Vintage Guitars Info's
Gibson Arch top Model Descriptions.

Model: Style O Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1902 to 1923.
Collectibility Rating: D-. Really too old a model and design to be collectible, but may appeal to some for historic reasons.

The 1908 to 1923 Gibson Style 0.

1902 Style O introduction specs:

Oval sound hole with 2 inlaid wood rings, fixed bridge with pyramids at ends, single bound top & fingerboard & peghead, dot fingerboard inlays, solid peghead with large rounded top, peghead veneer with pearl inlay, friction tuning pegs, black top finish, dark mahogany back & side finish, available in 3 sizes.

1906 Style O specs:

Slotted peghead, pointed end fingerboard, inlaid peghead ornament or a slanted "The Gibson" logo. Some examples 18" wide.

1908 Style O specs:

16" wide, pointed cutaway, carved scroll on upper bass bout, 2 rope pattern sound hole rings, asymmetrical fingerboard with treble side extension, trapeze tailpiece with pins anchored in tortoise grain celluloid plate, solid peghead, right angle tuners, fleur-de-lis peghead inlay.

1911 Style O specs:

Elevated pickguard with single support, pickguard does not cover entire treble side of soundhole.

1914 Style O specs:

Golden orange finish or uniform mahogany top finish, slightly shaded.

1918 Style O specs:

Larger pickguard with 2 supports, pickguard covers treble side of soundhole, fleur-de-lis peghead inlay now in center of peghead, "The Gibson" peghead logo, red mahagony sunburst finish.

1921 Style O specs:

Truss rod added in late 1921.

Style O discontinued in 1923.

Model: L-1 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1902 to 1925 (re-introduced in 1926 as a flat top.
Collectibility Rating: D (a fairly plain model of an old design).

1920 Gibson Style L-1
(replaced bridge)

1902 L-1 introduction specs:

single bound round soundhole with 2 rope pattern wood rings, single bound top, ebony fingerboard, dot fingerboard inlays, orange top finish, dark mahogany back and sides, 2 sizes.

1908 L-1 specs:

13.5" wide, narrower waist, trapeze tailpiece with pins anchored in tortoise celluloid plate, elavated pickguard, 13 frets clear of the body, bound fingerboard, slated "The Gibson" logo.

1912 L-1 specs:

No pickguard.

1914 L-1 specs:

Pickguard added again.

1918 L-1 specs:

Sheraton brown finish.

1920 L-1 specs:

Double 5 ply soundhole rings.

1925 Discontinued.

1926 Re-introduced as a flat top.

Model: L-Jr (Junior) Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1919 to 1926
Collectibility Rating: D- (a budget model of the archtop L-1).

1919 L-Jr introduction specs:

13.5" wide, round soundhole with single black binding, trapeze tailpiece with pins anchored in tortoise grain celluloid plate, dot fingerboard inlays in ebony fingerboard, catalog specified an amber finish but most made with a brown finish.

1926 Discontinued.

Model: L-2 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1902 to 1926 (re-introduced in 1926 as a flat top.
Collectibility Rating: D (a fairly plain model of an old design).

The 1924-1926 Gibson Style L-2
(replaced bridge).

1902 L-2 introduction specs:

Round sound hole with 3 inlaid rings of colored wood, single bound top, unbound fingerboard, orange finished top, dark mahogany back & sides, available in 3 sizes.

1908 discontinued.

1924 Re-introduced:

13.5" wide, round sound hole with 4 plain rings, single bound top, single support pickguard, bound back, bound ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, unbound peghead, trapeze tailpiece, amber finish.

1926 L-2 discontinued.

1929 L-2 re-introduced as a flat top.

 

 

Model: L-3 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1902 to 1933.
Collectibility Rating: D+ (a model of an old design).

1918 Gibson Style L-3.

1902 L-3 introduction specs:

Round sound hole with 3 inlaid rings of fancy colored wood, bound top, 13 frets clear of the body, bound ebony fingerboard, orange top finish, dark mahogany back & sides, available in 3 sizes.

1908 L-3 specs:

13.5" wide, herringbone middle soundhole ring, trapeze tailpiece with pins anchored in tortoise celluloid plate.

1911 L-3 specs:

Floral peghead inlay, pickguard added, slanted "The Gibson" peghead logo.

1914 L-3 specs:

Red mahogany finish, slightly shaded.

1918 L-3 specs:

Red mahogany sunburst finish, ivory finish by special order.

1924 L-3 specs:

Trapeze tailpiece with no pins.

1926 L-3 specs:

Maple back and sides.

