Guitar
Maker
Gibson, Inc.
Maker
Gibson
Date1928
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
ModelL-O
Serial No.8955
SignedSilkscreened in silver ink on head: The / GibsonMarkingsRubber-stamped in black ink on neck block: 8955
DescriptionThe L-O was an early Gibson flat top guitar, introduced in 1926, as an inexpensive model. Made from mahogany, the lightly constructed model was marketed to both Spanish- and Hawaiian-style guitarists.
Stringing: six steel strings
Soundboard: two-piece mahogany, cross-linked grain converging in upper bouts; very slightly domed shape
Back: one-piece mahogany; no back stripe; very slightly domed shape
Ribs: two-piece mahogany; mahogany end graft wider at top
Head: mahogany veneered with black lacquered maple; black celluloid bell-shaped truss rod cover secured with nickel-plated steel slot-head screws
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Heel cap: ebony
Binding: white celluloid
Fingerboard: rosewood; 19 nickel-silver frets; mother-of-pearl dots behind 5th, 7th, and 9th frets
Nut: ebony
Bridge: two-part rosewood with curved lower edge profile, the upper part with bone saddle replaced for left-handed playing angle; black plastic bridge pins; additional bone pin below string pins
Tuners: pair of nickel-plated steel worm-gear machine tuners with decoratively cut plate outlines and rolled cross-hatched decoration; ivoroid heads comprised of fine layers of ivory and translucent celluloid
Endpin: black celluloid with ivory celluloid dot
Rosette: three ply (white-black-white) celluloid purfling strips set in from inside edge
Pick guard: none
Lacquer: clear
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; beveled edges
End block: mahogany; beveled edges
Top braces: spruce A-brace, transverse braces above and below soundhole, long finger braces with tapered ends extending from treble A-brace leg to far side of end block; maple bridge plate
Back braces: spruce back graft; four spruce back braces with tapered ends, the two upper braces with triangular cross-section, the lower two braces wider and lower with rounded outline
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 951 mm (37-7/16″)
Back length: 480 mm (18-7/8″)
Upper bout width: 256 mm (9-7/8″)
Waist width: 204 mm (8-1/32″)
Lower bout width: 349 mm (13-3/4″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 86 mm (3-3/8″)
Rib height, at waist: 93 mm (3-21/32″)
Rib height, at end block: 105 mm (4-1/8″)
Head length: 166 mm (6-17/32″)
Head width, top: 69 mm (2-23/32″)
Head width, bottom: 57 mm (2-1/4″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 309 mm (12-5/32″)
Neck width, nut: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Neck width, heel: 54 mm (2-1/8″)
Soundhole diameter: 88 mm (3-7/16″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 614 mm (24-5/32″); low E: 614 mm (24-5/32″)
ProvenanceThis Style L-O belonged to Alvin H. Benesh (1908-2000), a long-time civil engineer with the Bureau of Public Roads who worked in St. Paul, Minnesota, beginning in 1931, and in Pierre, South Dakota, after 1946. Benesh also served in the Navy on the USS Gallatin ADA 169 in the Pacific Theater from 1944 to 1946. According to his widow, Evelyn, Benesh saved money through his teenage years to purchase this guitar, which he strung left-handed. Preserved with the instrument is Benesh’s sheet music collection of 1930s hits that he played on this guitar.
Credit LineGift of Evelyn Benesh, 2002
Object number10193
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