Rochester, VT, United States
About this listing
Quick notes:Most instruments I sell are consigned but some are my own.Repairs and adjustments have been done, if necessary, and this item is ready to go unless otherwise noted!I usually ship within 2-3 days to allow for me to inspect and adjust instruments if need-be before boxing. If you need faster shipping please get in touch right away!Buyer pays shipping expenses both ways on returns. I include shipping in my listing pricing but returns are not free. Please consider carefully and ask all questions before buying an item.Please read the following text for full details and specs -- it's borrowed from my original blog post on it...Update November 2026: Our buddy David (who owns this at the moment) just isn't jiving with the 12-fret thing, so he's releasing this one back to the wild. I've updated the description/post/listing info where necessary. Now back to it...Overview: The 1929 L-1 was nothing like its earlier, smaller-bodied, flattop L-1 cousin of the famed "Robert Johnson" photograph. It's basically a proto-L-00 instrument with a 00-sized body and 12-fret construction. Kel Kroydon models are very much similar to this as well. The "Sheraton Brown" sunburst look is gorgeous, though, and the super-de-duper lightweight build means that these sound tip-top. If you like a 12-fret L-00 but want more of that warm, sweet, '30s Martin thing... I mean... these sort-of get you right there...?Interesting features on this guy include a very thin fretboard that's not all that radiused and a comfy, almost modern-feeling, medium-C neck profile. It's also obviously been played-in a ton and its bigger-than-life sound rewards all that woodshed time.Per the usual, it has a solid spruce top over solid mahogany back and sides, a mahogany neck, and a rosewood board with a rosewood bridge (now two rosewoods removed).Note that the guitar was strung a little heavier and tuned-down to Eb in the video. We've restrung it with 11s and tuned it up E to E, now.Repairs included: This one already had a neck reset and new bridge in its past and some crack tidying-up, but it arrived in definite need of fresh frets and yet another new bridge. Jose took care of all that -- giving it an excellent refret with vintagey-moderny medium wire and making and fitting a repro-ish-style, Madagascar rosewood bridge. We opted for a drop-in saddle on this one so that this third bridge wouldn't have the torn-out front wall that the first and second ones did with their through-slot saddles. I know through-slots are pretty but... I'm not a fan for this very reason.Weight: 2 lbs 15 ozScale length: 24 3/4"Nut width: 1 3/4"Neck shape: medium CBoard radius: flatDepth at first fret: 0.82"Depth at seventh fret: 0.91"Body width: 14 3/4"Body depth: 4 1/4"Top wood: solid spruceBack & sides wood: solid mahoganyBracing type: xBridge: rosewoodFretboard: ebonized maple or similarNeck wood: mahoganyAction height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)String gauges: 50w-11 custom lightTruss rod: adjustableNeck relief: straightFret style: modern mediumCondition notes: The bridge, saddle, nut, and pins are replacements. The frets are new. Otherwise, it appears original throughout. There are a few repaired hairline cracks on the back and the finish has tons of scratches, scuffs, nicks, small dings, and playwear throughout. The top has a little distortion around the soundhole just as you'd find on any other L-1, 12-fret L-0/L-00, or Kel Kroydon from the time. They're built light! It's nothing to worry about and all the bracing is glued pat.It comes with: It has an older hard case.Consignor tag: DCHP
Price€8,343.31
+ €65.25 Shipping
