Mark's 1933 Gibson L-00, 1933 Gibson L-00s in General, and a new Mic.

Mark talks about his own 1933 Gibson L-00, and the uniqueness of 1933 L-00s in general. He made this video while trying out a new Shure MV88+ Video Kit at home. No better reason to chat about his own guitar! We're quite pleased with the improvement in audio quality!

[@thenewtowncryer]

You play nice!. Excellent touch!!!

[@billyhellmaker]

Great info. I have been going through my old guitars and your topics are all things I really didn't think about until this year. All important points!!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Right on!

[@rcgvideos]

@@TheFolkwayMusic After watching all of this I just bought a 46 LG-2 (one owner since new). A remarkable guitar that fits me perfectly.

[@mitchkatz5848]

The sound quality is great Mark as was the wealth of info that you shared.

[@rickR52]

Mark, I really enjoyed this video, the Shure kit sounds fabulous. I was lucky enough to visit my local music shop here in Spokane, WA last October. I’ve repaired for over 40 years and your insights have confirmed much of what I’ve learned and your perspective has also given me some fresh insights. Many thanks. Anyway, I digressed. I went to get some strings I didn’t stock for a customer and one of my friends at Hoffman’s asked me to take a look at a guitar they took on consignment. As we walked toward the wall on which it hung my heart skipped a beat. A Kalamazoo KG-14! I’d been looking for one because I knew that in most respects it was a ladder braced L-00. He wanted me to enlighten him about it and I wanted to buy it. The price was $450.00. I bought it on the spot. I repaired the usual loose braces, re-set the neck, and like you did, did not over set it, the bridge is a nice medium height. It’s my favorite guitar. I play my D-28 with the band but the Kalamazoo is my go to guitar. Your L-00 with the X bracing sounds fabulous. My KG-14 is brighter, less complex but has such character. I adore it. I look forward to more posts from you.

[@bobmiller4383]

Back in my much younger days, when I was just beginning my journey as a luthier, I was inspired by Martin guitars. That was 47 years ago ! I worked at a music store and got to try all sorts of instruments. T I never did find a Gibson that impressed me.until I saw Steve Goodman perform at the Riverboat, He was playing what I believe was an L-00 model and it was astounding ! It really opened my eyes/ears to what Gibson was capable of doing back in the day

[@glennsnider8840]

Sweet sounding 33! Love when you share your knowledge Mark. Thank you.

[@andrewmacfarlane4899]

One of the most beautiful guitars I’ve ever seen and heard IMO

[@robertpierce6444]

Awesome video for us vintage Gibson nerds! I have a 1934 L-00 small burst coming this week to Arizona I played it while I was in Portland last week and I couldn’t get it out of my head. Sounds amazing with the fingers and a pick. Amazing headroom as well. This will go in the vintage Gibson stable with a 1932 L1 and 1950 SJ. IMO absolute best value in vintage acoustics.

[@paulgartner4619]

Thank you

[@tomehCanada]

Thanks Mark. I enjoyed this "tour" of the guitar as much as enjoy hearing you play it. It is a beauty. Superb tone to my ear.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Thanks Tom!

[@alexhart2921]

The recording, the guitar, and your playing sound great! Thanks for sharing!

[@missouriboy66]

Stellar guitar, best L-00I've ever heard and gold info, as always from Mark...

[@hollybeaumont5953]

great video,thankyou. I have a 1933 LOO that is almost the exact mirror image of this guitar. FON 708

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Nice. The 708 FON guitars are among the few that had tortoise guards.

[@edwalmsley7956]

Sounds great! Always good to hear your insights.

[@jez6345789]

Always enjoy these vintage gibson outings you obviously found a nice one and yeah the mike sounds a lot better thanks

[@michaelcuneo3834]

Whoa!...exceptional tone! That pup has such an incredible growl to it, amazing!! Great video quality too!

[@AlfieSmithz1]

Sounds great Mark. Nice playing.

[@adrianlawryshyn1564]

Always loving the 34 Washburn i got from you Mark.. all about that V for me :) thanks!

