🎸Gibson L7 from 1947 gets restored ♥️ Killer acoustic tone!

[@davidmccormack]

Thanks Andy, such a well rounded review of these fabulous Gibsons acoustic guitars that were made to power through and be heard above the horn section of the big bands of the 1930s and 40s. I have a 1941 ES300 which is essentially an L7 with the very early Walter Fuller pickup installed at the bridge. I bought her as an acoustic guitar, though, because she still has that power in the soundboard despite the deadening effect of the pickup. The L7 might be called the poor man’s L5, but it definitely offers the best value for money when considering a carved-top acoustic guitar.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Does your ES300 have the slanted pickup? I used to have a 46 300. I agree - these L7s are great value compared to an L5 of similar age.

[@davidmccormack]

@@jazzguitarwithandy Yes, Andy... the short one, not the full length bridge to fretboard one. I talk about it here: studio.kzbin.infoBA7uqm6183I/edit. By the way, where are you located? I think I'm ready for some i-2-i tuition - are you able to offer that? No worries if not - I'm enjoying following your instructional videos on KZbin :-)

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

@@davidmccormack just checked out some of your videos. Intrigued by the Loar with the CC. Sounded very good to my ears. I'm in Gloucestershire - where are you based? I'm guessing Lincs by your accent?

[@davidmccormack]

@@jazzguitarwithandy ha! My accent is a sort of a transmogrified Lancashire accent corrupted by fifty odd years living in the Midlands. I live in Banbury, so pretty close to Gloss. I'll pick up this dialogue via your website where I'll book a lesson so that we can take it from there . Cheers D

[@VitalBigras]

The perfect acoustic archtop, lovely tone !

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

It sure is!

[@alfredmani1461]

That beautiful guitar has gone to a very good home. Much respect for the efforts gone into restoring it. I love vintage instruments. ✌️

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thanks Alfred. There is just something about vintage guitars. The smell for one thing!

[@Jimi_7-7-7]

100% with you! I own a 1943 war-time Gibson L7 for same reason which is, playing it just acoustically as it is :) I enjoy that so much! My guitar was for 4 weeks away from me because of refret job… Woao man, I missed that acoustic feeling so much and I was very happy when she came back to me. That’s now my no.1 home guitar. Enjoy yours! Sounds beautiful to me! Mine is strung up with some Martin bronze strings in gauge 012. Just because of full-acoustic power 🤝

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

I wonder how a 43 differs to mine. I see the earlier ones have quite different inlays. I'd love to try mine with those Martin strings one day.

[@Laygate1960]

Great video. I had the unbelievable luck to buy a 1950 L7 from a friend of mine. I'm a Freddie Green fan and this guitar sings. The L7 I have is totally acoustic, you can feel the volume and vibrations in your chest when you play it. Love it.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

That’s great Colin. I’m currently having a floating pickup installed in mine.

[@genec8393]

I owned circa 1950 L-7 cutaway in the early 60's. I toured with it. It came with a McCarty PU (not McCarthy). The sound difference between having just a pickguard vs. a McCarty with PU in the pickguard was negligible. I did change to a DeArmond 1100 with the box (monkey on a stick) to eliminate the screw on connection. I liked the sound of the McCarty though. Enjoyed your video.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

When it was on the guitar I found that pick up system to be a pain when playing. Maybe it was badly installed. I've never tried one of those L7-Cs. What happened to the guitar?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy You know what mabe your should considor in the future adding a DeArmond 1100 Pickup so that it can be used as a fully functional Acoustic-Electric Archtop

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy I'd imagine that if the pickup was installed correctly it would sound amazing. Guess they should've included instructions

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

7:05 This is that Original Archtop Guitar sound from the Late 19th through Early 20th Century. Later on they were able to add a Pickup so that it can be plugged into an amp for easier recording, & it became an Acoustic-Electric Archtop. The Floating Pickup that's attached to the Pickguard will allow the top to vibrate more freely plus it'll sound amazing both acoustically & plugged in.

