1938 Gibson L-00 – Sunburst Finish, Script Logo, All Original
 
The Gibson L-00 first appeared between 1929 and early 1931, but it was only listed officially in the 1932 Gibson catalog. This small-bodied flat-top was affordable, comfortable and easy to carry, and it quickly won over players during the Depression. It stayed in production until 1945, when Gibson discontinued it.
 
Specifications
Most examples share these features:
Finish: black or sunburst 
Top: Adirondack Spruce with X-bracing
Back and sides: solid mahogany
Binding: top only at first, with back binding added in 1937
Pickguard: tortoiseshell celluloid (some early examples had a white one)
Body: 14¾" lower bout, with a 12-fret neck joint on early models that later moved to 14 frets
Neck: mahogany with dot inlays
 
This Guitar
This 1938 example has the back binding of the later version and is in very good, all-original condition, original tuners with amber buttons included. After 88 years of playing it has the open, dry and responsive voice that only age can give, and it is ready for many more decades. The only thing to notice is that the bridge has been reglued.
 
Dating: The Factory Order Number
In 1938 Gibson did not put serial numbers on its flat-tops. Each guitar carried a Factory Order Number (FON) that identified its production batch. The FON was stamped either on the neck heel inside the body or, as on this guitar, on the back of the headstock.
From 1935 Gibson added a letter to mark the year, running from A for 1935 to G for 1941. From 1938 the year letter came before the number, followed by a brand letter: G for Gibson or K for Kalamazoo, Gibson's budget line. An E was added for electric models. A 1938 ES-150, for example, could be stamped DGE 2333, meaning 1938, Gibson, electric.
 
The Script Logo
The headstock has the classic Gibson script logo, one of the most recognisable features of a pre-war Gibson. Before the 1930s headstocks often read "The Gibson". In the early 1930s the "The" was dropped, leaving the flowing script that defined the brand's pre-war look.
On entry-level and mid-range models like the L-00, the logo was stencilled in paint. High-end instruments had pearl inlay instead. Because the painted logo is delicate, a well-preserved original one is a real asset for collectors. In the early 1940s some Gibsons added the "Only a Gibson Is Good Enough" banner, so the plain script is also a clear sign of a pre-war instrument.
 
A Legendary Guitar
The L-00 is often called the ultimate cowboy guitar, built to go anywhere and never let you down. Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Duane Allman, Derek Trucks and Ryan Adams are just a few of the great players who have loved and played it.
Comes with a modern, highly protective hardshell case.