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Very cool. Some guys having a discussion about those here. I’ve never seen one.
https://umgf.com/l-50-round-hole-or-is-it-more-gibson-oddities-t119849.html

Those frets are really worn down. If it was your uncles old Ferrari with original tires, would you leave them? Might as well get them replaced so it’s in top playing form but I understand the sentimentality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by t6dpilot (Post 12573550)

While not a player like you guys, I still mess around with guitars and need to dive back in. It's been a minute since I have paused my learning. However, I got this little beauty from my cousin after my uncle passed. It was played by his father, my grandfather and is an early 30's Gibson L-50 arch top. I need to give it to a Gibson specialist luthier to bring it back to playability. It desperately needs new strings and a set up and the 1st through 5th frets are really worn. Not sure if I want to replace those since it was my grandfather who put that wear there. It has the sweetest checking all over and actually plays OK for needing strings and a set up. Thought you guys might enjoy seeing it. Looking at the pictures, I took those with my older phone so you can't see the wonderful checking very well.

Wow! I would definitely find a highly skilled guitar tech and get an evaluation on what should/should not be done with this. Maybe a few minor setup adjustments and a fret dress so she plays well but no major overhaul for sure. Definitely "too precious to gig" but would be great to enjoy it at home.

Here is a guy playing one. Sounds good for blues…reminds me of the L-00 sound….Robert Johnson sound

https://www.pegheadnation.com/instruments-gear/vintage-vault/1930s-gibson-l-50/

The round hole was changed to F holes in later 34 I just read….so it’s older than late 34.

Worn frets cause a lot of problems. I’d replace them.

RIP Steve Cropper

He played a Tweed Harvard. About 10 years ago I got a 59 Vibrolux (5F11 circuit) clone…Victoria Chicagolux. This is basically a Harvard with a tremolo circuit. Having played that amp for a decade, it is easy to see why Steve liked the Harvard. It cuts through and has more headroom and still has that tweed thing. For a low watt amp with a 10” speaker, I have played it unmiked with a loud drummer and kept up without the amp imploding…..highly recommended

Steve Cropper was the master of simple epic hooks! We covered a few Booker T and the MGs tunes for a while back in the day. RIP

Thanks guys. I will end up replacing the frets ultimately. My goal is to sympathetically "restore" the guitar using a knowledgeable luthier. I think one of the braces for the arch top is loose as it buzzes when playing certain notes or chords. What would you guys use for cleaning the body and fret board?

I had the hardest time figuring out what this was and just kind of stumbled on the L-50. It is shaped like an L-0 or L-00, but those are flat tops. I think it might be a '32 or '33. Great little bluesy instrument. My grandfather was ahead of his time I have been jokingly told. The original tail piece has been replaced with a VIB-ROLA tail piece for that whammy sound. Unfortunately it is missing the "whammy bar" and I do not have the original tail piece. Sure wish I had that...

I have seen that clip of Orville playing an L-50. Sounds great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak (Post 12573566)

Thanks for that. You want to know what is weird? The FON of the L-50 (or whatever it is) is the same FON as my L-50 (416). Maybe that is a different model? It is definitely a later model given the angled logo in the headstock. Mine is the early straight "Gibson"

A whammy bar on an acoustic guitar sounds like a bad idea to me, unless you want to honor the old mods. Maybe it was thing at one time, I don't know. But I'd be concerned about the extra tension being generated and having the structure of the guitar crack or fail. If you want to get another one, Gibson luthier probably knows where to look it, or you could post in The Acoustic Guitar Forum. I’m sure there’s a Gibson forum as well.