Back to the L-00. In 1937 things kind of reversed themselves, and
the L-00 got back binding and shortly thereafter the L-0 lost back binding.
So in 1937, the only difference between L-00 and L-0 was the finish,
with one having a sunburst and the other black (but, this switched, too).
See the table below to determine which flavor you have.
(The biggest difference between the models is back body binding and the color.)
The L-OO is probably the most common of the three models,
but they made the L-O, L-1, and L-00
in great numbers, since they were inexpensive guitars. The L-2 production
was lower than the other L models.
I believe these L models are the nicest of the pre-WW2 small bodied Gibson flat tops.
Yes they are a small guitar by today's standards. But for some reason
that does not bother me (compared to Martin 00 models, which just seem
too small!) The Gibson L-00, L-0, L-1 and L-2 guitars are very comfortable to play with
a nice smooth sound. I really like them!
If you need to figure out the exact year of your Gibson L00/L0/L1/L2 guitar, use the FON Factory Order number.
This is located inside the body's sound hole.
See the Gibson Serial Number Info web page
for help determining the exact year.
If you have a vintage Gibson L-0, L-1, L-2 or L-00 guitar for sale, please contact me at
cfh@provide.net
(I would really like to find a Gibson L-2!)
Elevated fingerboard on an early black L-00.
General Information on L model Flattops
L-0 Flattop
Available: 1926 to 1942
Collectibility Rating: 13.5" wide models: D, 14.75" wide: C+.
The 1931 to 1942 models I feel are nice small bodied flat tops.
Very comparible to the L-00.
- 1926 L-0 introduction specs:
- $35 list price, 13 5/8" wide,
12 frets clear of body, spruce top with amber brown stain,
round lower body shape, slightly arched top and back,
brown stained birch back and sides,
b/w/b soundhole rings (varies but the L-0 has three sound rosette versus the L-1 which has five),
ebony bridge with pyramids at ends and black pins,
white bound top and back,
unbound ebonized fingerboard with dot inlays at 5th, 7th and 9th frets,
no pickguard,
25" scale length,
3-on-a-plate tuners usually with white buttons
(or sometimes black buttons), "The Gibson" angled peghead logo in white paint.
- 1928 L-0 specs:
- natural/amber finish mahogany top, 12 frets clear,
mahogany back and sides, b/w/b/w/b soundhole rings (varies).
Bottom belly bridge with raised center area (though late models
have a rectangle bridge with a spare white bridge pin below
other black pins), unbound rosewood fingerboard,
dot fingerboard inlays at 5th, 7th, 9th frets, 3-on-strip tuners,
scale length 24 1/4".
- 1929 L-0 specs:
- No belly to bridge, no extra bridge pin, rectangle bridge.
- 1930 L-0 specs:
- 14.75" wide lower bout (same body shape as the L-2),
body more square at bottom, natural finish mahogany top,
b/w/b/w/b soundhole ring, mahogany back and sides, bound top and back,
rectangular rosewood with angled saddle, 12 frets clear of body,
unbound fingerboard with dots at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets,
3-on-strip tuners, 24 3/4" scale length.
- 1932 L-0 specs:
- 14.75" wide, top and back now flat,
14 frets clear of the body, natural finish mahogany top,
mahogany back and sides, bound top and back, tortoise pickguard,
retangle bridge, unbound fingerboard, 24.75" scale,
dots at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets,
3-on-strip tuners, some with "Gibson" painted logo (no "the").
- 1933 L-0 discontinued.
- 1937 L-0 re-introduction specs:
- 14.75" wide, 14 frets clear,
spruce top with black finish, mahogany back and sides,
bound top and back, fire-striped tortoise grain pickguard
retangle bridge with black bridge pins
and end pin, dots at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets,
3-on-strip tuners. List price reduced to $25.
- 1942 L-0 discontinued.
L-1 Flattop
Available: 1926 to 1937 (note available earlier as an
Archtop model).
Collectibility Rating: 13.5" wide models: D, 14.75" wide: C+.
The 1931 to 1937 models I feel are nice small bodied flat tops,
very comparible to the L-00.