[@stephensmith799]

Yes. It lets the sound out.

[@roughcutguitars]

So glad you decided to keep it 'as God intended' Andy even if it came serendipitously given the set-up challenges :-) L7s have a well-deserved reputation as acoustic cannons and yours is no exception, but beyond the convenience factor, while electric archtops and after-market pickups abound, acoustic archtop jazz has a rich history - as you demonstrated handily here, and when you find an example with the rich, sweet tone like that on top of the projection, it deserves to take its place in carrying on that legacy.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Me too, after a lot of indecision, I'm really glad to have it as pure acoustic. I'll be honest, this was the first L7 I've played, so can't really compare it to anything. I can see why people really rate them for that old fashioned tone.

[@hoyer46]

Gratuliere dir! Ein feines Instrument mit einem tollen Ton.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Danke schön

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

Was this up on Reverb? I’m always struck by how much ‘dryer’ the original guitars sound than my Loar. Dunno if that’s age, wood or design. Anyway terrific early jazz stylings, very nice.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

I bought it from a friend who'd initially bought it off a guitar dealer on Facebook. Dryer is right re the tone, it's a wonderful swing guitar. I''m not sure re the science behind it. I've heard it said that they don't pick out tops like they used to or that the supply of wood was of much higher quality back then. Is that Loar 600?

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

@@jazzguitarwithandy yes. I've not tried the 700. I hear it is better? I just think the Loar is quite a wet sounding guitar (not a bad thing per se, it's like it has an in built reverb, it's nice for solo playing); on reflection this might have something to do with the design of the tailpiece which tends to resonate. Maybe the ones on the old L7s are a bit heavier. (Metal = expensive?)

[@patrickmonvignier4160]

It sounds lovely and it is beautiful! Congratulations

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thanks Patrick.

[@martinrhodes1619]

Gorgeous. You’re a lucky guy! The coolest arch tops!

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

It sure is a beauty!

[@hampshirepiano6383]

Thank you. What a classic tone! I see it has a fiddle type bridge which is correct.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Glad you like it! It's currently having a floating pick up installed.

[@pg123ab]

I have a ‘52 L7 Ce with the Mcarty scratch plate pick up. It was designed to electrify an acoustic guitar without putting holes on the top, it sounds fantastic, you should look into restoring to original specs, it does not change the acoustic sound of the guitar and can be uninstalled by undoing two screws.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Yes, I think the one I had was badly installed and the tone didn't excite me that much. I've never tried a vintage one, but can imagine they are great. I actually have a vintage dearmond pickup being installed on this guitar at the moment.

[@soulvaccination8679]

Wow...Beautiful guitar.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

If you want to turn it into an Acoustic-Electric Archtop Guitar that you can easily record with I recomend the Dearmond FHC-H Sliding Humbucker. They're designed specifically for Archtop Acoustic Guitars that have low clearance because they're super thin and they attach to the strings between the bridge and tailpiece. It comes off and on the Guitar pretty easily.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

I brought one, and unfortunately there wasn't much clearance. I'm just digging this guitar as an acoustic archtop, as it was originally intended! It's my most played guitar these days.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy the fhc-c would be a better fit as it's much thinner

[@andreasfetzer7559]

Wonderful video!!!

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Love this guitar!

[@jmoorecareers]

Classic acoustic archtop voice. Congrats!

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thanks !

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Eastman makes amazing Archtop Acoustic-Electric Guitars, & they have Floating Feedbackless Pickups so that the top vibrates more freely.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Yeah. I’ve heard such great things about Eastmans

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy Me too & they're quite versatile. Brittney Spears decided to get herself an AR804CE after suffering a Recent Miscarriage, the very 1st song that she wants to learn is Telephone by Lady Gaga which was actually written for her.

