The famous L series of guitars from Gibson are highly regarded by players and collectors alike - the L-3 like this model being a fairly rare & well decorated guitar available in the early 1900's until about 1930. This earlier, post Loar era L-3 dates to about 1925-26, possibly having been ordered in the beginning of '26. Coveted Snakehead peg head with The Gibson small script, as well as functional truss rod - these desirable guitars have a charming small body sound with distinguished mid range clarity that is exceptional for many styles of music.
The body is constructed with a carved, arched top, the lower bout measuring a mere 13 7/8" across (the waist a tight 8.5"), with a depth of about 3 1/4". Arched birch back - these have a surprising amount of volume given their size - thanks to its round sound hole (with a really nice herringbone rosette) - something that would later become an oval. It retains the original two piece ebony bridge, with original patented hanger tailpiece, and celluloid pickguard and bracket. Cosmetically, there is pick wear present near the guard, slight elbow wear, and light nicks present (very light overall) - the back showing similar amount of buckle wear - two sealed cracks present in the sides near its heel (more below). The top has a top sealed center seam crack, the binding on the top and back notably shrunk at the waist and the lower bout on the back - leaving a ledge roughly 4/64" at the treble side lower bout. The binding shows some splits, but for the most part is in tact and well adhered.
The neck is designed with a 24 1/4" scale length, 1 23/32" nut width, uniquely joining the body at the 13th fret. The neck is constructed with a mahogany profile, with a bound ebony fingerboard. Notably, the heel shows a well repaired heel crack - near where the sides show the two previously mentioned cracks. Slight tooling marks are present around the cracks, but all is in structurally strong condition currently. The profile has the typical fat V profile that is common to this era - measuring a depth of 1.02" at the first fret, tapering to about 1.25" at the ninth fret. The fingerboard is in good condition with original MOP dot inlay, the ebony showing very light wear. The frets appear original, with thin, squared fret wire known in this era. The frets themselves are in good shape with mild wear present around the cowboy chord zone, without buzz - the profile showing similar wear - expressing that this guitar was primarily used as a strummer in its past. The neck angle is a little light, with the saddles thumb screws bottomed out - resulting in playable but medium action that measures 8/64" in height at the twelfth fret of the sixth string, and a more standard 5/64" on the first. The truss rod is in functional condition, but is near maxed out, with threads showing past the nut. Original plate tuners function as they should with black buttons.
Includes very nice teardrop hardshell case, with interior barometer.