- 1926 L-1 introduction specs:
- $50 list price, 13 5/8" wide,
12 frets clear of body, 25" scale length, round lower body shape and narrow waist,
slightly arched spruce top with amber stain or natural,
b/w/b/w/b/soundhole rings (with black outer ring),
carved birch or maple back and sides
with brown dark stain, bound top and back (though some have an
unbound back), unbound ebony square end fingerboard
with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th frets. Fixed ebony
bridge with pyramids at ends and black pins,
25" scale length, "The Gibson" straight
peghead painted logo. Bracing pattern could be X,H or A.
- 1928 L-1 specs:
- 13 5/8" wide, 12 frets clear, 24 1/4" scale length,
spruce top with stained shaded finish,
mahogany back and sides, bound top and back,
b/w/b/w/b soundhole rings (no black outer ring),
bottom bellow rosewood bridge with raised center, 3-on-strip tuners,
bound rosewood fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
- 1929 L-1 specs:
- 13 5/8" wide, 12 frets clear, spruce top with stained shaded finish,
mahogany back and sides, bound top and back,
bottom bellow rosewood bridge with raised center and extra bridge pin
(though later models had a rectangle bridge), 3-on-strip tuners,
bound rosewood fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
- 1930 L-1 specs:
- 14.75" wide, 12 frets clear, body more squared at bottom,
12 frets clear of body, 24 3/4" scale length, spruce top with stained shaded finish,
mahogany back and sides, bound top and back, 3-on-strip tuners,
longer modern type rectangle bridge, unbound fingerboard with
dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
- 1932 L-1 specs:
- 14.75" wide, 14 frets clear of the
body, 24.75" scale length, small sprayed sunburst finish,
mahogany back and sides, bound top and back,
fire striped tortoise pickguard, retangle bridge, unbound
fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
Individual tuners, "Gibson" peghead logo (no "the"),
reduced $37.50 list retail price.
- 1937 L-1 discontinued.
L-00 Flattop
Available: 1931 to 1945
Collectibility Rating: B.
- 1931 Gibson L-00 guitar introduction specs:
- Actually introduced
in 1931 with FON batch 21 (but first catalog appearance in 1932),
$25 list price. 14 3/4" wide, spruce top with black finish,
12 frets clear of body, 24 3/4" scale, mahogany back and sides,
white bound top only (unbound back), white pickguard (though not having a
pickguard was an option), rectangle rosewood bridge
with black bridge pins, unbound ebonized fingerboard with
dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets. "V" shaped neck,
3-on-a-plate open back strip tuners, tapered peghead,
can have either "the Gibson" or "Gibson" peghead logo in white paint.
- 1933 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- 14 3/4" body, 14 frets clear of body,
24 3/4" scale, spruce top with small to medium sized yellow sprayed sunburst,
Scalloped X bracing,
mahogany back and sides, bound top only (though occasionally a
bound back too), fire-striped tortoise pickguard (or sometimes a
mocking style tortoise pickguard), rectangle bridge,
unbound fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
Also now has a "Gibson" peghead logo (no "the"),
$27.50 list retail price.
- 1935 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- spruce top sunburst changes
a bit with medium sized yellow sprayed sunburst.
- 1936 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- bound top only (though some do have a bound back now.)
- 1937 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- spruce top sunbrust changes
yet again with a larger sized yellow sprayed sunburst.
List price $30, all have back bound now.
A few 3/4 scale L-00 models sold.
- 1941 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- Natural finish available.
List price now $36.75 for sunburst,
$42 for natural.
- 1944 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- A few L-00 models made with
"Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner peghead logo on the narrow
1930s style peghead. This model is rarely seen after 1942,
since the LG series of guitars largely replaced the L-00.
- 1945 Gibson L-00 guitar discontinued.
L-2 Flattop
Available: 1929 to 1935.
Collectibility Rating: a fancier version of the other L models,
and hence is generally a better model with more advanced features.
- June 1929 L-2 introduction specs:
- Started as an archtop model
and was converted to a flat top. The L-2 was the first 14.75" wide mahogany
body (pre-dates L-1 and Nick Lucas.) Double bound top and back and bound neck.
Had slightly arched top and back.
