Gibson L2

wayside

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Well, this is my biggest find yet. I picked this up at an estate sale this morning. A 1932 Gibson L2 with a pin bridge. These are extremely rare and this baby is in excellent condition. Even came with its original case. It's got rosewood back and sides and even with decades old strings on it she sounds amazing.

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Frosty

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Sweet! And a 14 fret neck too.


God help me, but I am a fan of old Gibson guitars. I have read:

In 1932 they added an elevated pick guard , trapeze tailpiece optional, rosewood back and sides , neck meets the body at the 13th fret and were made in natural or sunburst colors .

In 1934-35 the pick guard was glued to the top , neck meets the body at the 14th fret , traditional gibson logo and were made in natural finishes . Discontinued in late 34 or early 35 .


Likely a '34 or '35 model according to the above. Is there a FON on the heel block?

Congratulations!
 

wayside

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Frosty said:
Sweet! And a 14 fret neck too.


God help me, but I am a fan of old Gibson guitars. I have read:

In 1932 they added an elevated pick guard , trapeze tailpiece optional, rosewood back and sides , neck meets the body at the 13th fret and were made in natural or sunburst colors .

In 1934-35 the pick guard was glued to the top , neck meets the body at the 14th fret , traditional gibson logo and were made in natural finishes . Discontinued in late 34 or early 35 .


Likely a '34 or '35 model according to the above. Is there a FON on the heel block?

Congratulations!

1932 Gibson L-2 specs:
No sparkle trim, mahogany or rosewood back and sides, pin bridge (adjustable bridge with trapeze tailpiece optional), elevated or glued down pickguard, raised rosewood fingerboard (or not!), 12 or 13 frets clear of the body, natural top finish or Argentine gray sunburst finish.



FON is 453, It's definitely a 1932.
 

Frosty

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wayside said:
1932 Gibson L-2 specs:
No sparkle trim, mahogany or rosewood back and sides, pin bridge (adjustable bridge with trapeze tailpiece optional), elevated or glued down pickguard, raised rosewood fingerboard (or not!), 12 or 13 frets clear of the body, natural top finish or Argentine gray sunburst finish.



FON is 453, It's definitely a 1932.

Part of the fun of old Gibson guitars... poor recording keeping by the company.

It's a detail, but I would put my money on not '32, maybe '33. Your cool guitar, unless I am mistaken, has 14 frets clear of the body. Check page 32 of Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars, there is a photo of a '33 that looks like your guitar (except replaced bridge).

My '32 had FON 405.
 

chazmo

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Boy, that's a neat guitar, and looks to be in pretty good shape. I know I won't be lookin' that good when I'm pushin' 75.
 

wayside

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Frosty said:
wayside said:
1932 Gibson L-2 specs:
No sparkle trim, mahogany or rosewood back and sides, pin bridge (adjustable bridge with trapeze tailpiece optional), elevated or glued down pickguard, raised rosewood fingerboard (or not!), 12 or 13 frets clear of the body, natural top finish or Argentine gray sunburst finish.



FON is 453, It's definitely a 1932.

Part of the fun of old Gibson guitars... poor recording keeping by the company.

It's a detail, but I would put my money on not '32, maybe '33. Your cool guitar, unless I am mistaken, has 14 frets clear of the body. Check page 32 of Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars, there is a photo of a '33 that looks like your guitar (except replaced bridge).

My '32 had FON 405.
I fully agree with you...nothing like the good old hand written ledgers to make certain record keeping was as imprecise as possible! This on FON's from Gibson:
1932 443
1933 539
Mine being 453, and with further descriptions, I'm sticking with 1932...for now! At my age a year more or less really doesn't matter.
 

wayside

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Chazmo said:
Boy, that's a neat guitar, and looks to be in pretty good shape. I know I won't be lookin' that good when I'm pushin' 75.
Thank you, it's in incredible shape.
 

taabru45

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Frosty said:
wayside said:
This on FON's from Gibson:
1932 443
1933 539

Are those the last FON or first FON of the year?

Enjoy your guitar!

Thats the most action I've seen from you Frosty. You must R E A L L Y like those guitars. :lol: :lol: Steffan
 

wayside

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Frosty said:
wayside said:
This on FON's from Gibson:
1932 443
1933 539

Are those the last FON or first FON of the year?

Enjoy your guitar!

Just to add to the confusion...the answer is "neither." Gibson had a unique system...it was called chaos.

1929 101
1930 591
1932 443
1933 539
1933 568
1934 395
1934 859
1934 1076

Pretty interesting system, no?

Further info, the 33's did not have "The" in the logo.

1933 Gibson L-2 specs:
celluloid pickguard glued to top, 14 frets clear of the body, "Gibson" peghead logo (no "the"), mahogany or rosewood back/sides.
 

Frosty

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Ah... Gibson...

As Norman Blake once paraphrased, "If it's a Gibson, it'll have to do".

(too much time on my hands today!)
 
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