Robert Johnson’s raw, emotionally-charged songwriting and innovative Delta blues guitar style laid the foundation for modern blues and rock, profoundly shaping the sound and vocabulary of American music for generations to come. In one of the only verified photographs of Robert Johnson, he is famously holding a Gibson L-1 guitar. It's a small-body 12-fret with an odd round lower bout, likely from the late '20s. A peculiar relic of the prewar era, but because of this famous photo, the L-1 has become legendary.
In 2003, Gibson introduced the L-1 Robert Johnson Signature to celebrate his legacy and commemorate that iconic photograph. Its body measures 19" long and 13-3/4" across the lower bout. It has a 25" scale length, 12-fret neck, and the lower bout is round, just like the guitar in Robert's hands in the photo. Spruce top with Mahogany back and sides, and a dark 1930s tobacco sunburst top finish. In your lap, it feels small and manageable, but because of the construction, the tone is resonant and open with plenty of bass to balance out the sound. Honoring the inspiration for this guitar, Robert Johnson's signature is inlaid at the end of the fingerboard.
This Gibson L-1 Robert Johnson Signature was made in 2006. It has been played and shows some cosmetic wear and signs of use, but it is in very nice condition for a used guitar. The worst are superficial scuffs and cracked lacquer on the edge of the fingerboard and around the headstock inlay (see photos). At some point along the way, the pickguard was added. The previous owner installed an LR Baggs Element pickup under the hood, so it is ready for the stage. The nut and saddle have both been upgraded to hand-fit, unbleached bone parts. Because of that, the playability is excellent—this '06 L-1 Robert Johnson has low action and plays nicely up and down the fingerboard. The nut width measures 1.710".
This 2006 L-1 Robert Johnson is a sweet small-body Gibson that feels just right. An obvious choice for fingerstyle and the blues, it's surprisingly versatile and can go in a lot of different directions. With the soundhole almost centered on the waist, and the bridge shifted to the widest part of the lower bout, it packs impressive bass and a bigger sound than you probably expect. It includes its original hardshell case.