Archtop style adjustable bridge and tailpiece, no pickguard.
Started with a "The Gibson" silkscreened logo, then "Gibson", then pearl "Gibson" logo.
The first few batches of L-2 models had 13 frets clear of the body and the neck
had a volute (!) and Grover banjo tuners. Sunburst or natural top finish.
- 1930 L-2 specs:
- Some moade with gold sparkle binding.
- 1931 L-2 specs:
- Mahogany back and sides, pin style bridge, sometimes
has gold spark top binding, 12 frets clear of body, 6 point flame peghead inlay,
argentine gray sunburst finish.
- 1932 L-2 specs:
- top is completely flat now, rosewood back and sides (actually
rosewood was first used on this model in 1931),
normal body binding, adjustable bridge and trapeze tailpiece, elevated pickguard,
- 1933 L-2 specs:
- 14 frets clear of the body, pin bridge and no tailpiece,
pickguard glued to top, mahogany back and sides. (Kind of interesting that the
1929 catalog mentions 14 fret necks, but Gibson didn't actually make one until 1933.)
- 1934 L-2 specs:
- some with no peghead ornament.
- 1935 Gibson L-2 guitar discontinued.
The following table (based on E.Whitford's "Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars")
shows an "easy" way to tell the difference between pre-war L-0, L-00 and L-1 flat top models
(which are all very similar!)
First start with the color on the left. Then move right
to narrow down the features, which will identify the model and approximate year.
Identifying pre-war Gibson L-0, L-00, L-1, L-2 guitars.
Body Color |
Frets |
Features |
Model |
Year |
Black |
12 frets |
white pickguard
unbound back
"the Gibson" logo |
L-00 |
1932 |
Black |
14 frets |
no pickguard
unbound back
"the Gibson" logo
Black finish discontinued on L models. |
L-00 |
1932 |
Black |
14 frets |
Black finish starts again on L models.
Firestripe pickguard
unbound back
"Gibson" logo |
L-00 |
April 1936 |
Black |
14 frets |
L-0 reintroduced August 1937
firestripe pickguard
bound back |
L-0 |
1937-1942 |
Black |
12 frets |
straight bridge saddle
heavy top bracing
firestripe pickguard
bound back |
HG-0 |
1937-1938 |
Natural/Amber |
12 frets |
Mahogany top
black bridge pins
tortoise pickguard
back binding |
L-0 |
1930-1931 |
Natural/Amber |
14 frets |
Mahogany top
black bridge pins
tortoise pickguard
back binding
L-0 discontinued 1933 |
L-0 |
1932-1933 |
Sunburst |
12 frets |
white bridge pins
no pickguard
(or elevated PG)
"small" sunburst
bound back
slightly arched top/back |
L-1 |
1930-1931 |
Sunburst |
14 frets |
white bridge pins
no pickguard
"small" sunburst
slightly arched top/back |
L-1 |
1932-1933 |
Sunburst |
14 frets |
white bridge pins
pickguard
"small" sunburst
bound back
flat top/back.
L-1 discontinued 1937. |
L-1 |
1934-1937 |
Sunburst |
14 frets |
black bridge pins
pickguard
"small" sunburst
unbound back |
L-00 |
1933-1935 |
Sunburst |
14 frets |
black bridge pins
pickguard
"medium" sunburst
bound or unbound back |
L-00 |
1936 |
Sunburst |
14 frets |
black bridge pins
pickguard
"large" sunburst
bound back |
L-00 |
1937-1945 |
Sunburst |
12 frets |
straight bridge saddle
heavy top bracing
unbound back |
HG-00 |
1937-1942 |
Sunburst or Natural |
12 fret? |
Bound neck
funky peghead inlay
Natural finish available around 1932
trapeze tail & rosewood back in 1932
pin bridge & often mahogany back in 1933 |
L-2 |
1929-1935 |
Natural |
14 frets |
white bridge pins
pickguard
bound back |
L-00 |
1941 |
Body Color |
Frets |
Features |
Model |
Year |
"small sunburst" has a yellow center about 6" in diameter.
"medium sunburst" has a yellow center about 8" to 10" in diameter.
"large sunburst" has a brown edge about 2" to 3" thick.
