Gibson L1 Archtop Natural 1918

With this Gibson L1, we go back over a century in time, and it is a fascinating experience to be able to play an instrument of this age!

The Gibson L1 was born in 1902 and was produced as an archtop through 1925, returning as a flattop in 1926. This 1918 L1, as part of the first generation of the model, is an archtop with a round soundhole. Since its introduction, the L1 has seen several specification changes, the most significant of which, applicable to this guitar, took place in 1908.

On this example, built in Kalamazoo, Michigan, we find binding around the top, an ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, and the slanted 'The Gibson' logo on the headstock. In 1908, the width of the body became 13.5 inches and the neck gained 13 frets free from the body. Gibson also equipped the guitar with a tortoise pickguard, but this is missing on this guitar.

This 1918 L1 features an orange Adirondack spruce top paired with a dark stained maple back. A center seam crack on the back of the back has been repaired, and the pickguard mounting hole on the side has been filled. Worn lacquer can be found on the back of the neck, and multiple screw holes from replaced tuning machines can be found on the back of the headstock.

Otherwise, this is a stunning vintage guitar, and the most fascinating aspect of this beautiful instrument is the opportunity to go back in time over a century and feel for yourself how instruments were built back then!