Gibson debuted the 17"-wide "Advanced" L-7 in 1935 during the golden era of jazz. Built to keep up with the horn section, Gibson archtops gave guitarists powerful—yet sweet and articulate—tone in the days before amplifiers. Very similar in size and construction to the L-5, the L-7 was a little bit cheaper and not quite as fancy. In 1948, the L-7 Premier (later called the L-7C) offered a cutaway for unfettered access up the neck. This L-7C was made in 2003 in the Gibson Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana, under the direction of legendary luthier Ren Ferguson. Constructed of a carved Spruce top and Flame Maple back and sides, its body measures 21" long and 17" across the lower bout. Under the hood, the top is X-braced like the earlier-'30s Gibson archtops. Because of that, the X-braced top is a little flatter in the center, and it produces a sweeter, more open sound. The nut width measures 1-11/16", and the neck profile has a slight hint of a V. With the cutaway at the 17th fret, you're able to explore every inch of the fingerboard with relative ease. All-around, this 2003 Gibson L-7C is fairly clean cosmetically, showing some superficial play wear and one small ding on the bass side of the top (see photos). The pickguard has bent and lifted up so that the point is just as high as the 1st string, and the finish is checked around the Gibson and crown inlays on the peghead. There is also some finish checking on the fingerboard binding at some of the fret ends, as well as some spots on the edges of the headstock and body. The frets are pristine, and the setup is excellent. This 2003 Gibson L-7C is a well-constructed archtop that is a joy to play. Its sound is balanced and versatile. It can cut through the mix if you need it to, but there's a sweet, delicate subtlety when you play lightly. In keeping with Gibson Montana's reputation for fine tonewoods, the Flame Maple absolutely pops. The intense figure flashes and shows impressive chatoyance from different angles. To match, the Spruce top shows tight, even grain and silking in all the right places. Fine instruments start with fine materials. To top it off, Gibson's full-body Vintage Sunburst finish looks just right. This 2003 Gibson Custom L-7C includes its original TKL hardshell case, original paperwork, and original hang tag.
Related
Related
Related
Related