[@Dave-White]

Great video! I have a 1933 L-00 with an elevated fretboard. It has seen a lot of play and has had a lot of work done to it. It is one of my favorite guitars. Thanks for showing off your L-00. The audio and video were great.

[@andrewmacfarlane4899]

Sounds so good at the end

[@etoirelav]

The decay is amazing. Great video.

[@rixrocker165]

Yes Mark thanks for the wealth of information sounds fabulous guitar and microphone as well

[@timewilltell454]

Thanks Mark, for another great video. Always enjoy the interesting and thought-provoking comments from your subscribers. How about featuring you’re “Rose” Gibson next time. Love the channel!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Thanks! I'd feature the 'Rose' but I suspect it's allure would be diminished by revealing its secrets!

[@You1987Tuber]

No surprise, another super useful contribution. That said, I consider myself a guitar player and Mark plays much better than I - one of us must be lying 🤷‍♂

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

I knew as soon as it came out of my mouth that someone was going to call me on that. Rightly so. I CAN play guitar. But I don't do it professionally, like so many of our clients.

[@jeffrivera887]

Fun video Mark, thanks!

[@glennselwitz1377]

Sounds fantastic...great channel with real world info....Canada is awesome

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Right on!

[@justinhicks3783]

Audio sounds good 👌🏼

[@0713mas]

Wow, what a little cannon! It's crazy how some guitars just sound bigger and or better than one's made the same similarly or bigger with higher quality materials.

[@tomfitzsimmons6535]

Sometime during WWII, Gibson made this model for others to sell under their own names, a little known chapter in Gibsons history. The absolute bottom of their line guitars, made without a truss rod, as were some others during that war due to metal rationing, we're told. I have one sold under the "Pablo Camille Video" logo. Like yours it sounds fantastic and is my 'go to' guitar. I absolutely love it. Just amazing sound. Do you know anything about this brand? One sold on Reverb a few years ago and they knew only what I just told you about It's history. They got $400 for it. I wouldn't sell mine for $1,000. I paid $25 for mine. Thanks!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Tom- you’ve stumped me! That is an off-brand I’ve not yet come across! Very interesting. There is a Facebook page all about Gibson off-brand guitars. Perhaps post some photos there.

[@stlrfan09]

Awesome video! That L-00 sounds tremendous-dry, articulate, and very robust. Those sweet and thick trebles just sing. Combined with that rich bass makes for a special guitar. Very nice playing, as well! I really like your ideas involving setup. 5/64ths is a great place to be on those treble strings. I also like to be around 2.0mm there because I find higher action on those high E and B strings don’t allow the the sweetness and sparkle come through. It ends up sounding less open and perhaps a bit more nasal. I’m also with you on the bass side; it’s all about playability.

[@kevinallen925]

Fascinating Mark, thanks.

[@LanceisLawson]

A very Martinesque sound on that Gibson. It's the wood itself. It likely sounded overly bright when first made.

[@stanislav182000]

very good sound, I love it

[@zohngenade9087]

Cool video, thanks for sharing your experience. The sound quality is great and that Gibson - well that is a gem but you know that :-)

[@nathansterrett3054]

sounds amazing

[@michaelbobson9198]

Great content Mark!

[@robnic52]

Great smokey tones from guitar, picked up perfectly by your new mic. You don't specifically mention whether the guitar is X braced or ladder but I got the feeling that it's probably X. I'm surprised that better quality 1933 guitars had truss rods. Sophisticated engineering.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Thanks, yes, L-00s are X braced.

[@jonnyb2532]

Good one Mark!

[@erikhoffa966]

Much better sound. 👍

[@chrishartz2397]

Great information…

[@superhotbread]

That was awesome 👌 keep it up.

[@DB-rr1eo]

It's time to look at your 33 alongside a Murphy lab 33.