"frets" means playable frets clear of the body (either 12 or 14, but 13 frets clear is sometimes seen).
Using Joe Spann's book on Gibson FON numbers, here's a list of known Gibson L-0, L-00, L-1 and L-2
factory order numbers (not all inclusive.) The neat thing about this (rather long) list, is it can help determine
which model of L guitar you have. So if you can't figure out your guitar from the specs, yet you can
read the FON on the neck block, this list may help you with the year/model of your small body Gibson
flat top guitar. The other neat thing about this list is you can tell what type of production numbers
Gibson was running for these model (except in the 1938/1939 when Gibson seemed to stop recording FON
numbers for shipping purposes.)
1926:
- 8233 = L-1
- 8234 = L-1
- 8235 = L-1
- 8285 = L-0
- 8288 = L-1
- 8333 = L-0
- 8334 = L-1
- 8386 = L-0
- 8401 = L-0
- 8406 = L-1
- 8407 = L-0 & L-1
- 8408 = L-0
- 8432 = L-1
- 8433 = L-1
- 8475 = L-0
- 8476 = L-1
- 8514 = L-0
- 8516 = L-1
1927:
- 8567 = L-0
- 8568 = L-1
- 8665 = L-0
- 8666 = L-0
- 8667 = L-1
- 8767 = L-0
- 8810 = L-0
- 8811 = L-0
- 8812 = L-1
1928:
- 8943 = L-1
- 8955 = L-0
- 8988 = L-0
- 9001 = L-1
- 9002 = L-1
- 9003 = L-0
- 9004 = L-1
- 9005 = L-3
- 9033 = L-0
- 9051 = L-1
- 9052 = L-1
- 9074 = L-0
- 9075 = L-0
- 9076 = L-0
- 9077 = L-1
- 9127 = L-0
- 9128 = L-0
- 9142 = L-0
- 9145 = L-0
- 9146 = L-1
- 9174 = L-0
- 9175 = L-0
- 9176 = L-0
- 9181 = L-0
- 9200 = L-0
- 9201 = L-0
- 9202 = L-1
- 9203 = L-1
- 9212 = L-1
- 9213 = L-3
1929:
- 9237 = L-1
- 9238 = L-1
- 9246 = L-0
- 9247 = L-0
- 9289 = L-1
- 9291 = L-0
- 9304 = L-1
- 9317 = L-1
- 9349 = L-1
- 9375 = L-0
- 9376 = L-1
- 9379 = L-0
- 9380 = L-1
- 9381 = L-2
- 9406 = L-1
- 9409 = L-0
- 9435 = L-1
- 9437 = L-0
- 9446 = L-0
- 9447 = L-1
- 9456 = L-0
- 9457 = L-1
- 9476 = L-2
- 9490 = L-1
- 9497 = L-0
- 9499 = L-1
1930:
- 9505 = L-2
- 9506 = L-0
- 9507 = L-0
- 9508 = L-1
- 9511 = L-1
- 9564 = L-0
- 9565 = L-0
- 9566 = L-0
- 9567 = L-0
- 9568 = L-1
- 9569 = L-1
- 9570 = L-1
- 9571 = L-1
- 9572 = L-2
- 9573 = L-2
- 9574 = L-2 Hawaiian
- 9579 = L-2
- 9585 = L-0
- 9595 = L-1
- 9604 = L-1
- 9629 = L-0
- 9630 = L-2
- 9685 = L-2
- 9686 = L-3
- 9735 = L-0
- 9736 = L-1
- 9740 = L-0
- 9753 = L-0
- 9755 = L-0
- 9756 = L-1
- 9759 = L-1
- 9760 = L-2
- 9767 = L-0
- 9768 = L-1
- 9769 = L-2
- 9785 = L-0
- 9786 = L-1
- 9793 = L-2
1931:
- 9807 = L-2
- 9808 = L-0
- 9809 = L-1
- 9820 = L-1
- 9873 = L-0
