The Gibson L-3 was part of the company's earliest archtop line, predating the more famous L-5 by several years. In 1920, Gibson was building these guitars by hand in Kalamazoo, carving tops rather than pressing them, and the L-3 sat just above the entry-level L-1 in the catalog. These instruments were the working guitars of the early jazz and ragtime era, and surviving examples in playable condition are genuinely scarce. The finish on this one is original and in amazing shape for a 106 year old guitar. The ebony fretboard, bone nut, and original ebony bridge and saddle are period-correct details that matter to collectors. The original tortoiseshell pickguard survives as well. This is a legitimate piece of American guitar-making history from Gibson's early years.

A hand-carved solid spruce top over laminated maple back and sides in a 13-3/4" lower-bout archtop body is the construction formula here. That combination — carved spruce responding to a shallow, relatively narrow arched body — produces a focused, midrange-forward tone with natural compression and a woody, dry character typical of early Gibson archtops. This is not a loud guitar by modern standards, but it projects with clarity and has the kind of intimate, woody resonance that makes these early L-series instruments appealing for fingerpicking, chord melody, and parlor-style playing. At 4 lbs 4 oz with a 24-1/8" scale and 1-7/8" nut, it plays like the small, comfortable instrument it is. Overall condition is good for a guitar that has been around since 1920 — over a century of use and it still holds together and plays.

The tailpiece is non-original — that is the most significant departure from stock. The headstock was modified to accept the current generic repro MIJ open-gear tuners, which are also non-original. The nut has been shimmed. The bridge has been shimmed at some point as well, though it is original. There was a refret done at some point — it's described as well done, and fret condition is very good. The back shows signs of repair near the rear, possibly from shrinkage pulling the back away from the sides; there is a cleat visible inside on the back. Action is low at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret. A non-original output-jack-style strap button is present at the rear. Comes in a generic chipboard case in fair condition.

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.

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SPECIFICATIONS

• Color: Sunburst
• Finish Original?: Yes
• Finish Condition: Good for 106 years old!
• Weight: 4lbs 4oz
• Overall Length: 38-18"
• Nut Width: 1-7/8"
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2.336"
• Scale Length: 24-1/8"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Neck Material: Mahogany
• Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dot
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: 1.045"
• Neck Condition: Very good
• Neck Repairs: None
• Tuner Brand And Model: Generic repro MIJ open gear
• Tuners Original?: No
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: Yes
• Truss Rod Cover: None
• Nut Original: Yes
• Nut Material: Bone
• Nut Repairs: Shimmed
• Fretboard Material: Ebony
• Fretboard Condition: Very good
• Fretboard Radius: 7.25"
• Fretboard Repairs: None
• Fret Condition: Very good
• Fret Repairs: Well done refret at some point
• Fret Count: 19
• Body Length: 19"
• Lower Bout: 13-3/4"
• Waist: 8"
• Upper Bout: 10-1/8"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 3-5/16"
• Top Material: Hand-carved solid spruce
• Top Condition: Very good
• Top Cracks: None
• Top Repairs: None
• Top Binding: Yes
• Top Binding Condition: Good
• Back & Side Material: Laminated Maple
• Back & Side Condition: Good, looks repaired at some point near rear. Maybe some shrinkage of the back pulling away from the side.
• Back & Side Repairs: Cleat inside on back
• Back & Side Binding: Yes
• Bridge Wood: Ebony
• Bridge Original?: Yes
• Bridge Condition: Very good, shimmed at some point
• Saddle Material: Ebony
• Saddle Original?: Yes
• Saddle Condition: Very good
• Pickguard Color: Tortoise Shell
• Pickguard Original?: Yes
• Strap Buttons: Yes, non original. Leftover output jack style at rear.
• Pickup System: None
• Case Brand: Generic
• Case Original?: No
• Case Condition: Fair
• Case Smells?: None
• Accessories Included: None
• String Gauge: 12-53
• Documentation: None
• Smells?: None
• Notes: Non original tailpiece
• Condition: Good
• Neck Thickness At 8th Fret: 1.325"
• Neck Profile: Chunky pronounced V

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