tailpiece, raised bound black pickguard, available in Red Mahogany Sunburst finish, 16 in. body width (1930-34) or 17 in. body width (1934-1955), mfg. 1930-1955. |
| L-12 P (Premiere) | | - similar to L-12, except has single round cutaway, approx. 90 mfg. 1947-1950. |
| L-20 SPECIAL (MODEL AC2L) | | - small body acoustic, solid Sitka spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with two-stripe multi ring rosette, multi-ply body binding, 12/17-fret bound ebony fingerboard with MOP block inlays, bound black headstock overlay with pearl logo and torch inlays, three-per-side gold tuners with plastic buttons, ebony bridge with white pins, piezo bridge pickup, endpin pickup jack, available in Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst finish, 24.75 in. scale, 14.75 in. body width, special hardshell case included, mfg. 1993-94. |
| L-30 | | - arched spruce top, f-holes, raised black pickguard, bound body, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with screened logo, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Black finish, mfg. 1935-1943. |
| L-37 | | - similar to L-30, except has Red Mahogany Sunburst finish, mfg. 1935-1941. |
| L-47 | | - arched spruce top, f-holes, raised bound pickguard, tortoise bound body, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with screened logo, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Natural or Sunburst finishes, mfg. 1940-43. |
| L-48 | | - arched mahogany top, f-holes, raised black pickguard, bound body, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/19-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable rosewood bridge/trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with screened logo, three-per-side tuners, available in Cremona Brown Sunburst finish, mfg. 1946-1970. |
| L-50 | | - arched spruce top, f-hole/round soundhole, black pickguard, bound body, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret ebony fingerboard with trapezoid or pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with screened logo, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Dark Mahogany Sunburst finish, mfg. 1932-1970. |
| L-75 | | - arched spruce top, f-holes, bound body, mahogany back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret pearloid fingerboard with pearl multi-design inlay in blocks of rosewood, adjustable rosewood bridge/trapeze tailpiece, pearloid veneered peghead, rosewood diamond peghead inlay with pearl logo, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Natural or Sunburst finish, mfg. 1932-39. |
| L-130 | | - features Gibson's Advanced 00 body design, spruce top, bubinga back/sides, rosewood fingerboard/bridge, mahogany neck, abalone fingerboard inlays and rosette, active transducer, available in Antique Natural finish, mfg. 1999-2005. |
| L-140 | | - similar to L-130, except has Indian rosewood back/sides, and ebony fingerboard/bridge, mfg. 1999-2005. |
| L-150 CUSTOM | | - custom shop model with customer selected wood, without active transducer pickup, available in Antique Natural finish, mfg. 1999-2002, reintroduced 2004. |
| L-200 EMMYLOU HARRIS (MODEL LSL2) | | - custom shop model with newly designed body that's smaller and thinner than the SJ-200, new bracing, includes Schertler Bluestick transducer pickup system, SJ-200 features include flame maple back/sides, mother-of-pearl crest fingerboard inlays, moustache bridge, and engraved pickguard, available in Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst finish, mfg. 2002-present. |
| L-CENTURY (CENTURY OF PROGRESS) | | - spruce top, 14 3/4 in. by 19 1/4 in., round soundhole, tortoise pickguard, bound body, one-stripe rosette, curly maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/19-fret bound pearloid fingerboard, rosewood block with pearl diamonds fingerboard inlay, rosewood straight bridge with white pins, bound peghead with pearloid veneer, rosewood wedge with pearl slotted diamond/logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1933-1940. |
| ELVIS COSTELLO "CENTURY OF PROGRESS" (MODEL LSEC) | | - L-00-style body, Adirondack spruce top, Hard Rock Eastern maple back and sides, single-ply top and back binding, Honduras mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound pearloid fingerboard with Madagascar rosewood/MOP diamond rectangular inlays, bound headstock with pearloid overlay and rosewood inlay, three-per-side nickel reproduction tuners with ivory buttons, Madagascar bridge, white bridge pins, 1936-style celluloid-striped pickguard, label signed by Elvis Costello, available in Vintage Sunburst finish, 24.75 in. scale, limited edition run of 300 instruments, black hardshell case included, mfg. 2008-present. |
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| L-JR. | | - carved spruce top, round bound soundhole, birch back/sides, maple neck, 13/19-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, tortoiseshell plate with black pins on trapeze tailpiece, slotted peghead, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, available in Brown finish, body width 13.5 in., mfg. 1919-1926. |
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