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

If you want a very thin pickup that works great with low clearance archtops (and acoustic strings) and reproduces some of the acoustic quality of the guitar, I can recommend the Krivo micro Manouche; you might need to get a small one for the scratch plate but I think the fella makes those.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thanks for the recommendation. I've seen gypsy jazzers used those, not seen anyone use one an archtop before.

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

@@jazzguitarwithandy I use one; check out my most recent solo guitar video which is the Krivo on a Loar LH600 through a Fender Princeton. Extremely happy with the tone.

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

@@jazzguitarwithandy Also you can put in and take it off as much as you like, HOWEVER I would do some research re: attachment methods; I don't like the Micropore tape for Nitro, it did do some damage. Putty seems fine. I don't care too much about my Loar (it is annoying but not a disaster) but obviously it's a different kettle of fish with the Gibson.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

@@JazzGuitarScrapbook will do

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

@@JazzGuitarScrapbook I agree. Have you ever tried the Shertler putty? Very expensive, but it does work without damaging the instrument. I used to that for a mic on my gypsy jazz guitar.

[@FrancisL-5CES]

Nice guitar. I love all these guitars. I have to ask you how did you do on finding money for buying all these high end Gibson archtops?

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Cutting back on other things and selling guitars/part exchanging them. Lately I've actually downsized and sold a lot of guitars.

[@AndrewSpeedy]

What is that thing between the bridge and the tailpiece? Some sort of damper. I have a recently restored 37 L7 and I have a 311 hz vibration on that bit of the 5th string that annoys when playing in Eb! This could be the answer… Tks for the video and in anticipation for your reply…

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

I've tried a couple things to stop tailpiece ringing. Either a piece of foam or do you know those little velcro cable ties? People also use gromits, which I think would look better!

[@steveskidmore849]

You don’t have to make every guitar you own “gig ready”. It’s good to have some you know are going to stay at home and can be used for recording etc. Good to have the round wounds on it as well. Would you use flat wounds if you had have put a pick-up on and gigged with it? I’m sure it wouldn’t sound as good acoustically with flat wounds. Great playing as always Andy 👍🏻

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thanks Steve. When I first got the guitar it had Chromes/flatwounds on it. It sounded good, but it came to life with rounds. I think if I had the pickup I'd still probably just use rounds.

[@steveskidmore849]

( a bit Django!).

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy You know what Flatwound Strings really mellow out the sound of this Guitar cause it has a rather bright tone to it

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Eastman makes improved quality Copies & they even have Acoustic-Electric versions. The Acoustic-Electric has a pickup that makes recording easier. The Guitar is also great for if you're playing in an Unplugged setting. The Humbucker Pickup is a Feedbackless Pickup so it works well on this thing.

[@thomasharris7881]

Love the L7 mate sounds fantastic. What were the standards you were in playing at the beginning. Would be great to get a lesson on them as an really interested in that style of playing, I have an old harmony acoustic arch top that I got from a charity shop as my only guitar at the mo. Love that old swing sound. All the best mate. Thom

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thanks Thom. I was playing 'It had to be you' at the start. I think I might do a video on that early swing stylings.

[@stuartarnold4495]

That’s a beauty, last year I bought “online “a framus Missouri 5/60, unfortunately the fretboard was a bit twisted so it was quite difficult to play. The tone was good though. Now I have a “sigma” acoustic guitar, good enough and set up for me in the shop that I bought it.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

That's a shame re the Framus. Never had the opportunity to play one. Are they German made? Sigmas are great. Always been impressed with them, amazing value for money.

[@stuartarnold4495]

Yes, the Framus is German made and my sigma (I think Japanese take from Martin). Sounds good for me.

[@andreasfetzer7559]

Acoustic archtops do not like to be amplified with a magnetic pickup, good desicion, to take it of. You are a good player!!!!!

