Serial Number: FA-5174 (on the label and stamped on the headstock)

Year Shipped: 1940

FON: The Factory order number is not clearly stamped but includes the ‘F’ suffix used that year

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end.  25-1/2 inch scale length. Wide neck heel. Like other L-5Ps from this period, the fingerboard is not elevated but resting directly on the guitar’s face

Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, Natural finish, large bound f-holes and parallel top bracing

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons

Notes: Has original tweed ‘Aeroplane Cloth’ case. There is small grain split just above the tailpiece and the ‘Vari-tone’ adjustment has dug into the top wood to a degree. The lower back has a small grain split in the lower bout and some of the back edge seams have been resealed. There are also a couple tiny grain checks on the upper bout side where it meets the back. The guitar appears to have been re-fretted at some point with appropriate wire. The pickguard has been replaced (the original guard is in case pocket badly decomposed)

Images courtesy of Retrofret