This 1940 Gibson L-7 is the epitome of what was desired in a big band guitar in the era of swing.  It is super punchy with loads of almost limitless headroom. If you push it, it will push back in volume.  It plays wonderfully with nice action and some room to adjust the action at bridge either up or down. The neck has a carve that isn't often seen on a Gibson archtop of this era with a slight, soft V-shape near the headstock which quickly becomes a C-shape as one's hand moves up the neck. The carve is full, but not overly large, and feels great in the hand.The 

The guitar is free of breaks, but has one cleated crack near the treble f-hole, underneath the pickguard. The top was refinished a very long time ago with a very thin layer of lacquer.  The back and sides appear to have original finish on them.  The neck also appears to have been refinished with less than perfect redo of the back of headstock stinger.  There is no evidence of any breaks or crack in the headstock.  The tuners, tortoiseshell pickguard, and tailpiece all appear original, the tailpiece being the fairly shortly lived version with outward radiating points that preceded the version with three parallelograms. The fingerboard has mother of pearl block inlays, rather than the celluloid double parallelograms typically seen, but the board itself appears consistent with an original Br. rosewood board and the frets appear consistent with era correct originals.  The history of any specific work done beyond what I can see and have noted above is unknown.

Weight - 5.5 pounds

Nut width - 1.65 inches

1st fret neck depth - 0.90 inches

9th fret neck depth - 0.99 inches

Scale length - 25.5 inches

Lower bout width - 17 inches

Body depth at rim - 3.35 inches

The guitar comes with a later, nice hard shell case that is in good and completely functioning condition.

Ships free in the United States and for reasonable rates worldwide.