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thank you

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

If you also want another good Acoustic Jazz Guitar sound, you could also just comp away Jazz Chords on a Classical Guitar w/ a Pick. Earl Klugh is known for playing Jazz on a Classical Guitar, & he started out on that Guitar cause the Nylon strings are easier for the fretting hand. The Nylon strings also have a Smooth Mellow sound which is what Jazz is mostly about.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

OK & for Strings D'addario Ball End Nylon strings (80/20 Bronze Wound Basses & Clear Nylon Trebles) will make restringing the Classical Guitar a Snap.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I did find a better pickup designed for low clearance Archtop Guitars the FHC-C because it's thinner to compensate for that

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I put an FHC Pickup on mine and there's enough clearance as it's much thinner than the previous 2

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Thinner than the rhythm chief?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy Yes basically a thinner version of the Rhythm Cheif designed for Guitars with Low Strikg Clearance. It's just the right size for the Gibson L7 to become a fully functional Acoustic-Electric Archtop Guitar while providing enough clearance for the strings. You could also restring it with Thomastik Flatwound Strings (their Jazz Swing 10s) to save the frets from scratches.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 That is interesting, thanks for the tip. I'll look into it. I get what you mean re flats, but I prefer the sound of rounds on this kind of guitar.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy Yeah even with the new pickup added and plugged into an amplifier, but those Thomastik Jazz Swing Flatwound Strings are designed in a way to sound like Round Wound strings, so they're actually called "Recording Strings".

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy When I think of an Electrified Archtop Guitar sound I think of Vic Flick who played the James Bond Theme so w/ the New Pickup on the L7 & some Jazz Bebop Strings (Thomastik Rounds) you can get that Iconic sound you might have heard:kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5bYmYutq8dmjJo

[@ashishashen]

I miss that L5.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Me too, but it's gone to a great home!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Actually there's a better version of that Pickup Pickguard system. They make Pickguards that have Pickups attached to them & they make recording easier.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

I have finally got a pickup for this guitar!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy Man that totally rocks and it's a big improvement over the old one which was way too thick for these types of Archtops. I was able to track down a version of that pickup designed specifically for Archtop Guitars with very little string clearance such as this Killer L7. I'm excited to hear what that brand new Pickup sounds like. I also turned Mrs Oglesby's old Harmony Stella Acoustic Tenor Guitar into a fully functional Hollow Body Electric (aka Acoustic-Electric) Tenor Guitar by adding a Recording King Gold Foil Pickup to it. I tune it like a Violin/Mandolin but down an Octave (with John Pearse #450 Strings) because it gives the Guitar a much deeper and mellower sound that's appropriate for playing Jazz.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy I also love the Sunburst Finish of that H929T I've been playing so it really has that vintage vibe. I plugged the Guitar into an Amp and I got a killer Jazz Tone out of it.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Thomastik KF110 Flatwounds will save the frets from scratches

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Wait a minute there's another one the Gypsy Jazz Guitar

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

I like using gypsy jazz guitars

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@jazzguitarwithandy Django Reinhardt played one & the Altamira Guitar company makes these things

[@donotfret]

bought a 50s silvertone archtop on ebay for $300

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Sweet - how is it?

[@hycus4292]

...you must be very rich, man;-))

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Sadly not!

[@gregholmberg2]

A much better acoustic tone than the Super V, but also different from a flat-top. I would say that a good flat-top would have more response in the lower frequencies. I think it's possible to get more low frequencies from an archtop. Listen to what Ken Parker has done with his archtops. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKrVh4SiaKiYick

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Wow, those guitars sound great. Really unique stylings too. I can imagine some flattops could be fun for chord melody playing.

[@gregholmberg2]

Steve Andersen's "Double Top" also sound great acoustically. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6e6m4isi8-nhNU

[@hycus4292]

As promised;-)...

[@DrJoshGuitar]

I can’t believe you didn’t tell us all exactly what you paid for it! Please, we must know 🙏🏻