Gibson Vintage 1949 L-7C Archtop Electric Guitar - Black

At Interstellar Guitars, we are honored to present a time-capsule treasure: a vintage 1949 Gibson L-7C, finished in its extremely rare original custom-color Black—a finish seldom seen and highly sought after by collectors and archtop purists. This extraordinary 76-year-old instrument is not only visually captivating, but it also carries a lineage tied directly to Gibson’s own modern archtop development.

Previously owned by Mat Koehler, Senior Director of Product Development at Gibson Brands, this L-7C served an important role at the Gibson HQ: its top and back carves were 3D-scanned and used as reference material during the design and refinement of the modern Gibson Historic Reissue Archtop Collection. This guitar is literally part of Gibson’s living DNA.

For an instrument built in 1949, the condition is nothing short of stunning. The original Black nitrocellulose lacquermaintains a rich gloss sheen, accented with the kind of delicate checking only decades of honest aging can produce. It’s a breathtaking sight—elegant, expressive, and undeniably rare.

Outfitted with its original Double McCarty pickguard, this guitar may very well have been custom-ordered with this option, as it was available at the time. At some point the pickguard bracket was replaced, leaving one small extra screw hole on the side, but an original-style bracket is now restored to the instrument.

There is a small area of binding shrinkage on the lower back edge—common for vintage Gibsons of this era. It is stable, does not affect playability or tone, and is not something typically “repairable” without compromising originality. It is mentioned purely for transparency.

According to Mat Koehler himself:
“I have personally owned this guitar for a few years and noted that it is one of the finest sounding and definitely cleanest vintage Gibson archtops I have ever come across.”

Coming from the individual directly responsible for overseeing Gibson’s modern archtop development, that statement carries enormous weight.

Introduced in 1948 as the “plain” counterpart to the L-5, the L-7C became a favorite among orchestra and jazz players, known for its powerful acoustic projection, sophisticated looks, and exceptional craftsmanship.

This vintage 1949 Gibson L-7C is more than a guitar—it is a museum-worthy artifact, a functional tool of sonic art, and a direct contributor to Gibson’s own modern reissue archtop lineage. Finished in one of the rarest custom colors of the era, and preserved in extraordinary condition, this instrument represents the pinnacle of golden-age Gibson craftsmanship.

Build Date: 1949
Model: L-7C
Condition: Very Good 
Body Construction: Hollow-Body
Body Top: Solid Carved Spruce
Body Back: Carved Maple
Body Sides:  Maple
Body Finish: Nitro
Body Binding: Ivoroid Multi-ply 
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: Split Parallelogram MOP
Nut: 1 11/16" 
Frets: Vintage-Medium
Neck Profile: Late 40's Chunky "C"
Pickguard: Blk/Wht/Black (Double McCarty Pickguard)
Pickups: Gibson Original 
Electronics: 2 x Vol, 1 x Tone 
Headstock: Gold Applique Gretsch Logo 
Truss Rod: Fully Adjustable
Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Binding: Ivoroid 
Scale Length: 25.25"
Bridge: Trapeze
Tuners: Kluson 
Case: Gibson Hardshell Case