1927 L-3 specs:

Oval soundhole.

1929 L-3 specs:

Round soundhole with checkered pattern on middle ring.

1932 L-3 specs:

Raised fingerboard.

L-3 discontinued in 1933.

Model: L-4 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1912 to 1956.
Collectibility Rating: D+ (a non-cutaway model of an old design, even 1950's models).

1929 L-4.

1912 L-4 introduction specs:

16" wide, oval soundhole with 3 rings inlaid with diamond pattern middle ring, trapeze tailpiece with pins anchored in tortoise celluloid plate, elevated pickguard with 2 supports, bound top & back, 12 frets clear of body, single bound ebony fingerboard with pointed end that extends over soundhole, pearl dot fingerboard inlays, single bound peghead, slanted "The Gibson" peghead logo, black top finish.

1914 L-4 specs:

Solid middle soundhole ring, red mahogany finish that's slighly shaded, black or orange top finish available.

1918 L-4 specs:

Red mahogany sunburst finish.

1920 L-4 specs:

Diamond pattern soundhole ring again, single pickguard support, straight "The Gibson" peghead logo.

1923 L-4 specs:

Trapeze tailpiece with no pins.

1927 L-4 specs:

Checkered outer soundhole ring, solid middle ring.

1928 L-4 specs:

Round soundhole, 7 ply back & white soundhole ring, single bound top & back, unbound pickguard, single bound square end rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, 14 frets clear of body, unbound pegehead.

1929 L-4 specs:

Unbound fingerboard, "Gibson" logo.

1934 L-4 specs:

Bound fingerboard, diamond peghead inlay.

1935 L-4 specs:

"F" holes, raised diamond on trapeze tailpiece, single bound pickguard, varied pattern fingerboard inlays starting at 1st fret, single bound peghead, fleur-de-lis peghead inlay, sunburst finish.

1937 L-4 specs:

Unbound pickguard, round soundhole optional (1937 only).

1940 L-4 specs:

Natural finish optional.

1941 L-4 specs:

Unbound peghead.

1946 L-4 specs:

Triple bound top & back, bound pickguard.

1947 L-4 specs:

Double parallelogram fingerboard inlays, laminated beveled edge pickguard.

L-4 discontinued in 1956.

Model: L-4C Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1949 to 1971
Collectibility Rating: C (a decent 16" wide, sharp cutaway acoustic archtop).

1956 Gibson L-4C in natural.

1949 L-4C specs:

Much like an acoustic, spruce-top version of the ES-175. Pointed cutaway, pointed-end tailpiece with 3 raised parallelograms, laminated black pickguard, double-parallelagram fingerboard inlays, crown peghead inlay, sunburst or natural 16" wide laminated maple body, spruce top.

L-4C discontinued 1971.

 

 

 

 

 

Model: L-4ces Electric Archtop
Available: 1958, 1969, 1987 to present
Collectibility Rating: C (a decent 16" electric sharp cutaway with a spruce top).

1958 L-4CES: made in 1958 by special order, with a Christian pickup. A few shipped in 1969 too. (Much like an ES-175 but with a spruce top and 1 pickup.) 16" wide, Pointed cutaway, solid spruce top, bound rosewood fingerboard, crown peghead inlay double-parallelagram fingerboard inlays. Re-introduced in 1987 with 2 humbucking pickups, tuneamatic, gold parts, sunburst, mahogany back and sides. Wine red finish in 1991. Still in production today.

Model: L-5, L-5P, L-5C Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1922 to present
Collectibility Rating: Non-cutaway models: B-, Cutaway models: A.

1929 L-5.

1922 L-5 introduction specs:

16" wide, trapeze tailpiece, triple bound top, back and pickguard, pointed-end fingerboard, dot fingerboard inlays starting at 5th fret, flowerpot peghead inlay, slanted logo, 3-on-a-plate tuners, snakehead peghead (narrower at top), silver-plated parts, Cremona brown sunburst finish, "Gibson Master Model" label, unbound F-holes.

1925 L-5 specs:

Gold plated parts, maple back and sides.

1927 L-5 specs:

Last "Master Model" label, straight logo, dot inlays starting at 3rd fret.

1929 L-5 specs:

Block fingerboard inlays, individual tuners, square-end fingerboard. The top braces also went from solid hand-carved wood to the easier-to-install kerfed top braces. This made top braces a lot easier to install as they could "bend" slightly to the contours carved in the top.

