NGD and I am out of town!

[Rambozo96]

I was at the Austin vintage guitar store and played a few archtop when I saw an Artist Award catch my eye and I never knew an archtop can be as loud as a dreadnaught. Granted the only ones I owned were low rent Kay’s and a 40’s Vega with a thick top and heavily braced to combat feedback at the expense of acoustic projection so maybe I never got to hear what a archtop can sound like. I damn near walked out with a Gibson made Cromwell archtop, somehow I stayed strong and didn’t do that.

 

[Neal]

I owned an L-7, and loved it too. Here's a pic of it.

What year, Rich?

 

[Rich Cohen]

What year, Rich?

1937. I bought it from Joe Vinikow in Seattle. For $3,995.

 

[HeyMikey]

Thanks, Woody. They were only made with X-bracing from 1935 to 1939, and only with a short-scale (24.75”) and 19 frets from ‘35 to ‘37. So, this is a pretty rare combination. Gibson went back to parallel bracing on all four of their 17” carved archtops in 1939 (L-5, L-7, L-10 and L-12).

I have been looking for the right one for the better part of the last decade, but for one reason or another never pulled the trigger until this week.

This one checks all the boxes for me, and the original case is the icing on top.

Very cool Neal. I hope it is everything you thought it would be. It’s got to feel pretty amazing actually playing a piece of history like that.

 

[Neal]

1937. I bought it from Joe Vinikow in Seattle. For $3,995.

Knowing you, I’m sure yours was in primo shape!

 

[Rich Cohen]

Knowing you, I’m sure yours was in primo shape!

Yes and no. The top was refinished and there was a glued heel break. I paid too much for it.

 

[twocorgis]

Beautiful guitar Neal! I would just leave it be, too. And another vote here for bore oil.

 

[Neal]

Bore oil ordered. Thanks, guys!

 

[jeffcoop]

That's something else, Neal, a real beauty. Play it in good health.

 

[chazmo]

How cool, Neal. Good luck getting it all back into shape!