The L-4 was first introduced in 1911 as an acoustic rhythm guitar with an oval sound hole and 12 frets to the neck;[1] it was used by Eddie Lang, who also played an L-5.
In 1928, Gibson redesigned the guitar, swapping out the oval soundhole for a round one, extending the neck to 14 frets and cantilevering the end of the fretboard over the top, just as they did on the L-5.
In 1935 Gibson redesigned the guitar yet again, this time dropping the round soundhole in favor of f-holes.
[2] In 1949, Gibson released the ES-175, which was essentially an electric version of the L-4 with a laminated (as opposed to carved) top and a florentine cutaway.
Electric versions of the L-4 (known as L-4 CES) with a carved top and a florentine cutaway, were released in limited runs throughout the 1950s.