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anyone have one and have comments?
id really appreciate this
and
anyone know current pricing for one in lightly used shape-
i have the opportunity to get one
i presume they ARE indeed an L5 simply without the appointments-ie binding inlay and nice tailpeice, gold etc
thought it might actually be a nice gigging instrument
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08-21-2011 02:27 PM
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1997 Gibson Custom L-5CES Historic Series (edit.. yeah.. I know it says L5CES but the link is for a Studio.. trust me)
The one in the link isnt so bad. I have seen some pretty gaudy ones so far.
I think the price is right on them.. 2200-2500 ish..
2010 VG Price guide say 2000 to 2200 (years 1996 to 2000)
I would certainly give one a try for that kind of money. Not much more than I paid for my 165.
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I actually like it without the bling.
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I had one of these awhile back and it was a great guitar - played, sounded and felt like an L-5CES - a great guitar.
The top is carved, rims and back plate are laminated. Gibson took this approach with many of their 1960's L5-CES guitars, so it's hardly new and is no reason not to get one of these guitars.
Some of them have ugly tailpieces and flashy pickguards, some don't.Last edited by Hammertone; 03-21-2017 at 06:09 AM.
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The key phrase in your post/question is . . . "as a gigging guitar". If you have to buy it from an internet source without the opportunity to see it in person and play it . . . then I would probably have some reservation. However, if you have an opportunity to play it and it makes that "connection" with you . . . then why not buy it?? It was more than likely purchased and owned by a working musician for the same reasons you are considering it. So, it's probably a kick ass player. My only reservation would be if the current and or original owner treated it as if it was something less than the more upscale L5. Even though it's a less expensive model, it still deserves the same TLC as its more expensive counterpart. If you look at that guitar, and it appears to have been treated with respect . . . I would bet dollars to donuts it's a winner!!
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actually i would venture -fromt he pics-that is has been hanging on the wall in some shop unplayed-the only visible wear is the area on the headstock where it would sit in a cradle
its a bit faded too on the top -eeeets blue! and while i love the color -i think its probably un-resaleable-i guess that most players wont touch blue becuase its unusual and a bit flashy-
although it is a Gibson-which re-sell and hold value wonderfully-blue and a weird odd ball model may not be something that appreciatesoand it has the confetti blue pickguard and ....a very cool black binding
i was thinking...(uh oh).........that IF i can get this for about 2200 it would be a very nice alternative to a 175-and right or wrong, i like blue-but blue turns green as the color seems to be inherently unstable-but even this might look nice with the black binding
but....
theres a kenny burrel type buscarino in blue too-but 2.5 times that price-16" which is singing a siren song to me via its pictures..but i think i would be hesitant to take that guitar to a gig
im not too hopeful though as the seller asked a great deal more than my offer-one thing about not being too hot to buy is it does send a message
while i cant really find specs-i do know these are solid and not mulit lam sides-only becasue having been to the CS-in terms of 'production line' molds etc it is my thought that it is simply an L5 without the lovely trim and gorgeous board etc-its really plain-it is indeed the one with ugly tail and strange pickguard
to the poster that had one-how was the quality of the finish?-from the pics it appears a very high gloss and well done-but ive read reviews to tha contrary-and i know that this period of production gibson was messing about with different amounts and types of platiciizer for the nitro
and
how was the neck-?? it is a multi lam neck in maple like an L-5 so i am guessing too that this is the same specs width and shape-wiseLast edited by stevedenver; 03-01-2012 at 04:27 PM.
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You're trying really hard to talk yourself into buying this guitar. Regarding blue arch tops . . . the late Scott Chinery commissioned 22 of the world's greatest luthiers to each build a blue arch top to commorate Jimmy D'Aquisto's blue Centura .. . . so you're not alone in your love for blue arch tops. If you really want to buy this guitar, then you need to totally abandon your concern for resale value. It has been hanging on the wall so long, it has developed nitro burn . . specifically because not many want a blue arch top. I would again offer that it's probably a great player . . or can be set up to once again be a great player. Probably sounds pretty good too. You said that you wanted it as a gigging guitar and that it would probably be a very nice alternative to the ES 175. Why would you need an alternative to such a great working mans utility axe????
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it is indeed the chinery book that made me love blue
but ive always loved blue with black binding just because it is so unusual for guitars
well i guess that an L5 for about the price of a 175-in blue with black binding and not too flashy sounds cooler to me than a 175 for about the same price-simply an issue of finding a quality axe for not too much that i can feel good about taking out -nothing against 175's at all-but from shopping-i can tell taht they are more popular and seem to command an overall higher price-
because this is an odd duck-im thinking i may be able to bargain a really good value as well as a really great guitar as you note
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The guitar sounded virtually identical to my L-5. I preferred the neck on my L-5 Studio to the neck on my L-5 - it had a bit more beef near the nut, a really nice rounded profile, and the unbound neck felt great to me. The fretwork was excellent. I had a darkburst and the finish was top-quality - not thick at all. As far as colour goes, I can only vouch for my own instrument, but I have personally seen these in darkburst, redburst, blueburst, and white, all with nickel hardware. They might have done black as well.
