Gibson L-12 from 1938 - serial number
95678
This is my favorite guitar. I own this one since 29 October 1986 and play it almost every week on stage. This guitar has been imported from
the United States. It came with the (non-original) L-5 tailpiece and
Grover Imperial tuners. The original tortoise pickguard was falling apart, so I had it replaced by a custom built with exactly the same shape. Since I had it repaired to make it playable, it is no collectors item anymore, but who cares? These guitars belong on stage, not in a museum.
The acoustic sound allows Eddie Lang"-soling, "Freddie Green"-comping, while
my Barcus Berry pickup allows "Charlie Christian"-soloing.
Best of both worlds. |
|
Sound samples
"Eddie's Twister"-sample (tribute to Eddie Lang)
"Feeling my way"-sample (tribute to Eddie Lang)
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Gibson L-12 archtop 1938 |
|
parallelagram mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
| L-12 headstock with Gibson script logo (used pre-war) |
|
close-up of the original finish (and non-original glued-on pickup) |
|
|
 |
|
- 1932 L-12 introduction specs:
- 16" wide, trapeze tailpiece, single bound top, back, fingerboard, ornate rectangle-enclosed fingerboard inlays, single bound peghead, double-handled vase and curlicues peghead, gold plated parts, red mahogany sunburst finish.
- 1935 L-12 specs:
- 17" wide, X-braced top, triple bound top, peghead and pickguard, double-parallelagram fingerboard inlays, 7 piece diamond/star shaped peghead inlay, sunburst finish.
- 1937 L-12 specs:
- flat plate tailpiece with cutouts.
- 1939 L-12 specs:
- parallel top bracing.
- 1941 L-12 specs:
- single bound peghead and pickguard, crown peghead inlay, sealed tuners, tulip tuner buttons.
- 1947 L-12p (Premier) specs:
- rounded cutaway introduced on premier model. Premier model discontinued 1949.
- L-12 Discontinued 1955.
|
|
|
| L-5-tailpiece on L-12 (not original) |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| L-12 live with left to right Robert Veen, Frank Roberscheuten, Menno Daams, Dan Barrett |
|
|
|
