Description
Gibson L-00 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1932), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 190, black lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a good playing example of a very early 12-fret Gibson L-00 from 1932, the very rare initial version of this seminal Gibson flat-top. It is a plain but striking guitar, finished in ebony overall with white binding around the top and no pickguard. The L-00 quickly became a Depression-era staple for Gibson, first offered this year at the rock-bottom price of $25.00 (without case). The factory order number on the heelblock documents this as being from one of the first batches of L-00s made, dating to a year or so before the instrument was re-designed into the more familiar 14-fret version sold up until WWII.
The sound of this Gibson is simply stunning. One of the best small body vintage guitars we had. Here you get the ultimate vintage blues sound. Today’s guitars really can’t compete with this one!!!
The top is made of Adirondack spruce, the back and the sides are made of mahogany – the guitar is light as a feather!
I repeat, this L-00 sounds really very, very, very good. It has matured and is perfectly balanced, with present mids, crystal clear highs and booming basses (amazing what comes out of this small body).
The small body also gives the sound a great projection – the sound comes directly and without detours.
We think the real reason for the incredible sound is the fact that this guitar is a player with character and soul. Throughout the years this guitar has simply been played, loved and it always has been a faithful companion. When you play this guitar you understand why it has been repaired and brought back to life over the years … it was simply indispensable.
Questions like: How many cracks does the guitar have? … what has been repaired? etc. are probably the wrong ones!
Even we can’t quite get an overview of what has been done on this guitar … but one thing is for sure, it is super solid and plays like a new guitar. This is because it has been given a neck reset and the frets are great.
The whole structure of the guitar is stable and we have checked it all around – it is ready for the next stage and waiting for a new home.