[@timelwell7002]

Don't put yourself down as a guitarist, Mark, your playing is tasteful, competent and melodic. For sure, it's always possible to find better guitarists than ourselves, but you have a good ear and you demo the guitars really well. I REALLY love your 1933 Gibson L-00. For me this guitar is near on perfection for an acoustic guitar. Absoluely gorgeous. Interestingly, jazz guitarist Mike Moreno can be seen accompanying jazz singer Gretchen Parlato in NYC using a Gibson L-00 bu with a magnetic soundhole pickup, and gets a tone totally unlike the acoustic tone which you'd be expecting. I'd be intrigued to know precisely what effects pedals he's using to get that sound. Here's a link to that video: kzbin.info?search_query=Gretchen+Parlato+Live+at+The+Cachaca+Club+in+NY+cminor7add9th

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Thanks, will check it out!

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Most all Pre-War L-0s,L-00s sound good. And your right some are a little better and some exceptional. It’s the same with all old Vintage factory martins and Gibsons. I really like the Burst on your Guitar. It reminds me of early 30’s Gibson L-5s. I’ve been using the Shure MOTIV Mic for years- great tool.

[@chrishartz2397]

Thank you..

[@stringmaster1954]

Loved the video Mark--you and the guitar sound great! Curious what the string spacing at the bridge is on your (and other) '33's? My '33 with an elevated board is around 2 3/16"--I wish it was a little wider, but I can adapt. I've heard of narrow and wide spacing on the L00's. Man, I wish I could get my guitar in your hands to give it a go-over, but the difficulty of shipping from the US to Canada with regards to customs, CITES, etc. concerns me. Thankds!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Glad you liked the vid. The great majority of them are 2-3/8” at the bridge. I’ve encountered some of the elevated board ones with narrow archtop spacing too. Always found that odd.

[@MoGiMaL]

Great video. Thanks for showing us in HQ! If I had only watched this a week before, I was debating leaving my solid linings on my parlor build at .140", and I would have had I watched this first! Oh well, one day I'll try and make an L00 with these specs. One thing about the voice of guitars is that they say most of the voice is in the top wood itself. It is pretty interesting to tap a lot of soundboards and listen very carefully to the differences. And one question I do need to know, what are the top radii like on these '33s? Thanks

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

The top radius is compound, but 15” is a good start.

[@jvejar]

Do another one about the Rose L-00

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Mark, I don't know if you'll see this, but you mention an adjustable truss rod on a 1933 Gibson, and I can see the plastic truss rod cover... But I didn't think adjustable truss rods were even a thing until the 60s. Did you add one to this neck?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Gibson began installing truss rods in 1922. Martin didn't start using adjustable rods until 1985.

[@rocknreplay]

Did I seriously hear you say "I'm not a guitar player" in this video? You sound pretty damned good to me.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Thanks! Well, relative to our clients and a few of our staff, I guess.

[@madamkirk]

Sounds great but it doesn't have "Near Dreadnought " bass.

[@silver-hammer]

Really good & knowledgeable video, many thanks- wondering are the Darco str's you mention 10'sEx-Light or 11's please, interested to put on my reissue (1932 ha ha , but 30's ones over here in UK are insane prices now) ?! kind rgds Maxwell

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

The Darco D220 Phos. Bronze 12-54 are our go-to strings.

[@Richard_Lush]

Had a 36. Best sounding guitar I’ve ever played and I’ve played a lot. Loved the neck size and nut width. Unfortunately I traded it for a Santa Cruz H model. Great guitar but wish I kept the L-00. I did get a Custom Shop 36 advanced Jumbo which honestly comes close for a new guitar bigger sound but very nice. I applaud Gibson on these new historic acoustics.

[@j.justinzimmerman9836]

Thanks Mark, your new toy has your old toy sounding quite good. Best yet, and I’ll see ya in the Funny Papers! JJZ…(°¿.°`)

[@laverne456]

I have a 1934 that my great uncle took to WWII that I love to get back in shape. What would a regret and a neck set go for on mine?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

The required work isn't cheap, but its certainly worthwhile. Best to get in touch by email for repair estimates. Thanks.