Originally Posted by stevedenver
As far as the tailpiece and pickguard go, they are easily changed to more subdued, conventional Gibson parts for not much money - a black/white/black pickguard would look quite nice on this guitar, as would a typical L-7 or ES-335 style trapeze tailpiece.
The laminated back plate and rims are presumably similar those used on the ES-5/Switchmaster/ES-350/Tal Farlow reissue guitars from the Gibson Custom Shop.
Comparing an L-5 Studio to an ES-175 simply reveals that the two have very little to do with each other. Both are perfectly good guitars, but I am partial to 17" carved top guitars with 25 1/2" scale as opposed to 16" laminated-top archtops with 24 3/4" scale.Last edited by Hammertone; 08-27-2011 at 08:46 PM.
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Yeah, I know the one you're talking about: eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices .
The seller made me an offer of $2399.99 and then pulled it and relisted it for $2999.00. He made me an off-ebay offer of $2700.00. I declined.
Meanwhile, take a gander of this: .
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My misunderstanding then . . . I thought that you already had the 175 and that you were looking for an alternative to it. Originally Posted by stevedenver
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I don't know, guys. Considering the pricing on used L-5CES and Wes models ($5k and up) and ES-175s ($2k at least), I'm thinking under $3k for an L-5 Studio is pretty sweet. A 900 series Eastman will run you $2200. The color is funky but unique - "Blue in Green" - and I would never change the pick guard.
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I've played them and they were junk. They don't make them any more: case and point. Get the real one!
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The L5 Studio in that youtube Jabberwocky placed didn't sound the least bit like junk to me. Since sound is in the fingers, could it be that you.....? Originally Posted by Maxiumburn
I've played them and they were junk. They don't make them any more: case and point. Get the real one!
(sorry just being mean here, but your unsubtle comment enlurked that from me...)
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they dont make them because -they either didnt sell-or Originally Posted by Maxiumburn
I've played them and they were junk. They don't make them any more: case and point. Get the real one!
more likely, they not only undermined the other product-L5-and are costly to make-just not as costly with the binding eliminated (been to the custom shop and watched L5s being made)
they are body and neck wise identical to an L5 ive learned-just with crappy- less- than-ES 175 appointments
'02 was a time that gibson was still sorting out soem marketing issues-you could buy several styles of custom shop historic les pauls-and seomtimes these actually overlapped-weight, finish, neck size etc-later they made these very model specific-and PRICE specific too
i speculate that offering a "VW" L5 was not helping the otherwise very high priced archtop market they have-such a product only lessen the perceived value IMHO-thats why i thought an sorta ugaly "L5" for about the price of a 175 sounded very nice-the whole point is to have guitar to gig with and knock aboutLast edited by stevedenver; 08-30-2011 at 03:19 PM.
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If you are in Europe you can buy my "real L5"
For 3000Euro, the conversion rate really favors you guys.
If you get a studio you'll always be jealous of the guy with a real one.
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agreed Originally Posted by Maxiumburn
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Ok buy it for 4000euro which is a lot in dollars. Surely you can find one one o
In the US for 5k usd? Case closed.
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eBay USA has a studio for 2200$. ~1300euro.
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yes i know
i dont get you at all
there is a real differenc between 2200 and 5k + for a guitar
especially one built essentially the same
the issue is value and purpose
nothing else
if i wanted an L5 id get one -but i still wouldnt take it to gigs and bars
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Little Jay you're a punk!
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You are a punk know it all! Originally Posted by Little Jay
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Originally Posted by stevedenver
Life is to be lived so don't be a pussy,
take it to the gig..! But keep an eye on it!
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(fewer posts than me, obviously much more money, and already making enemies and calling names)
................i think he doth protest too much
btw way..its "case in point" -a phrase from lawyers, meaning i have a case to illustrate and legally support a point of legal argument being argued before a judge -
other than your "L5 is crap " post and the fact that you dont like them-which you say is based on playing one-and which i took note of
as well as the great sounds coming from those you tube clips
imho youve yet to make any case at all-other than you would rather have an L5
which wasnt what this thread was about
if i win the studio on ebay for the price i think it merits -ill post some clips and let you know
"case closed" ....
i hope
Last edited by stevedenver; 08-30-2011 at 07:15 PM.
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