1959 Gibson L5C George Gobel Red

If you're old enough to remember George Gobel, you're as old as I am (and that is old). I barely remember my father watching "Lonesome George" on the old Admiral (don't remember Admiral, either, do you?) in glorious black and white. It ran on NBC from 1954 to 1960. George played a Gibson L5 on the show (and did skits and told jokes). He was a little guy and wanted a guitar that wasn’t too big to get his arms around so he asked Gibson to make him a thin body L5. He apparently liked red so most Gobels are finished in red (there are a few blondes). Gobels are 2 3/8" deep with a 17" body so it's a big guitar but thinner than the typical L5. This one is cutaway and has a spruce top. There are a few iterations of the Gobel...electric and acoustic,,,24 3/4" scale and 25 1/2". This is 24 3/4" like most Gibsons and is, of course, acoustic. It is in stunning condition. A few little dings but no player wear. The color is vibrant and deep. They made 43 of them. How many have survived is unknown. This is the cleanest one I've seen. Frets are original as is everything else. There is one at Carter's for $150,000 that is supposedly George's own but another one was sold by Fretted Americana a few years as George's and another one, owned by a client of mine is supposed to be George's. I'm sure he had more than one. Buy this one for less than a third of that one.