- 9875 = L-0 3/4 size
- 9897 = L-1
- 9919 = L-0
- 9920 = L-1
- 9954 = L-0
- 9985 = L-1
- 9987 = L-0
- 9988 = L-1
- 2 = L-1
- 21 = L-00 (first L-00 batch)
- 28 = L-0
- 30 = L-1
- 33 = L-0
- 35 = L-00
- 36 = L-0
- 37 = L-1
- 40 = L-1
- 48 = L-0
- 49 = L-1
- 59 = L-2
- 66 = L-00
- 67 = L-00
- 70 = L-00
- 79 = L-0
- 80 = L-1
- 83 = L-00
- 88 = L-00
- 99 = L-0
- 100 = L-1
- 108 = L-00
- 113 = L-2
- 126 = L-1
- 127 = L-0
- 132 = L-00
- 139 = L-00
- 149 = L-0
- 155 = L-0
- 156 = L-00
1932:
- 163 = L-0
- 167 = L-1
- 168 = L-00
- 178 = L-0
- 181 = L-0
- 188 = L-0
- 190 = L-00
- 203 = L-00
- 207 = L-1
- 208 = L-0
- 211 = L-00
- 214 = L-0
- 217 = L-0
- 219 = L-00
- 228 = L-0
- 229 = L-00 12 fret
- 242 = L-00
- 250 = L-00
- 251 = L-1 12 fret
- 254 = L-0
- 256 = L-00
- 263 = L-00
- 269 = L-00 13 fret
- 272 = L-1
- 281 = L-00
- 298 = L-1 14 fret. (Beginning of 14 fret models.)
- 309 = L-00
- 315 = L-00
- 316 = L-00
- 317 = L-00
- 321 = L-00
- 322 = L-00
- 323 = L-1
- 325 = L-00
- 328 = L-00 b&w 12 fret
- 335 = L-0
- 336 = L-0
- 337 = L-0
- 338 = L-0
- 351 = L-00
- 353 = L-2
1933:
- 361 = L-1
- 364 = L-0 12 fret
- 365 = L-0
- 369 = L-0
- 370 = L-0 12 fret
- 371 = L-0
- 386 = L-1
- 388 = L-1
- 392 = L-0
- 393 = L-00 & L-1
- 395 = L-00
- 398 = L-0
- 403 = L-1
- 405 = L-00
- 407 = L-0
- 409 = L-0
- 415 = L-00
- 417 = L-0
- 418 = L-00
- 427 = L-1
- 430 = L-0
- 433 = L-00
- 437 = L-1
- 442 = L-00
- 445 = L-00
- 450 = L-1
- 453 = L-2
- 456 = L-00
- 466 = L-0
- 467 = L-00
- 478 = L-00
- 479 = L-00
- 481 = L-0
- 488 = L-00
- 499 = L-00
- 510 = L-00
- 512 = L-2
- 514 = L-2
- 531 = L-00
- 532 = L-1
- 545 = L-00
- 551 = L-00
- 567 = L-1
- 575 = L-00
- 577 = L-00
- 594 = L-00
- 595 = L-2
- 609 = L-1
- 612 = L-1
- 632 = L-1
- 633 = L-00
- 643 = L-00
- 650 = L-00
- 651 = L-1
- 654 = L-00
- 665 = L-00
- 672 = L-00
- 674 = L-1
- 675 = L-00
- 692 = L-0
- 701 = L-00 & L-1
- 702 = L-00
- 708 = L-00
- 710 = L-00
- 715 = L-1
- 730 = L-1
- 733 = L-00
- 745 = L-1
- 752 = L-1
- 762 = L-00
- 768 = L-00
- 777 = L-00
- 779 = L-1
- 812 = L-1
- 815 = L-00 & L-1
- 821 = L-0
- 833 = L-00
- 835 = L-00
- 845 = L-00
- 853 = L-00
- 856 = L-1
- 865 = L-00
- 876 = L-00
- 877 = L-00
- 884 = L-1
- 887 = L-0
- 3391 = L-00
1934:
- 902 = L-00
- 908 = L-1
- 915 = L-00
- 916 = L-00
- 917 = L-00
- 918 = L-00
- 919 = L-00
- 920 = L-00
- 921 = L-00
- 929 = L-1
- 1002 = L-1
- 1022 = L-1
- 1085 = L-00
- 1088 = L-00
- 1183 = L-00
- 1212 = L-00
- 1254 = L-00
