About This Listing

I would say this guitar is in Excellent condition, but Reverb's grading system doesn't really accommodate that I suppose due only to finish checking and wear on the treble side of the body.

This 1949 Gibson L-7 is so gorgeous and has a bigger voice than you might imagine.

One of just 153 made in 1949.  While this example does show some wear and finish checking on the side that has exposed the maple side of the guitar, it is in fact in better condition than most you'll see.  There are no cracks or repairs anywhere on the guitar, no finish overspray, and the original frets are intact with an admirable amount of life left.

The Gibson L-7 was introduced in 1932 as a mid-level archtop guitar, positioned between the higher-end L-5 and the more affordable L-4. It was designed to appeal to professional musicians and serious amateurs who wanted a high-quality instrument with a rich, resonant tone.

The L-7 features a full-depth, 17-inch-wide body with a carved solid spruce top and maple back and sides. Its triple-bound top, split parallelogram inlay and crown headstock inlay arrived on the model in 1942.  These features, and the bound fingerboard, give it an elegant appearance. The neck is typically made of mahogany and features a scale length of 25.5 inches. 

The long scale length and solid, carved woods greatly contribute to the exquisite sound of the guitar.

The neck is perfect with no issues, and the truss rod was checked to make sure that there is room for future neck relief adjustment.

The only change from original are the blocks that hold the pickguard to the mounting hardware and the endpin.  The endpin is from a 1950s Kay guitar.

The original case, an early brown covered version, is included.  Note the wear at the headstock end.  A crafty person could stabilize this area.  If the guitar hangs around for a bit we might make an attempt.  

Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase.   Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.

No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.

  • Color: Cremona Brown Sunburst
  • Weight: 5lbs 8.6ozs
  • Top: Spruce
  • Body: Flamed Birdseye Maple
  • Neck: Flamed Birdseye Maple
  • Fretboard: Brazilian Rosewood
  • Inlays: Split Parallelograms 
  • Frets: Original
  • Fret count: 20
  • Nut: Original Bone
  • Nut width: 1 11/16"
  • Scale: 25 1/2"
  • Radius: 10"
  • Neck thickness at 1st Fret: 0.90"
  • Neck thickness at 10th Fret: 1.0"
  • Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
  • Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
  • Total length: 41 5/8"
  • Body length: 21"
  • Lower bout: 17"
  • Waist: 10 3/8"
  • Upper bout: 12 9/16"
  • Body depth/thickness: 3 3/8"
  • String gauge: .012-.046"
  • Electronics?: No
  • Pickguard: Original
  • Bridge: Original
  • Tuners: The D string tuner is a little loose but works like the rest
  • Case: OHSC
  • Notes: 

Shipping policy:

Three day UPS air shipments will be automatic for buyers including these states and those to the east of them: Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to .  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.   

Listeda month ago
Condition
Brand
Model
  • L-7
Finish
  • Cremona Brown Sunburst
Categories
Year
  • 1949
Pickup
  • None
Fretboard Material
  • Rosewood
Color Family
  • Brown
Body Shape
  • Archtop
String Type
  • Steel
Right / Left Handed
  • Right Handed
Number of Strings
  • 6-String
Model Family
Neck Material
  • Mahogany
Finish Pattern
  • Sunburst
Sides Material
  • Maple
Finish Style
  • Gloss
Top Material
  • Spruce
Series
  • Gibson Kalamazoo Factory Era
Back Material
  • Maple
Active Preamp
  • No
Number of Frets
  • 19

About the Seller

Mahar's Vintage Guitars

Chico, CA, United States
(817)
Joined Reverb:2014
Items Sold:1,224

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