1937 Gibson L-C "Century of Progress", Serial Number 398 C
This 1937 Gibson L-C “Century of Progress” is one of the most visually striking small-body Gibson acoustic guitars of the prewar era. Rather than typical rosewood or ebony fingerboards, the “Century of Progress” instruments featured pearloid fingerboards and headstock veneers with inset rosewood markers and mother-of-pearl inlays, an eye-catching feature exclusive to a relatively small number of acoustic guitars and mandolins from 1933–1939.
This example is exceptionally clean, original, and fully serviced. This guitar has a rich caramel-toned sunburst over the beautifully figured maple back and sides, as well as over the spruce top. There’s exceptionally light playwear and checking throughout, with the most notable wear being a cosmetic scratch on the front of the body on the treble side of the lower bout. There are no cracks on the top, back, or sides.
Weighing just 3.74 pounds, this L-C is lightweight and lively with a booming yet dry and articulate tone. It is equally at home as a showpiece in a collection, recording in the studio, or in regular rotation as a player.
The neck is a soft but pronounced 1930s V profile that feels comfortable, full, and easy to play. The pearloid fingerboard is in excellent condition and features inset Brazilian rosewood fret markers with mother-of-pearl diamond inlays. The 15th fret rosewood insert is a slightly different shade of brown than the rest of the inlays and was possibly replaced at some point in the guitar’s history, and if so, the work was done neatly. The pearloid headstock veneer is in equally clean condition, also with a mother-of-pearl Gibson script logo inlay inset into rosewood detailing.
This guitar has been fully serviced by the team at The Commonwealth Luthier in Holliston, Massachusetts, including a neck reset, inspection and regluing of internal braces, and removal and regluing of the original Brazilian rosewood bridge. Additionally, a replacement vintage-spec bone saddle was crafted and installed, and the nut height was adjusted. It has been thoroughly inspected and maintained to ensure structural integrity and optimal playability.
The original brown-and-purple Lifton® hardshell case is included. The guitar ships in a Gibson Deluxe Protector Series Small-Body Acoustic case.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, and new Limited Lifetime Warranty.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gibson flat-top acoustic, all Gibson Certified Vintage flat-top acoustic guitars released in 2026 will include a commemorative Certificate of Authenticity featuring the official “100 Years of Flat-Tops” logo.
Weight: 3.74 lbs. / 1.70 kg
Neck Depth: 1st Fret: 1.26”, 9th Fret: 1.36”
Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back Maple
Binding Single-ply binding on body, multi-ply binding on neck
Body Shape L-00
Body Styles Hollowbody
Bracing X bracing
Side Maple
Top Spruce
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
Fingerboard Material Pearloid
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 19
Frets Original small (.076 x .033)
Inlays Mother of Pearl small diamonds inlaid in rosewood
Joint Glued (set-neck) construction
Neck Material Mahogany
Nut Material Bone
Nut Width 44.25mm / 1.74in
Profile 1930s V
Scale Length 635.0mm / 25.0in
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge Brazilian rosewood
Bridge Pins Bone
finish Nickel
Pickguard Celluloid Firestripe pickguard
Saddle Material Bone (replaced)
Strap Buttons Bone
Tuning Machines Grover® G-100I Ivoroid tuners
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty
Model: GCVP0185
Case Original brown-and-purple Lifton hardshell case
Headstock Open Book with Mother of Pearl Gibson script logo inset in rosewood
Gibson Certified Vintage 1937 Gibson L-C "Century of Progress", Sunburst
Gibson Certified Vintage 1937 Gibson L-C "Century of Progress", Sunburst
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1937 Gibson L-C "Century of Progress", Serial Number 398 C
This 1937 Gibson L-C “Century of Progress” is one of the most visually striking small-body Gibson acoustic guitars of the prewar era. Rather than typical rosewood or ebony fingerboards, the “Century of Progress” instruments featured pearloid fingerboards and headstock veneers with inset rosewood markers and mother-of-pearl inlays, an eye-catching feature exclusive to a relatively small number of acoustic guitars and mandolins from 1933–1939.
This example is exceptionally clean, original, and fully serviced. This guitar has a rich caramel-toned sunburst over the beautifully figured maple back and sides, as well as over the spruce top. There’s exceptionally light playwear and checking throughout, with the most notable wear being a cosmetic scratch on the front of the body on the treble side of the lower bout. There are no cracks on the top, back, or sides.
Weighing just 3.74 pounds, this L-C is lightweight and lively with a booming yet dry and articulate tone. It is equally at home as a showpiece in a collection, recording in the studio, or in regular rotation as a player.
The neck is a soft but pronounced 1930s V profile that feels comfortable, full, and easy to play. The pearloid fingerboard is in excellent condition and features inset Brazilian rosewood fret markers with mother-of-pearl diamond inlays. The 15th fret rosewood insert is a slightly different shade of brown than the rest of the inlays and was possibly replaced at some point in the guitar’s history, and if so, the work was done neatly. The pearloid headstock veneer is in equally clean condition, also with a mother-of-pearl Gibson script logo inlay inset into rosewood detailing.
This guitar has been fully serviced by the team at The Commonwealth Luthier in Holliston, Massachusetts, including a neck reset, inspection and regluing of internal braces, and removal and regluing of the original Brazilian rosewood bridge. Additionally, a replacement vintage-spec bone saddle was crafted and installed, and the nut height was adjusted. It has been thoroughly inspected and maintained to ensure structural integrity and optimal playability.
The original brown-and-purple Lifton® hardshell case is included. The guitar ships in a Gibson Deluxe Protector Series Small-Body Acoustic case.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, and new Limited Lifetime Warranty.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gibson flat-top acoustic, all Gibson Certified Vintage flat-top acoustic guitars released in 2026 will include a commemorative Certificate of Authenticity featuring the official “100 Years of Flat-Tops” logo.
Weight: 3.74 lbs. / 1.70 kg
Neck Depth: 1st Fret: 1.26”, 9th Fret: 1.36”
Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back Maple
Binding Single-ply binding on body, multi-ply binding on neck
Body Shape L-00
Body Styles Hollowbody
Bracing X bracing
Side Maple
Top Spruce
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
Fingerboard Material Pearloid
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 19
Frets Original small (.076 x .033)
Inlays Mother of Pearl small diamonds inlaid in rosewood
Joint Glued (set-neck) construction
Neck Material Mahogany
Nut Material Bone
Nut Width 44.25mm / 1.74in
Profile 1930s V
Scale Length 635.0mm / 25.0in
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge Brazilian rosewood
Bridge Pins Bone
finish Nickel
Pickguard Celluloid Firestripe pickguard
Saddle Material Bone (replaced)
Strap Buttons Bone
Tuning Machines Grover® G-100I Ivoroid tuners
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty
Model: GCVP0185
Case Original brown-and-purple Lifton hardshell case
Headstock Open Book with Mother of Pearl Gibson script logo inset in rosewood
