2014 Gibson L-1 1928 Blues Tribute – £2199

NEW ARRIVAL  Gibson began offering a replica 1926 Robert Johnson L-1 a number of years back. But in 2014 they issued the orange-label 1928 L-1 Blues Tribute, which is a different creature altogether. It replicates visual and structural elements of the original instrument, but uses modern production techniques – the result is what Gibson calls a “customised” L-1 replica. The guitar sports an Adirondack red Spruce top with X-bracing using hot hide glue. It’s set on a Mahogany body and has a rectangle open-slot bridge, open-back vintage tuners, and ‘The Gibson’ headstock inlay. The finish is a finely faded vintage sunburst. The construction of the guitar is rock solid, and yet it’s amazingly light in weight. Played with a pick, you access more of the high end mids for a great attack, played fingerstyle, the L-1 responds beautifully – you engage all of that sweet Mahogany tone for warm, round notes. The guitar is in excellent condition, with no cracks or repairs, and comes in it’s original ‘vintage replica’ deluxe hard case.