1968 Gibson L-7CES Special Order

This is a really cool 1-of-a-kind Arch Top that’s an exceedingly unusual special order model L-7CES from 1968 in which was never available in their product catalogs. Its pretty much an L-5CES w/down graded appointments perhaps a more affordable version for its 1st owner wanting that cool body shape. Its got a gorgeous rich Dark Sunburst finish over a nice grainy “carved” spruce top w/a sharp “Florintine” cutaway that was never optional on any L-7, all being round Venetian cutaways, always fully acoustic & never having any Humbucking pickups offered. Its maple back, sides & its complete neck are Walnut stained giving this a very rich look. Its beautiful feeling & playing 1 piece mahogany neck feels fabulous. Its got a white bound rosewood fingerboard w/double parallelogram inlays. You get a killer variety of jazz tones thru its 2 Pat.# stickered Humbucking pickups. She sporting a set of double-line Gibson Kluson Deluxe tuners, but appear to have had another set or 2 of tuners on it & removed w/no mods at some time in its past. Its sporting 4 original chrome capped black knobs & it has a fabulous replica white bound Tortoise’gard. Its original ‘gard disintegrated over time as many do. All of its chrome hardware is clean from its wooden base Tun-a-Matic bridge to its cool 175/L-7 type chrome trapeze tailpiece. Its got a clean orange oval label perfectly intact that states the special ordered “L-7CES” model name & may be the sole example ever produced w/its sharp pointy cutaway & fully electric features. She’s got killer sustain & tone qualities. Owned by its last caretaker, Raul Herrera from Miami Florida, since he bought it back in 1979. He played it at most gigs & performances during his 40 year Florida music playing career.  Other than some slight play time & some weatherchecking, she’s exceptional overall & comes in a nice original black tolex/yella lined hard case.