Gibson Custom L-1 Anniversary Acoustic Guitar - Cremona Burst

One hundred years after Gibson introduced its first flat-top acoustics, the L-1 Anniversary stands as a reverent return to where it all began. First released in 1926, the L-1 helped define the sound, feel and visual language of Gibson’s earliest acoustics, becoming an essential tool for blues and roots icons such as Robert Johnson, Keith Richards and Norman Blake. This centennial tribute—limited to just 100 units worldwide—is handcrafted at the Gibson Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana, and remains uncompromisingly true to its origins. A thermally aged red spruce top paired with solid mahogany back and sides delivers a dry, immediate response with unmistakable vintage character. The traditional small L-1 body and scalloped X-bracing provide warmth, clarity and dynamic sensitivity, while a 12-fret neck joint enhances low-end bloom and overall resonance. Finished in a rich Cremona Burst nitrocellulose lacquer and appointed with period-correct details throughout, the L-1 Anniversary honors a century of Gibson flat-top history with authenticity, restraint and enduring musical relevance.

Original L-1 Body Shape and Scalloped X-Bracing

The L-1 Anniversary is built around the original model’s distinctive small-body silhouette, paired with traditional scalloped X-bracing to deliver the tonal character that made early Gibson flat-tops so revered. This construction emphasizes harmonic warmth and responsive dynamics, allowing the guitar to react naturally to subtle changes in touch. The compact body focuses the sound while retaining surprising depth, making the L-1 especially rewarding for expressive blues phrasing and nuanced fingerstyle work where articulation and feel are paramount.

Thermally Aged Red Spruce and Solid Mahogany

A thermally aged red spruce top gives the L-1 Anniversary a dry, broken-in response and enhanced dynamic range, closely echoing the tonal maturity of a well-preserved vintage instrument. Solid mahogany back and sides reinforce that character with woody, mid-forward warmth and a strong fundamental presence. Together, these tonewoods produce a voice that feels direct and intimate, with gentle compression and long, musical decay—well suited to roots-based playing styles that favor nuance over high-gloss shimmer.

12-Fret Neck Joint and Historic V Profile for Classic Feel

The mahogany neck joins the body at the 12th fret, a defining feature of early Gibson flat-tops that positions the bridge deeper into the lower bout for enhanced bass response and overall warmth. A 25” scale length and Historic V neck profile reflect period-accurate geometry, prioritizing authenticity over modern shaping trends. The profile offers a substantial, anchored feel in the hand while reinforcing the instrument’s vintage playing experience. An ebony fingerboard with 19 standard frets and mother-of-pearl dot inlays completes the neck with clarity, durability and understated elegance.

Period-Correct Hardware and Appointments

Every detail of the L-1 Anniversary is designed to honor its historical roots. Cream binding frames the top and back, traces the fingerboard edges, outlines the headstock and encircles the soundhole, adding visual contrast while reinforcing longevity. The ebony bridge features a rectangular footprint with carved pyramid wings and is fitted with a bone saddle and bone bridge pins for balanced articulation and sustain. Open-back, three-on-a-plate tuners with cream buttons maintain a period-correct appearance while providing reliable tuning stability, and a bone nut further supports tonal clarity.

A Limited-Edition Centennial Tribute to a Historic Flat-Top

Finished in a deep Cremona Burst nitrocellulose lacquer, the Gibson L-1 Anniversary captures both the visual character and tonal responsiveness of the brand’s earliest flat-top guitars. Limited to just 100 instruments worldwide, each guitar is packaged in a hardshell case and includes a certificate of authenticity, underscoring its significance as a true collector-grade release. Far beyond a celebration of history, the L-1 Anniversary is a living expression of the sound and design principles that shaped a century of Gibson acoustics.