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  #1  
Old 03-06-2018, 07:27 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Default Strings for '34 Gibson L-4 ???

Hi, got Gibson L-5 Nickel strings - 12-56 on it but having a little work done and need new strings on it . Can't find them anywhere now.
What do you recommend for a purely acoustic archtop?
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Old 03-06-2018, 11:54 AM
kayakman kayakman is offline
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Martin Retro`s or D Addarrio NB`s.
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Old 03-06-2018, 11:58 AM
HHP HHP is offline
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Martin Retros would give you an idea of what it sounded like in '34. Old catalogs always offered "Mona-Steel" strings.
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Old 03-06-2018, 12:02 PM
mr. beaumont mr. beaumont is offline
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A big +1 on the Martin retros, I love them on an archtop.

Also, seeing that guitar is purely acoustic, 80/20's would sound great too, after the inital break in.

Great guitar by the way, those older L-7's are hidden gems of a sort.
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Old 03-06-2018, 01:44 PM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Right Martin retros -I'll get some !

BTW, Jeff, Interesting that you call it an L-7! I have tried to research this and they look pretty much identical,but the serial number IS late 1934 and the label clearly says L-4 although the seemingly original bridge has L-7 written in pencil !

See: https://www.archtop.com/ac_34L4.html

Note: it arrived with me with pretty much NO frets left and they ignored my instructions from HM Customs and so it cost me considerably more for unnecessary excise taxes. Anyway, I still like it and tok it to my luthier vto correct the bridge string spacing that "someone" did poorly.

BTW I've abandoned replacing the tuners as we can't find drop in replacements and I wonlt have the headstock re-drilled - my luthier agrees.
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Silly Moustache,
Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer.
I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom!
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  #6  
Old 03-06-2018, 02:57 PM
HHP HHP is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silly Moustache View Post
Right Martin retros -I'll get some !

BTW, Jeff, Interesting that you call it an L-7! I have tried to research this and they look pretty much identical,but the serial number IS late 1934 and the label clearly says L-4 although the seemingly original bridge has L-7 written in pencil !

See: https://www.archtop.com/ac_34L4.html

Note: it arrived with me with pretty much NO frets left and they ignored my instructions from HM Customs and so it cost me considerably more for unnecessary excise taxes. Anyway, I still like it and tok it to my luthier vto correct the bridge string spacing that "someone" did poorly.

BTW I've abandoned replacing the tuners as we can't find drop in replacements and I wonlt have the headstock re-drilled - my luthier agrees.
Think L-4's switched from oval hole to f holes in '33 or '34. On the ovals, I think the tone bars splay outward and the splay inward on F hole models.
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