- 1303 = L-1
- 1308 = L-1
- 1325 = L-00
- 1450 = L-1
1935:
- 1 = L-1
- 20 = L-00
- 136a = L-1
- 172a = L-1
- 191a = L-00
- 201a = L-00
- 207a = L-00
- 238a = L-00
- 283a = L-00
- 348 = L-00
- 364a = L-00
- 386a = L-00
- 389a = L-00
- 515a = L-00
- 1294 = L-1
- 1344 = L-00
- 1395 = L-00
- 1423 = L-00
- 1471 = L-00
- 1477a = L-00
- 1515a = L-00
1936:
- 354b = L-0
- 435b = L-1
- 436b = L-00
- 529b = L-00
- 533b = L-00
- 598b = L-00
- 618b = L-1
- 619b = L-00
- 634b = L-00
- 672b = L-00
- 703b = L-00
- 717b = L-0
- 730b = L-00
- 747b = L-00
- 756b = L-00
- 772b = L-00
- 773b = L-00
- 837b = L-00
- 838b = L-00
- 851b = L-00
- 854b = L-0
- 887b = L-00
- 895b = L-00
- 913b = L-00
- 916b = L-00
- 947b = L-00
- 948b = L-00
- 949b = L-00
- 966b = L-00
- 1081b = L-00
- 1123b = L-00
1937:
- 30c = L-00
- 50c = L-00
- 54c = L-0
- 80c = L-00
- 107c = L-00 3/4
- 123c = HG-00
- 177c = L-00
- 201c = H-0
- 202c = H-00
- 203c = L-00
- 204c = L-00 3/4
- 259c = L-00
- 310c = L-0
- 317c = L-00
- 337c = L-0
- 357c = L-00
- 374c = L-0
- 375c = L-00
- 397c = HG-00
- 421c = L-00
- 422c = L-00
- 423c = L-0
- 424c = L-0
- 464c = L-00
- 465c = L-00
- 485v = L-0
- 512c = L-00
- 522c = L-0
- 527c = L-0
- 528c = L-0
- 529c = L-00
- 564c = L-00
- 599c = L-0
- 610c = L-0
- 612c = L-00
- 629c = L-00
- 645c = HG-0
- 675c = L-0
- 690c = L-0
- 692c = HG-00
- 822c = L-00
- 1194c = L-00
- 1199c = L-00
- 1215c = L-00
- 1250c = L-00
- 1260c = L-00
- 1269c = L-00
- 1270c = L-00
- 1294c = L-00
- 1304c = HG-00
- 1321c = L-00
- 1322c = L-00
- 1346c = L-00
- 1377c = L-00
- 1379c = L-00 & L-1
- 1387c = L-00
1938:
- 757d = HG-00
- 902d = HG-00
- 941d = L-00
1940:
- 451f = L-0
- 610f = L-0
- 802f = L-00
- 831f = HG-00
- 965f = L-00
- 1220f = L-00
- 1221f = L-0
- 1466f = L-0
- 3742f = L-00
1941:
- 29g = L-00
- 30g = L-00
- 123g = HG-00
- 2177g = L-0
- 2287g = L-00
- 2380g = L-0
- 2381g = L-00
- 2739g = L-00
- 2928g = L-0
- 2999g = L-0
- 3000g = L-00
- 3464g = HG-00
- 3465g = L-0
- 3999g = L-0
- 4044g = L-0
- 4258g = L-0
- 4259g = L-0
- 4657g = L-00
- 5126g = L-0
- 5127g = L-0
- 5224g = L-00
- 5283g = L-00
1942:
- 7089h = L-0
- 7209h = L-00
- 7212h = L-00
- 7214h = L-0
- 7216h = L-0
- 7429h = L-0
- 7430h = L-0
- 7458h = L-0
- 7460h = L-00
- 7727h = L-0
1943 (white logo):
- 902 = L-00
- 2000 = L-00
- 2003 = L-00
- 2008 = L-00
- 2044 = L-00
- 2135 = L-00
- 2177 = L-00
1944 (banner logo, small peghead):
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