(Serial No. 31892_fon3201) I always wanted one of these guitars so I finally bought one. Alas, I'm not an archtop player. Orville Gibson invented the archtop guitar in the 1890s, and the company that bore his name went on to lead the development and refinement of the archtop as it is known today. Before the more familiar look of the L-5 and its descendants dominated the archtop world, the oval-holed Style 0 - introduced in 1903 - was Gibson's leading archtop. The elaborate scrolled upper horn and flat cutaway appeared by about 1907, but the Gibson logo wasn't added to the headstock until after 1916. The Style 0 was rumored to be one Big Bill Broonzy's favorite guitars. This absolutely amazing guitar is 16 1/4 inch wide, 3 3/8 inch deep, with a one piece carved spruce top with oval sound hole with ornate 'marquetry' rosette. Two piece mahogany back and sides. Two piece mahogany neck with ebony center strip and neck joint at the 15th fret. Super thick profile neck with a fat nut width of just under 1 3/4 inches and a scale length of 24 1/2 inches. Single-bound ebony fretboard with 20 original thin frets, inlaid pearl dot position markers and black dot side-markers. Single binding on the top and the back. Black-faced headstock with single binding and and abalone and pearl fleur-di-lise inlay. Black faced back of headstock with three-per side, open-back strip tuners with oval ivory buttons. Raised celluloid pickguard secured to the side of the body with an adjustable metal bracket. It has a wooden bridge. Most of these are missing the original impossible to replace tailpiece. This has the original celluloid tailpiece with six bridge pins and trapeze tailpiece. There is a minor repair in the middle of the back which is noticable if you look closely. This is a unique instrument both in looks and its big sound. Frets are good, neck set is good and finish and parts are original. Here is a short video clip of this instrument played. Comes with the original five-latch, shaped black hardshell case with padded purple velvet lining. Comes with the original five-latch, shaped black hardshell case with padded purple velvet lining.

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