[@bigmac51290]

It's so weird that this video was suggested to me, especially since you talk about the solid kurfing. Today, on Facebook, I saw a random post with Bob Minner asking someone in the comments if their L-00 had solid or notched kurfing. I love learning about different methods of building acoustic guitars. I have two guitars from a builder in Alabama called Culwell, who uses double sides and no kurfing, which has the same affect of giving the tops more vibrating room like your L-00

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Doubled sides / no Kerfing is common in the high-end classical world. It would surely make a guitar sound great too.

[@jipes]

Nice sound set-up would be nice to know which one you use. Do you think that getting more break angle at the saddle would add more clarity to the sounof a guitar. Driftwood guitars showed a trick to get more contact by sawing the little pin cavity front face (BTW he is also building acoustics with solid lining instead of curfing)

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Yes, more break angle at the saddle would add clarity and fundamental presence.

[@justinbernasconi4666]

Another great video, great tone - thank you. Are you using 11s or 12s on this beautiful guitar?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Those are Darco 220 PB 12-54.

[@justinbernasconi4666]

@@TheFolkwayMusic they sound very fat

[@billdedrick1914]

@@TheFolkwayMusic Darco? wow they sound great....Darco is Martin owned and Martin sells Darco..

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

@@billdedrick1914 Yes, Darco. They're great. As far as I know these are the same strings Martin rebrands as 'Clapton's choice'. They used to be, in any case, when they were the M540.

[@fleadoggreen9062]

Hi, I have a 12 fret that has the kurfling? I was hoping it was solid like yours, it’s a 31 So I was let down, so is the solid kerfling only on 14 fret ? Sounds great !!!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

We’ve never seen a 12 fret with solid linings. 1931 is two year earlier than that brief solid lining period.

[@billdedrick1914]

Hi Mark sounds incredible Light strings? Brand? p.b.? Darco as I see below....Are they a good replacement for the old Martin M540 and M550? Is that a TS pick? What thickness?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Bill - The stings are Martin Darco D220 Lights that are half way done. Very thick pick with a smoothly rounded edge, and rounded triangle shape. Now I just need to get my chops on par with my tone! lol

[@billdedrick1914]

@@TheFolkwayMusic That pick sounds great.. It is TS? Can you measure the thickness...I have a few of them in different thicknesses but I don't think any of them sound as good as your pick. The Darco D220 and D230 are very close in sound to the old Marin M540 and M550?

[@roderickbalt8993]

As a fellow lefty I wonder do you pay any mind to the assymetrical elements of the bracing when you convert it to lefty?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

I don't. If it sounds good strung righty it will sound good strung lefty. There are surely minor audible differences, in theory. Structurally there are no concerns. Every vintage left-handed acoustic made by anyone other than Martin was just a right-handed guitar with a lefty pickguard and bridge.

[@roderickbalt8993]

@@TheFolkwayMusic Very cool, I asked the same question to the luthier Scott van Linge and he gave me basically the same answer!

[@rickstrandberg6398]

The new L-00 s are 12 fret but the originals 14?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

L-00s were 12 frets late 1932. 14 frets from then on.

[@JohnScime]

Mark or anyone 'in the know'. I'm tooling up to build an L00 copy. Are the solid linings on the 1933s made from mahogany or something else? Thanks. J

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

They're mahogany, but you'll have an easier time making them of willow or poplar.

[@JohnScime]

@@TheFolkwayMusic thanks, Mark. I have lots of mahogany and would try bending them on my fox-style bender and form. I figure they are about 5/8s tall? If that isn't successful I can try the poplar. Thanks again, from the Ottawa Valley.

[@rightturnonly6621]

For sale? thank You

[@Richard_Lush]

Do you keep your guitar room humidified? I’ve always kept my acoustics in the case with humidipaks but I find I don’t play em as much as if they were on a stand or wall. I also live in Alberta where it’s super dry. What would you suggest? A little off topic but I’ve been wondering what I should do. My 36 L-00 cracked badly due to keeping it out and the dryness out here.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Richard - Keeping your guitars in their cases all winter means less guitar playing all winter. Buy a room humidifer and use it religiously. Get a few Hygrometers (Oasis OH2+ are great) and make sure the room is 40-45 RH over the winter.