1934 L-5 specs:

"Advanced" 17" body, X-braced top, 5 ply top and pickguard binding, pointed-end fingerboard with 5 ply binding, flat plate tailpiece with engraved "L-5", block fingerboard inlays starting at 1st fret, wider (non-snakehead) peghead with 5 ply binding. Top braces go back to solid hand carved wood, because now the top is wider and doesn't have as much arch as the smaller L-5 body type.

1936 L-5 specs:

bound F-holes.

1937 L-5 specs:

silver center insert tailpiece with 3 engraved diamonds, Grover enclosed stairstep tuners.

1939 L-5, L-5P specs:

Premier model (cutaway) introduced. wider tailpiece with hole at bottom for allen wrench tension adjustment, no hinge on tailpiece, natural finish optional, parallel top bracing, some with white pearloid pickguards (1939 only).

1948 L-5, L-5C specs:

model name changes from L-5P to L-5C. Ebony fingerboard replaces rosewood. Pickguard with 1 or 2 pickups available.

1958 L-5C specs:

L-5 (non-cutaway) discontinued.

L-5C Discontinued in 1982, but re-introduced in 1994.

Model: L-5CES (cutaway) Electric Archtop
Available: 1951 to present
Collectibility Rating: 1950's models: A, 1960's models: B.

1951 L-5CES introduction specs:

same specs as L-5c, but electric. 17" wide, rounded cutaway, solid carved spruce top, carved maple back, maple sides, 2 P-90 pickups, single bound F-holes, mutilple bound top and back, pointed-end fingerboard, block fingerboard inlays, flowerpot peghead inlay, sunburst or natural finish.

1954 L-5CES specs:

Alnico V pickups replace P-90 pickups.

1957 L-5CES specs:

Humbucking pickups replace Alnico V pickups.

1961 L-5CES specs:

Pointed cutaway, laminated 2 piece back, 5 piece neck (instead of 3 piece).

1969 L-5CES specs:

Rounded cutaway, solid 2 piece back.

L-5CES still available.

1940 L-7 with ornate "picture
frame" fingerboard inlays.

Model: L-7 and L-7C Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1933 to 1972
Collectibility Rating: Non-cutaway models: C-, Cutaway models: B-. Essentially a plain version of the L-5, an inexpensive working-man's archtop.

1933 L-7 introduction specs:

16" wide, trapeze tailpiece, single bound top, back, rosewood fingerboard, varied pattern fingerboard inlays starting at 3rd fret, single bound peghead, fleur-de-lis peghead inlay, nickel plated parts, sunburst finish.

1935 L-7 specs:

17" wide, X-braced top, ornate rectangle-enclosed fingerboard inlays, double-handled vase and curlicues peghead inlay, tailpiece with pointed ends and raised arrowheads.

1937 L-7 specs:

flat plate tailpiece with cutouts,some engraved with "L-7" on base.

1939 L-7 specs:

natural finish available, parallel top bracing.

1942 L-7 specs:

triple bound top, double-parallelagram fingerboard inlays, crown peghead inlay.

1944 L-7 specs:

standard trapeze tailpiece, some with fleur-de-lis peghead inlay and wood crosspiece on tailpiece.

1948 L-7, L-7C specs:

L-7C (cutaway) introduced, laminated beveled-edge pickguard, pickguard with 1 or 2 pickups available.

1956 L-7C specs:

L-7 (non-cutaway) discontinued. L-7C Tailpiece with pointed ends and 2 raised diamonds.

L-7C Discontinued 1972.

1936 L-10 (17")

Model: L-10 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1929 to 1939
Collectibility Rating: C (all models non-cutaway. A higher-end model, but still not an L5 or Super 400, so has limited appeal except to some few collectors).

1929 L-10 introduction specs:

16" wide, strings loop over trapeze tailpiece, single bound top, back, fingerboard, dot inlays, nickel plated parts, black finish. Available in 1929, but didn't appear in any Gibson catalogs until 1931.

1934 L-10 specs:

Ornate rectangle-enclosed fingerboard inlays, single bound peghead, double-handled vase peghead inlay.

1935 L-10 specs:

17" wide, X-braced top, raised diamonds on tailpiece, black and white checkered binding on top, double-arrow fingerboard inlays, ornate vase and curlicues peghead inlay, red mahogany sunburst finish.

1936 L-10 specs:

flat plate tailpiece with cutouts, diamond and curlicues peghead inlay.

L-10 Discontinued 1939.

1934 L-12 (16").

Model: L-12 and L-12p (Premier) Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1932 to 1955
Collectibility Rating: C+ (all models non-cutaway. A higher-end model, but still not an L5 or Super 400, so has limited appeal except to some few collectors).

