By 1936, the Gibson L-00 had undergone subtle refinements while retaining the qualities that made it one of Gibson’s most popular pre-war flat tops. This 1936 Gibson L-00 is a good example from the later pre war production period, just prior to the model’s final cosmetic changes.
The guitar features a 14 3/4" wide body with a spruce top finished in a medium sunburst, paired with mahogany back and sides. Its scalloped X-braced construction delivers a responsive, articulate tone with a dry, woody character and impressive projection for a small bodied instrument, making it particularly well suited to blues and fingerstyle playing.
Appointments include binding to the top only, though examples from this year are occasionally seen with a bound back, along with a tiger striped tortoiseshell pickguard, rectangular bridge and an unbound fingerboard with dot inlays. The mahogany neck features a soft V-style profile typical of the era, and the headstock carries the white painted 'Gibson' script logo.
Showing plenty of honest wear, patina and lacquer checking expected of a well played pre war instrument, this 1936 L-00 has had repairs to 2 braces carried out at some point, and shows evidence of previously having a soundhole pickup fitted, with previous screw holes either side of the soundhole.
This guitar has been given a full service and appraisal by our luthiers at the Vintage Instrument Workshop, and includes a 2 year warranty.