[@Richard_Lush]

@@TheFolkwayMusic Thanks for the info. I hate leaving them in their cases but I’m getting a dedicated “ guitar room” so humidifier it is.

[@yeats1554]

hello，i have a question，Does the 1932-1934 l-00 Usually sound better than the 1940 or 1941? which one sounds louder? and have a Better bass?strong mid and high ？

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

The 1933 and early '34 L-00's *Can* be magical, but not all are. Same is true of the early 1940's ones. It all depends on the way a particular guitar was built. The '33/4 guitars have straight bracing, while those from the 1940's are scalloped. But top-thickness can make or break a guitar, and there are both thick and thin topped versions from the entire range of 14 fret L-00 production. I'm sorry, but there is no simple answer to your question!

[@yeats1554]

@@TheFolkwayMusic 1941 3bl 2oz ，will weight show me the thin or thick top？

[@santacruz3600]

“Not actually a guitar player” Haha clever way to pat on your own back!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Your self-worth as a guitar player decreases the longer you spend servicing professional musician's instruments. It's easy to feel sub par as a player working with pro guitarists every day. So, perhaps we should edit the clip to suggest "I'm no pro-level guitar player..." Cheers!

[@Shovel-om7kn]

That’s what happens when humans make guitars instead of Mr Roboto.

[@robmiller3464]

Mark, interesting info on the kerfing. I play a Martin OO-18, and just love it. Appreciate your knowledge. Is that nut a 1 3/4? Thanks again

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Yes, 1-3/4 was Gibson's standard nut width until 1940, and then again in 1942, and finally gone for good in 1947.

[@henrybuttermilk6393]

This is really interesting. My ‘34 L-00 has those solid linings, as well. An early ‘34 or just Gibson being Gibson?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

The solid linings seem to have lasted into the early part of '34.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

one observation about sanding tops evenly, none of the gibsons i've owned, including a 2016 j35, have had a flat, smooth top - compared to the larrivee OMO3 i have which is perfectly flat. gibsons have ripples and waves all over. (not to mention my '66 j45 looks like a glue bomb went off inside). while i'm here, has anyone made a guitar that has a one piece neck and bridge? while watching driftwood guitars make the other day it occurred to me that if you had little or no stress on the top you could dispense with a lot of bracing?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Part of the ‘flat smooth’ look you’re noticing is the satin polyester top finish of your Larrivee, versus the much thinner gloss lacquer of your J35. These differences really do impact the look of the top wood. Not sure what you mean about one piece bridge/neck. Sorry.

[@woodbox50]

🤯awesome stuff. thanks Mark, sounded good, BWDI know.

[@clivehughes5027]

Interesting that you are playing a right handed guitar would the bracing make a difference in making your treble so full. Hell of a tool you have there.enjoyed the video ,excellent

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Your question is a good one, and quite difficult to answer. There is almost certainly a different tone to a guitar if you reverse the stringing to lefty, but quantifying that difference is nearly impossible to do. What I've found is that the difference isn't terribly apparent, and if the guitar sounds good as a righty, it will sound good as a lefty. The frequency repsonse will surely differ somewhat, but the tone is fundamentally quite similar, in my experience.

[@robinsutliff8415]

Thank you, Mark! Fabulous guitar.

[@dalepettit1045]

Sounds great Mark!

[@johnrobertpalomo4283]

What a beautiful guitar

[@timothyobrien6764]

Thanks for sharing your guitar with us Mark. Curious how you add ball ends to the bass strings. Could you explain how you do that? Can you buy the balls separately? Thanks Tim OBrien Woodstock, Illinois

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Hi Tim, You can harvest the ball ends from the strings you're removing (just cut them free with a side-cutter). Then simply slide them over the new string before inserting the string end into the bridge. It's super-simple, and you can reuse the ball ends forever.

[@timothyobrien6764]

@@TheFolkwayMusic Thanks, great idea. Your guitar is truly one of the very best I’ve ever heard.