1930 Gibson L-0 All Mahogany 12-Fret Pre-War Small Body Acoustic Flat Top Guitar Plays Great!

1930 Gibson L-0 All Mahogany 12-Fret Pre-War Small Body Acoustic Flat Top Guitar Plays Great! Already Gone Through!

Here is a really unique 1930 Gibson L-0, one of those wonderful little pre-war Gibsons that is getting harder and harder to find. This is the all-mahogany version, with mahogany top, back, and sides, and it's an absolute featherweight at just 2.8 lbs., even with the K&K pickup system and endpin jack installed.

These are such lightly built guitars, and the resonance is unmistakable. This one has been gone through and is nicely dialed in. It plays exceptionally well with good action, and with the new Newtone Heritage strings it has that very old-timey, woody, dry Gibson sound with excellent note clarity.

Structurally, it does have some history, which we've fully disclosed. There is a larger crack on the top that was repaired professionally, along with a back crack that was repaired with internal cleats. The previous top repair was improved upon by Glaser Instruments, and the guitar was recently inspected and is now stable. Some loose binding was also re-glued. There is some bellying below the bridge, but the top is actually quite flat for a guitar from this era.

The original finish is still intact and shows plenty of honest wear and battle scars, but overall it presents nicely for a 96-year-old guitar. The tuners are newer replacements and work great.

The guitar has a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, ebony headstock faceplate and nut, and an ivoroid Gibson script logo. It is also equipped with a K&K Pure Western pickup and internal microphone, with no battery required inside the guitar.

This is a really cool way to get into a genuine pre-war Gibson L-0 that has already been gone through and is ready to play.

It comes with a high quality tweed Cedar Creek hardshell case.

The Details

• Condition: Good Vintage
• Finish: Original
• Construction: All Mahogany
• Body: Mahogany Top, Back and Sides
• Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood
• Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood
• Repairs: Professionally Repaired Top Crack and Back Crack; Loose Binding Re-Glued
• Professional Work: Recently Inspected and Serviced by Glaser Instruments
• Pickups: K&K Pure Western + Internal Microphone
• Tuners: Replacement
• Notes: Extremely lightweight; top is relatively flat for the era; ready to play

Playability & Sound

This little L-0 plays exceptionally well with good action and a very comfortable vintage neck.

The tone is exactly what you'd hope for from an early Gibson flat top—woody, dry, resonant, and very old-timey. The notes ring true with plenty of character, and the lightweight construction gives it a lively response that is hard to duplicate.

The neck has a nice substantial feel, measuring 0.91" at the first fret, 1.03" at the 8th fret, and 1.09" at the 9th fret, with a 1-3/4" nut width.

At just 2.8 lbs., this is an exceptionally lightweight guitar.

Specifications

• Brand: Gibson
• Model: L-0
• Year: 1930
• Type: Pre-War 12-Fret Small Body Flat Top
• Construction: All Mahogany
• Top: Mahogany
• Back: Mahogany
• Sides: Mahogany
• Finish: Original
• Headstock Faceplate: Ebony
• Headstock Logo: Ivoroid Gibson Script
• Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood with Dot Markers
• Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood
• Nut: Ebony
• Tuners: Replacement with Ivoroid Buttons
• Frets to Body: 12
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Nut Width: 1-3/4"
• Neck Depth: 0.91" (1st Fret) / 1.03" (8th Fret) / 1.09" (9th Fret)
• Saddle Spacing: 2-5/16"
• Upper Bout: 10-1/4"
• Lower Bout: 14-7/8"
• Depth at Tail: 4-1/4"
• Pickup: K&K Pure Western + Internal Microphone
• Electronics: No Battery Required Inside Guitar
• Weight: 2.8 lbs.
• Repairs: Top Crack Repaired and Stabilized; Back Crack Repaired with Internal Cleats; Binding Re-Glued
• Case: Replacement Tweed Cedar Creek Hardshell Case

Why Buy From Kansas City Vintage Guitars?

We specialize in high-quality vintage and modern guitars and basses for collectors and serious players alike. With over 25 years in the guitar business, we focus on accurate descriptions, originality, and transparency.

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Thanks from KC Vintage Guitars!