Thanks for checking out this rare, fixed bridge L-1 from 1907! This guitar perfectly fits into a brief transitional period for this guitar when Gibson started using the oval paper label and open book headstock, but before they started adding the logo to the headstock. Just prior to this, the L-1 had the earlier label with the lyre on it and the guitar had a slotted headstock. Soon after this, “The Gibson” began appearing on the headstock.

This guitar survives almost completely original. Most of these fixed bridge L-1 guitars either imploded from the stress of the 13 gauge flatwound strings, or they were converted to a floating bridge with trapeze tailpiece. Not this little thing! Except for most of the back kerfing, the saddle and 4” of neck binding, its original. And I have the original saddle! Even the original case survived (though it is very rough). Oh, there are minor finish touch-ups along the back edge of the bridge, too.

This L-1 spend decades in its case in an attic in New Hampshire, and it was pretty rough when it came into the shop. We’ve done a lot of work to get this guitar 100% solid and playing great, including:

-Removal and replacement of most of the back’s kerfing. It had all cracked and broken and the back was barely attached at the neck block. It absolutely could not have been saved.
-Heel repair on low E side: a small piece had broken off and could not be found. There’s a small repair and finish touch up
-Neck reset & fingerboard: the fingerboard has to come off to do a neck reset on these. Fortunately, the fingerboard was already off of the guitar, so we did the necessary work to get the neck out of the pocket and set it properly. We repaired the fingerboard and glued it back on, then reglued the loose binding. The fingerboard binding above the low-E side neck extension was not salvageable, so that binding is new. The black side dot marker for the 12th fret is also new, and made of wood.

-New. custom made unbleached bone saddle. The nut is original.
-Reglue the bridge and bridge plate. Both were barely hanging on. The slow peeling of the bridge took some of the finish with it, and that has been touched up with nitrocellulose lacqer.
-Reglued the back onto the sides: as mentioned above, most of the kerfing had broken and could not be repaired. In an effort to keep the guitar as original as possible, I chose to not modify the footprint of the back to have it match the sides slightly. I have to cut the back down the middle (it’s one solid piece) to do that, and it didn’t seem right to me. I’d also have to get into significant finish repairs and that didn’t seem right either. There are spots where the back slightly exceeds and parts where it’s slightly shrunken from the sides.
-Lots of careful cleaning and a gentle polish to make it glow.

The guitar is strung with Silk and Steel strings to reduce tension, and it plays great with low action. the sound with these strings is kind of like a uke, which makes sense with the small body and string choice. The frets are original and have very little wear. The neck retains its original V profile, and it is straight.

Considering the age of the guitar, the finish is in excellent condition, with only some minor touch-ups along the back edge of the bridge.

The guitar will be well packed in its original case, and it will be shipped within 48 hours of receiving payment. We will send it overnight or 2nd day depending on where you live, and it will be fully insured with a signature required for delivery.

For pictures of the restoration process, you can check out our Instagram account: Underground Guitar Repair

Please ask any questions, and I’ll do my best to answer as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Thanks!!