1935 Gibson L-00 acoustic

VellaJ

I couldn't believe my luck today. I walked into a guitar store to ask some advice regarding a (supposedly) collectible vintage guitar I had seen for a reasonable price. Imagine my surprise when, after a little while of talking guitars, the owner brings out his "newest" possession... A Gibson L-00 acoustic made in December 1935!

The amount of volume you get out of this smaller sound box is incredible, and the tone and action are ideally suited to slide and blues styles.

Despite not being a virtuoso at slide, I was able to play the guitar passably, and was pretty awestruck by the age, value and quality of this amazing piece of equipment.

Pictures to follow, once I get them onto my computer ?

Warren

A pre-war L-00 Gibson...I don't even want to know what that might be worth ?

VellaJ

Mahogany body with a spruce top... It still has that pre-war, old piano smell ?

Tonedef

Wonder how many times it belted out (We're gonna hang out the washing on) The Siegfried Line

VellaJ

Pictures, as promised. They aren't great, I only had my camera phone, but you get the general idea.

The owner holding:
Left: 2004 Gibson custom re-issue with Abalone inlay
Right: 1935 Gibson L-00

[deleted]

(Sorry, but LMAO at the confederate flag tableau...)

Bob-Dubery

Is that Ronnie's Allbang And Strummit?

VellaJ

X-rated Bob wrote: Is that Ronnie's Allbang And Strummit?

Hey! Someone else who knows Ronnie ? Indeed it is. I believe he has an infatuation with the L-00, so no chance of buying that off him though ?

zohn

The L-00 looks in good condition - the tuners are not original though. The originals are 3-on-a-plate open-backs.
You mentioned the action is ideally suited for slide which means it is high. That could mean the neck is in need of a reset (which is perfectly normal for a guitar of that age, but is a specialized and rather expensive job)
The guitar on the left (as shown below) is a Robert Johnson L-1 re-issue which is a 12 fretter (the bridge sits lower in the "sweet spot" of the sound board) vs the 14-fret joint of the L-00. That is a nice fingerstyle blues guitar. Is it for sale?

VellaJ

I believe they've been bought already, unfortunately...

Yeah the machine heads were changed at a point, but the guy kept the originals, so it's all complete if one ever wanted to attach them again.

Ronnie (the guy in the pic) says he likes the action, as it's exactly what he's looking for; low near the nut and higher closer to the bridge.

singemonkey

The reissue I'd like to get my paws on is the Gibson Blues King:

They're not super-expensive for a Gibson acoustic - R12K or so, I think. But I'd definitely want to try before buying (in some wonderland where I had the money) because I've heard some stories about quality issues with Blues Kings.