1932 L-12 introduction specs:

16" wide, trapeze tailpiece, single bound top, back, fingerboard, ornate rectangle-enclosed fingerboard inlays, single bound peghead, double-handled vase and curlicues peghead, gold plated parts, red mahogany sunburst finish.

1935 L-12 specs:

17" wide, X-braced top, triple bound top, peghead and pickguard, double-parallelagram fingerboard inlays, 7 piece diamond/star shaped peghead inlay, sunburst finish.

1937 L-12 specs:

flat plate tailpiece with cutouts.

1939 L-12 specs:

parallel top bracing.

1941 L-12 specs:

single bound peghead and pickguard, crown peghead inlay, sealed tuners, tulip tuner buttons.

1947 L-12p (Premier) specs:

rounded cutaway introduced on premier model. Premier model discontinued 1949.

L-12 Discontinued 1955.

Model: L-30 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1935 to 1943.
Collectibility Rating: D- (a very basic non-cutaway model).

1935 L-30 introduction specs:

14.75" wide, flat back, adjustable bridge, trapeze tailpiece, elevated unbound pickguard, single bound top and back, dot fingerboard inlays, silkscreen peghead logo, black finish.

1937 L-30 specs:

dark mahogany brown sunburst top, brown mahogany finish on back and sides.

L-30 discontinued in 1943.

Model: L-37 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1935 to 1941.
Collectibility Rating: D- (a very basic non-cutaway model).

1935 L-37 introduction specs:

14.75" wide, flat back, adjustable bridge, trapeze tailpiece, round soundhole, single bound top, back & pickguard, dot fingerboard inlays, red mahogany sunburst finish.

1937 L-37 specs:

brown sunburst top, brown mahogany finish on back and sides.

L-37 discontinued in 1941.

Model: L-47 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1940 to 1943.
Collectibility Rating: D- (a very basic non-cutaway war-time model).

1940 L-47.

1940 L-47 introduction specs:

14.75" wide, flat back, tortoise grain binding on top & back, white binding on pickguard, natural or sunburst finish.

L-47 discontinued in 1943.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Model: L-48 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1946 to 1971.
Collectibility Rating: D- (a very basic non-cutaway model).

1946 L-48 introduction specs:

16" wide, mahogany top (some early models with spruce top), single bound top and back, dot fingerboard inlays (a few early models with trapezoid), silkscreen peghead logo, sunburst finish.

1952 L-48 specs:

Spruce top, maple back, mahogany sides.

1954 L-48 specs:

Some with a spruce top and some with a laminated mahogany top.

1957 L-48 specs:

Laminiated mahogany top and sides, laminated maple back specified in catalog but in reality most had a mahogany back.

L-48 discontinued in 1971.

Model: L-50 Acoustic Archtop
Available: late 1932 to 1971.
Collectibility Rating: 1932,1933: C-. 1934 and onward: D- (a very basic non-cutaway archtop model).

1932, 1933, 1934 Gibson L-50 guitars. Picture by Zizala.

Sept. 1932 L-50 introduction specs:

14.75" wide, 17 1/2" long, flat back (some with arched back), most with round sound hole (some with "f" holes), moveable ebony bridge, short trapeze tailpiece, pickguard glued to top (even though the top is slightly arched), single bound top (back usually unbound), dot fingerboard inlays, pearl "Gibson" logo, dark mahogany sunburst finish. Body has a sort of dreadnaught body shape. Both f hole and round hole models have ladder bracing.

1933 L-50 specs:

Second body style is like the 1932 body but the sound hole moves closer to the neck (and become slightly smaller), the waist slightly narrows, and total body length shortens a little. Still has glued-on pickguard. (This version is like a Kalamazoo KG-11 body.)

1934 L-50 specs:

Body changes again to a 14.75" wide archtop size (waist narrows even more, body increases in length, some still have a round slightly larger sound hole), 19.25" long, many seen with "f" holes, trapeze tailpiece, elevated pickguard (like an archtop).

1935 L-50 specs:

16" wide, arched back, "f" holes standard.

1936 L-50 specs:

Tailpiece with raised diamonds.

1943 (wartime) L-50 specs:

wood crosspiece on tailpiece (to save metal), 3 on-a-plate tuners, painted or decal "Gibson" logo.

1946 L-50 specs:
Single bound pickguard, single bound fingerboard with pearloid trapezoid inlays.

1949 L-50 specs:
Laminated beveled edge pickguard.

L-50 discontinued in 1971.

