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hi, i am really intrigued by this guitar but can't seem to find much information on it. anyone have any idea as to the dimensions of this guitar? any idea how the bracing would be under a floating bridge. how would a floating bridge compare to one glued down?

thanks- patch

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I don't think there is a lot of info out there on them. The Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide states:

1918-1921 Slightly arched top and back, low-end budget model Sheraton Brown. Low end price $725 - high end price $900.

What I know about it is this:

It was one of Gibson's first production guitars made to sell in Army/Navy PX stores for service men overseas. I think Gibson doesn't officially recognize it as an actual "Gibson".
From what I could find, it probably had ladder bracing and was built of very low grade materials. At the time their main staple was mandolins so this guitar was their first entry into guitar making.

You could probably find a lot more about it over at the Gibson Forum, There are a lot of knowledgeable guys over there that know Gibson's well.

Cheers,
Bob

thanks rusrob! i'll ask over at the gibson forum. if i can find anything out i'll post here.

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I have been considering building a guitar similar to this style for quite a while now.. I wonder the same thing about the way the volume would be compared to a glued-on bridge.. I imagine it would be a bit darker in tone.. maybe slightly muted? I might just go ahead and start on one.. hmmm..
I do not want to do a carved top, just more domed by a tighter radius on the bracing. Any input would be appreciated.

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You might drop John Thomas a note. He wrote the book "Gibson Gals" and is pretty much the authority on all things vintage Gibson. There is a pretty good chance that he has an xray of the bracing of this model.

aaron, i'd be curious to hear how you go about it. i've been think about building this for awhile too. i saw a photo somewhere, then it took some time to figure out what it was and now just trying to track down any info on it.

i think and i could be totally wrong that the army navy was always a flat top and that the L-1, which looks similar is a carved top.

lmi has plans for the gibson L-0 which is the closet thing i could find. the bracing looks like it could have evolved from and earlier model with a floating bridge.

https://www.lmii.com/images/stories/GalesPics/PLANSteelString20sGibsonLOPL44at950copyright.jpg

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