Gibson L-50 1951, Sunburst

Gibson launched the L-50 archtop in 1932, going through some interesting variations before settling into this form: carved spruce top, arched maple back, 16" wide lower bout, and F-holes. Occasionally we see these with factory or post-factory added pickups, but this one is all acoustic. It's lightweight, responsive, and very fun to play. It has a wonderfully satisfying full-bodied tone with just a bit of a focused nasally bite, making it immediately appealing to acoustic players looking for a familiar feeling instrument for soloing, chunking jazz chords, or adding texture. The neck on this 1951 model has a slimmer, more rounded profile making it very comfortable to play.

Condition overall is very good given the age, with only a handful of minor finish dings in the top. It has had a neck reset and it's been refretted, and has a newer bone nut, replaced tuners. Cosmetically there's a light overspray on the sides and a touch up around the heel. Comes with a period-correct Epiphone case.