EARLY VINTAGE GIBSON GUITAR L50 RARE FLAT BACK OHSC AWESOME

Description

Gibson L-50 arch top guitar with flat back
This Gibson arch top guitar is tentatively identified as an L-50 model with a flat back. These were produced after 1935. This example features a graduated peghead thickness which was discontinued after 1950. There is no label on or in the guitar. There is a stamped number on the back of the peghead between the tuners: 10191. The body is 16” wide at the lower bout.
The gold, silk-screened Gibson logo has the dot over the letter “i” touching the “G” – a design feature that occurred on models from 1947 through 1950.
This instrument has 2 un-bound f-holes, a bound body (white binding, top and back), no cutaway, rosewood back and sides, 1-piece mahogany neck, rosewood fret board with dot inlays, adjustable two-piece rosewood bridge and trapeze tailpiece.
The pick guard is tortoiseshell plastic. Tuners are open backed, 3 on a plate with white plastic buttons. The buttons are replacements, and the end pin is a replacement. Everything else appears to be original. The truss rod is adjustable at the peg head.  Fret scale is 24.5” and the neck joins the body at the 14
th
fret (19 frets total). Nut width is 1 11/16”.
Frets appear original with minimal wear. The flat back has 4 cross braces. There are minimal scratches and minimal lacquer checking. The finish has been buffed to a high gloss. There are some chips around the edge of the peg head. The neck joint is tight and the neck set seems good.
The instrument has been professionally set up: string action with .012 phosphor bronze strings at the 12
th
fret is 3/32” – 2/32”. Neck relief at the 7
th
fret is set to 1/64”. Intonation is exact.
A period correct Gibson brown plush case is included.
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Current book value for an all-original example of an L-50 in excellent condition with case is ,100.00 - ,200.00. Similar instruments listed on E-Bay and Reverb range from ,400.00 to ,500.00.
This flat-back version is a rare example, but not necessarily more valuable, as most people would prefer the arched back version. The lack of a label and a proper serial number is puzzling and makes dating and identifying this a challenge, but I’m fairly certain we have identified it correctly based on the flat back and 16” wide lower bout. All other features point to the L-50 model. I cannot find any other information to suggest a different model.
April 9, 2022
This Gibson arch top guitar is tentatively identified as an L-50 model with a flat back. These were produced after 1935. This example features a graduated peghead thickness which was discontinued after 1950. There is no label on or in the guitar. There is a stamped number on the back of the peghead between the tuners: 10191. The body is 16” wide at the lower bout.
The gold, silk-screened Gibson logo has the dot over the letter “i” touching the “G” – a design feature that occurred on models from 1947 through 1950.
This instrument has 2 un-bound f-holes, a bound body (white binding, top and back), no cutaway, rosewood back and sides, 1-piece mahogany neck, rosewood fret board with dot inlays, adjustable two-piece rosewood bridge and trapeze tailpiece.
The pick guard is tortoiseshell plastic. Tuners are open backed, 3 on a plate with white plastic buttons. The buttons are replacements, and the end pin is a replacement. Everything else appears to be original. The truss rod is adjustable at the peg head.  Fret scale is 24.5” and the neck joins the body at the 14
th
fret (19 frets total). Nut width is 1 11/16”.
Frets appear original with minimal wear. The flat back has 4 cross braces. There are minimal scratches and minimal lacquer checking. The finish has been buffed to a high gloss. There are some chips around the edge of the peg head. The neck joint is tight and the neck set seems good.
The instrument has been professionally set up: string action with .012 phosphor bronze strings at the 12
th
fret is 3/32” – 2/32”. Neck relief at the 7
th
fret is set to 1/64”. Intonation is exact.
A period correct Gibson brown plush case is included.