Gibson Jeff Himan Signature L5 CES

fws6 · #1 11-28-2011, 08:34 AM

Arrived in the mail today....awesome Gibson Jeff Himan Signature...

Its like a late 50s L-5 CES with the chicken head knobs adn a Bigsby wiggle (not too sure if I keep that on though... )

I know - I know what you're all are going to say.... Of course I immediately realize that this wont get me sounding like Jeff....

I see it a a small step in the right direction though

oldane · #2 11-28-2011, 09:01 AM

Nice guitar. Personally, I'd replace the Bigsby with an ordinary tailpiece. I'd keep the chicken head knobs. In fact I have them - or something to the same effect - on several of my guitars as they are very easy to see and feel even in bad lighting. "Gold" speed knobs, which may be what this guitar was born with, are pretty but I can never see where I'm at with the knob settings, even in good light.

BTW, I'm ignorant. Who is Jeff Himan?

fws6 · #3 11-28-2011, 09:54 AM

He is a Giant of jazz guitar

rpguitar · #4 11-28-2011, 10:21 AM

That's really beautiful and a classic look - doesn't look like a new L-5CES thanks to the finish. Can you provide a link for Jeff Himan? Googling brings up just about nothing on him (or this signature guitar).

cjm · #5 11-28-2011, 11:33 AM

I'm assuming the truss rod cover is the give away.

hot ford coupe · #6 11-28-2011, 11:40 AM

There's a good reason why you've never heard of the signature Jeff Himan guitar. Jeff Himan is me. I think Frank is pulling some legs here. It's a good thing you don't play like Jeff Himan. You probably all play better. Thanks Frank for the great vote of confidence. I put the chicken heads on after listening to Barney Kessel talk about them being more user friendly than the old hat knobs. You don't need do look at them to see where you are. The Bigsby was put on there because I somehow got into a Brian Setzer thing and got quickly out of it. I have the tailpiece somewhere in my basement and didn't get a chance to put it back on to the guitar before I gave it to my son when I moved. Frank, I'll go ahead and look for it. When I find it, I'll send it to you hopefully along with a new screw for the truss rod cover. You don't have to return the Bigsby. I have nothing to put it on and don't want to.

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #7 11-28-2011, 11:45 AM

Any way you slice it, that's an swesome-looking guitar.

fws6 · #8 11-28-2011, 11:46 AM

>the truss rod cover is the give away

Sorry I should have put a screw back in for the pic. this was just a quick snapshot as it came out of the box

fws6 · #9 11-28-2011, 11:49 AM

Hi Jeff !!

Dont let Jeff fool you all - he is a very decent player. His son is a pro musician too (not jazz though) and sold Jeff's old guitar to me

I am very happy with it. I fact I already have a 62 L5CES but the necks in the 60s get so thin that i like this one WAY better; the more chunky 50s profile is just great

---- >>>> Jeff if you do have that tailpiece I'd be VERY VERY VERY happy !!!!!! Not too fond of the Bigsby either....

cjm · #10 11-28-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fws6

>the truss rod cover is the give away

Sorry I should have put a screw back in for the pic. this was just a quick snapshot as it came out of the box

I was reading too much into it. I thought it might be a deliberate misspelling of Jeff Hyman's name and the cover sitting crooked implied a punk rocker's custom detail.

Particularly since it has a whammy bar...

fws6 · #11 11-28-2011, 11:54 AM

Jeff Hyman is a more famous musician indeed, but he was singer and not a guitarist - this is the famous Jeff Himan aka Hot Ford Coupe

cjm · #12 11-28-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fws6

Jeff Hyman is a more famous musician indeed, but he was singer and not a guitarist - this is the famous Jeff Himan aka Hot Ford Coupe

I agree Hyman was not a guitarist, or a drummer...or a singer...but he is variously cited as having been all the above. Anyhow, that's what I thought the joke might have been...

Now I want to hear a Hot Ford Coupe...unfortunately I'm a long ways away.

Congrats on the new axe, by the way.

hot ford coupe · #13 11-29-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fws6

Hi Jeff !!
Not too fond of the Bigsby either....

That was the dumbest thing I did at the time. It worked when I played sleep walk but it very quickly became annoying. As soon as I can find that tailpiece, it goes right to you. I'll pay the shipping of course. I'm really glad you liked the neck on it. It had a great feel.

Believe it or not, the name Jeffrey Hyman was the real name for Joey Ramone of the Ramones. Even weirder was he lived in the neighborhood next to where I lived. I never knew him.

stevedenver · #14 11-29-2011, 04:21 PM

and to think i called the custom shop trying to order one.......

not really, but it is a great looking L 5

AlohaJoe · #15 11-29-2011, 07:49 PM

Beautiful! I love the knobs too.

I just replaced an old Guild branded Bigsby with a vintage correct harp tailpiece on a '64 Starfire II and the guitar sounds better than ever. The break angle is improved and the guitar shed some weight.

fws6 · #16 11-30-2011, 01:31 AM

I used to have a couple of Gretsch guitars. Gretsch guitars came with Bigsby's (all the Chet models like the 6120) or without (Country Club, Jets). But everyone seems to associate Gretsch with Bigsby so much, that 99% of the vintage Clubs and Jets you'll find nowadays are equipped with Bigsby's. I always did the reverse operation i.e. install fixed tails on my Gretsches. I even had a 6120 with a standard tailpiece which to me improved the tone (no Bigsby pressing on the top), weight, and tuning stability of the instrument.