1930 Gibson L-2, Argentine Grey
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
Summary
Model: L-2
Year: 1930
Finish: Argentine Grey
Modifications: Changed Bridge
Repairs: See description
Case: Period HSC
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Tuners: Correct 3-a-side
Nut Width: 44.7
Neck Depth 1: 22.6
Neck Depth 12: 88.7
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
1930 Gibson L-2, Argentine Grey
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
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1930 Gibson L-2, Argentine Grey
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Description
A superb, rare spec Gibson L-2 from 1930 built during what was a rather experimental time for Gibson at the beginning of the Great Depression. The L-2 model in this period was subject to many different spec changes as the company failed to settle on a single design. This L-2 - bearing factory order number 9505 - is an export model and a superb example of Gibson's short-lived 13-fret format with some other unusual, rare features.
The flat top L-2 was Gibson’s second most expensive at the time, sitting just below the Nick Lucas Special in the company’s catalog. This example features the newly introduced 14.75” body, with a 13-fret neck join; part of a brief transitional phase from their earlier 12-fret designs to the 14-frets they would eventually settle on. This short-lived geometry along with the extremely light construction gives the guitar a distinctive tonal balance—warm and woody with excellent focus, volume and projection.
The neck carve is fairly chunky and nicely rounded. It plays incredibly well with an action of 2.5mm on the bass and treble side and plenty of saddle height remaining. It features a prominent banjo-style volute, a rarely seen/short-lived feature on this model, and the headstock features the white stencilled “The Gibson” logo rather than the more typical pearl version with "Jester" headstock inlay. The construction is incredibly lightweight with an X-braced Spruce top and Honduran Mahogany back and sides. The Rosewood fretboard is bound with Nick Lucas-style pinstripe binding and punctuated with dot marker inlays. The original celluloid pickguard is retained in the case and there are holes visible on the body from the bracket/screw installation.
The voice is dry, resonant and very responsive. The tone is crisp and sweet, with great clarity—ideal for fingerstyle, flatpicking or strumming. It is very responsive and the projection is excellent, offering the player a large dynamic range to work with.
This example shows its age having clearly been used over its 95 year. There's a crack to the side, plenty of play wear and worn patina throughout, but it remains structurally sound and full of character.
Built during the onset of the Great Depression and produced in very limited numbers, these rare L-2 models occupy a fascinating niche in Gibson’s history. This is no case queen, but if you're looking for a characterful pre-war Gibson from one of their more experimental periods this one will not disappoint. It comes complete in a period-correct Lewin branded hard case.
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Summary
Model: L-2
Year: 1930
Finish: Argentine Grey
Modifications: Changed Bridge
Repairs: See description
Case: Period HSC
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Tuners: Correct 3-a-side
Nut Width: 44.7
Neck Depth 1: 22.6
Neck Depth 12: 88.7
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
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ATB Guitars has been trading since the '90s and we've sold thousands of guitars to date. We pride ourselves on our in-depth descriptions, detailed photography, honesty and transparency. We also accept no questions returns within 14 days so you can buy with confidence! Read more about our history below...
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