1936 Gibson L-7 Advanced 17" Picture Frame Archtop Guitar L7 Arch Top

This is a very nice example of an attractive pre-war 1936 Gibson "Advanced" 17" Picture Frame inlay L-7. Priced at $125.00 in 1935, this model was the least expensive of the new "Advanced" larger-bodied line of Gibson guitars. It was certainly still a professional-grade instrument with many deluxe appointments. The L-7 offered the same playing features and construction as the L-5, with typically plainer woods and simpler trim. Although L-7s of this late 30s era are still quite fancy!

Overall length: 41 1/2 in. (105.4 cm.)
Lower Bout: 17 1/8 in. (43.5 cm.)
Body Depth: 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.)
Scale length: 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.)
Nut Width: 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.)
Serial Number: 92216 

This 17" advanced body X-braced guitar has a carved spruce top, maple back and sides, a single-bound top and back, and a bound rosewood fretboard, which features lovely "picture frame" inlays. The three piece neck is comfortable and made of nicer than usual figured flame maple.

It has play wear and repairs, including a couple longer touched up professionally repaired cracks on the back, a reglued center seam, a repaired crack under the pickguard on the top, and a small repaired hairline on the bass side shoulder. It seems to have had a neck rest and is set up to play its best. It currently has vintage-correct Wavery tuner. There is a notch for a pickup cut in the original pick guard that was expertly filled. A compensated bridge top has been installed on the original base and can be moved up or down from where it is to dial in the player’s desired string height.

It really sounds great for both rhythm and lead, better than most 17" Ls we've tried. It's expertly set up and ready to go. It includes its pretty rough but usable original redline Gieb case.

Good (G) to Very Good (VG) condition