1963 Gibson L-50 Vintage Archtop Acoustic Guitar Sunburst w/ Case
$3,399.99
$3,399.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1963 Gibson L-50 in excellent condition and in perfect working order. A model that enjoyed a particularly long production run (1932-71), the L-50 holds the distinction of being the most popular Gibson acoustic archtop ever produced. And while the bulk of production happened from the 1930s-50s, this particular L-50 is notable for its particularly slender, fast-feeling neck profile carve, a feature that would only become prevalent in the '60s during the waning days of the L-50 model.
A premium archtop with a 16" lower bout and the same general dimensions as the upscale L-4, the L-50 boasts a hand-carved spruce top, maple back and rims, and a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck capped with a bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard. This Gibson delivers ample projection and power. Bold and cutting, the midrange is both warm and immediate, yielding a lively response with the ideal combination of percussive chop and articulation. The trebles are sweet and punchy, and there’s a distinctive focus and depth to the wound strings. This L-50 weighs 4lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 roundwound nickel strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
The Honduran mahogany neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve with modest shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .795” deep at the 1st fret and .925” at the 9th. The bound rosewood fretboard features pearloid trapezoid inlay, and the medium jumbo fretwire exhibits moderate, uniform wear on the crowns of frets 1-5, with wear growing fainter beneath the plain strings until fret 12. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod, and the nylon nut measures 1 11/16” in width. The headstock is fitted with a modern set of individual Kluson Deluxe single-line tuning machines (matching vintage spec), and there is light wear on the headstock face from different tuner bushings installed in the guitar's lifetime.
Hardware includes the original nickel-plated trapeze tailpiece and compensated floating Brazilian rosewood bridge. The neck set is ideal, and there's room for adjustment at both bridge thumbwheels, with action at the 12th fret measuring 7/64” on the bass side and 4/64” on the treble side. The original four-ply black pickguard has a wide edge bevel, and the model stamp is visible through the bass-side F-hole.
The original Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer finish exhibits subtle lacquer checking, and there are two professionally-addressed splits on the treble-side lower bout rim. Cosmetic wear includes minor nicks and finish scratches on the body as a whole from light, careful use, largely concentrated along the lower bout rim and behind the bridge on top, as well as very limited buckle wear on the back. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, free of palm wear with just a few shallow marks on the profile length.
A modern Gator-brand black tolex hardshell case is included.
A premium archtop with a 16" lower bout and the same general dimensions as the upscale L-4, the L-50 boasts a hand-carved spruce top, maple back and rims, and a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck capped with a bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard. This Gibson delivers ample projection and power. Bold and cutting, the midrange is both warm and immediate, yielding a lively response with the ideal combination of percussive chop and articulation. The trebles are sweet and punchy, and there’s a distinctive focus and depth to the wound strings. This L-50 weighs 4lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 roundwound nickel strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
The Honduran mahogany neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve with modest shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .795” deep at the 1st fret and .925” at the 9th. The bound rosewood fretboard features pearloid trapezoid inlay, and the medium jumbo fretwire exhibits moderate, uniform wear on the crowns of frets 1-5, with wear growing fainter beneath the plain strings until fret 12. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod, and the nylon nut measures 1 11/16” in width. The headstock is fitted with a modern set of individual Kluson Deluxe single-line tuning machines (matching vintage spec), and there is light wear on the headstock face from different tuner bushings installed in the guitar's lifetime.
Hardware includes the original nickel-plated trapeze tailpiece and compensated floating Brazilian rosewood bridge. The neck set is ideal, and there's room for adjustment at both bridge thumbwheels, with action at the 12th fret measuring 7/64” on the bass side and 4/64” on the treble side. The original four-ply black pickguard has a wide edge bevel, and the model stamp is visible through the bass-side F-hole.
The original Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer finish exhibits subtle lacquer checking, and there are two professionally-addressed splits on the treble-side lower bout rim. Cosmetic wear includes minor nicks and finish scratches on the body as a whole from light, careful use, largely concentrated along the lower bout rim and behind the bridge on top, as well as very limited buckle wear on the back. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, free of palm wear with just a few shallow marks on the profile length.
A modern Gator-brand black tolex hardshell case is included.