Model: L-75 Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1932 to 1939.
Collectibility Rating: C- (a non-cutaway model, but with a round soundhole).

1932 L-75 introduction specs:

14.75" wide, 17 1/2" long, flat back, mahogany back and sides, short trapeze tailpiece, bound top and back, white pearloid fingerboard and peghead veneer, bound fingerboard with ornate rectangle enclosed inlays, notched diamond peghead inlay.

1934 L-75 specs:

19.25" long, standard trapeze tailpiece, single bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, double handled vase peghead inlay.

1935 L-75 specs:

16" wide, arched back, round sound hole, evalated pickguard, 3 piece column-like peghead inlay.

L-75 discontinued in 1939.

Model: Super 300 and Super 300C Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1948 to 1958
Collectibility Rating: Cutaway model: B, Non-cutaway model: C.

1952 Super 300 (non-cutaway). Picture from Archtop dot com.

1948 Super 300 introduction specs:

A plain version of the Super 400. 18" wide, triple bound top and back, tailpiece with 3 cutouts, laminated beveled-edge pickguard, single bound fingerboard with square end, double-parallelagram fingerboard inlays, crown peghead inlay, sunburst finish.

1954 Super 300C specs:

cutaway version introduced.

1955 Super 300C specs:

Super 300 (non-cutaway) discontinued.

Super 300C Discontinued 1958.

 

 

 

 

1939 Super 400 Premier, natural

Model: Super 400, Super 400P, Super 400C Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1934 to present
Collectibility Rating: Non-cutaway model: B+, Cutaway model: A+.

1934 Super 400 introduction specs:

18" wide, X-braced top, figured maple back and sides, adjustable bridge with triangular inlay at each end, tailpiece with "Y" shaped center and model name on crosspiece, 7 ply top binding, triple bound back and F-holes, brown pearloid pickguard with 5 ply binding, pointed end ebony fingerboard, single and double split-block fingerboard inlays, 5 ply peghead binding, 5 piece split diamond peghead inlay, 3 piece split-diamond inlay on back of peghead, model name on heel cap, engraved open-back Grover tuners, gold plated parts, Cremona brown sunburst finish.

1936 Super 400 specs:

Upper bout widens to 13 5/8".

1938 Super 400 specs:

Stairstep tuner buttons.

1939 Super 400, 400P specs:

Premier (cutaway) model introduced with rounded cutaway. Rounded "Y" shape on tailpiece with hole at bottom for allen wrench tension adjustment, no hinge on tailpiece, Kluson tuners with amber tulip-shaped buttons, parallel top bracing, natural finish optional.

1942 Super 400, 400P specs:

no model name on heelcap.

1949 Super 400, 400C specs:

model name changes from Super 400p to Super 400C. rosewood fingerboard.

1953 Super 400, 400C specs:

ebony fingerboard.

1955 Super 400C specs:

Super 400 (non-cutaway) discontinued.

1957 Super 400C specs:

metal tuner buttons.

Super 400C Discontinued 1983, then re-introduced 1994.

1951 Super 400ces.

Model: Super 400CES Electric Archtop
Available: 1951 to present
Collectibility Rating: 1950's models: A+, 1960's models: B.

1951 Super 400CES introduction specs:

electric version of Super 400c. 18" wide, rounded cutaway, solid carved spruce top, carved maple top, maple sides, 2 P-90 pickups, mutiple bound top, back, F-holes, peghead, and pickguard, ebony fingerboard, split-block fingerboard inlays, sunburst or natural finish.

1954 Super 400CES specs:

Alnico V pickups replace P-90 pickups.

1957 Super 400CES specs:

Humbucking pickups replace Alnico V pickups.

1961 Super 400CES specs:

pointed cutaway, 1 or 2 piece laminated back.

1969 Super 400CES specs:

rounded cutaway, solid 2 piece back.

Super 400CES still available.

1966 Johnny Smith Double.

Model: Johnny Smith Acoustic Archtop
Available: 1961 to 1989
Collectibility Rating: B.

1961 Johnny Smith introduction specs:

17" wide, 3 1/8" deep (not as deep as an L-5), single round cutaway, carved spruce top, maple back and sides, X-braced top, 1 floating mini-humbucking pickups, knobs on pickguard, adjustable ebony bridge, L-5 style tailpiece with model name on center insert, multiple bound top, back, peghead and ebony fingerboard, split-block fingerboard inlays, 5 piece split diamond peghead inlay, gold plated parts, sunburst or natural finish.

1963 Johnny Smith specs:

2 pickup "double" version available.

Johnny Smith Discontinued in 1989.

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