1934 Gibson L-C/Century of Progress

Wow! We don't see these come up very often. 

Gibson L-C Century of Progress Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1934), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, , sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, Adirondack spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood and celluloid fingerboard, comes with non-original  black tolex hard shell case.

The L-C "Century of Progress" model is one of Gibson's most distinctive and beautiful acoustic guitar designs, and one of the most visually striking flattops of any era. Combining a 14" 3/5 wide curly maple body with flashy pearloid ornamentation on the neck and headstock, the Century is somewhat reminiscent of the look of many 1920's tenor banjos. Not just a "looker", the Century is also a sonically distinctive guitar in its own right. The maple back and sides give it a crisp powerful sound perfectly suited to blues and ragtime fingerpicking and when played with a pick the guitar is both loud and cutting enough to play rhythm in a small dance combo.

The Century is single bound top and back, with finely shaded golden sunburst on all surfaces. The flamed grain on the back of this one is particularly nice. The softly V-shaped mahogany neck is also subtly sunbursted. The pearloid headstock and fingerboard are bound in black and white celluloid. The soundhole ring is 3-ply W-B-W, while the pickguard is made of Gibson's striking pre-war firestripe tortoise celluloid. Small pearl diamonds are set into rosewood blocks inset into the celluloid fingerboard creating a dramatic three color visual scheme which nicely offsets the sunburst-finished spruce top. Legend has it that this design conveniently used up surplus pre-made banjo fingerboards, as banjo orders had dwindled substantially in the 1930s.

The model was originally introduced for the "Century of Progress" exhibition in Chicago in 1933, and discontinued around 1939. This is a fairly early example dating to 1934 with the smaller sunburst area on the top typical of that period. No production figures exist for L-C's shipped in the first few years, but the number is fairly small compared to the L-00 family. The L-C was a comparatively expensive instrument, listing at $50.00 (soon raised to $55) at the time, while the L-00 was in the $25-30 range. While never a common instrument this unmistakable Gibson can be easily spotted in some old photos of Hillbilly and Radio Cowboy acts of the 1930's, including the Girls of the Golden West and Mainer's Mountaineers. A truly distinctive guitar, Gibson's L-C Century is a wonderful if slightly eccentric connoisseur's delight in a pre-war flat top.
 
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).

We don't see these come up very often, so let us know if you would like to make an appointment to see this special instrument. 

The bridge, though original, looks like it has been reglued at least once, and has had a very rrcent neck reset and refret by esteemed Asheville, NC luthier Jack Dillen.