This 1935 Gibson L-12 represents one of the first of Gibson's "Advanced" line of archtops.  This is when they were upsized from a 16-inch lower bout to 17-inch.  At this time the bracing was also changed from parallel to an X-bracing pattern.  This guitar has a big voice that is very even through all registers.  It's one of those acoustic archtops that can do it all, but truly excels at blues and chord-melody play.
 
The C-shaped neck is very comfortable in the hand and the action is fantastic with room to adjust either up or down as the player prefers.  Notes ring out clearly at all frets. This guitar will stand up to the best X-braced L-5s with ease, at barely over half the cost.  The only differences between this and a comparable L-5 are minor aestetics  outside of the fretboard on the L-12 being rosewood, compared to the L-5's ebony. The remaining differences are the different inlays and fewer binding layers on the guitar and pickguard.  The remaining build is exactly the same.  The quality of the woods is the same and is remarkably high in this guitar.  Note the striking silking of the Adirondack spruce top and the bubble/blister figuring of the maple back.  It also has the same gold hardware as an L-5, the tailpiece having most of the gold finish gone. Note that this being a very early 17-inch model it has the same original tailpiece as the preceding 16-inch version would have.
 
The guitar appears nearly all original with the only obvious changed parts being a replaced screw attaching the pickguard bracket to the body and replaced frets.  The original finish is intact with some wear through on the neck near the nut and expected checking.  There also appears to be some almost undetectable evidence of a very light overspray of clear lacquer.  The guitar is completely free of cracks or breaks. 
 
Weight - 5.6 pounds
Nut width - 1.71 inches
1st fret depth - 0.88 inches
10th fret depth - 1.02 inches
Scale length - 24.75 inches
 
The guitar comes with a high quality TKL case which is in very good, solid condition with minimal signs of use.
 
Ships free in the United States and for reasonable rates worldwide.