Gibson L4 CES

[Patrick2]

Originally Posted by silhouette

Thanks for sharing Paco - some really nice playing.
I'm not sure that I deserve my guitars!

Which guitars do we share?

Actually the 175 went in for a re-fret recently. My local guitar tech did a fantastic job and it really improved the acoustic response. As result it now plays beautifully.
The L4 has a very middy sound that seems to record really well. However, it has a rather bright acoustic sound. The Guild has a beautiful acoustic sound as there is no hole in the sound board - well other than the f holes. The de Armond is a fantastic pick-up - no wonder they fetch so much on ebay. It is a fantastic pure jazz guitar.
The GB10 is bright and full an almost perfect recorded sound - no wonder Norman Brown likes them so much

Just some observations which were not mentioned .. or if they were, then I missed them. On the L4CES . . . unless Gibson has changed, I think they have solid mahog back and rims. The H575, while dimensionally similar, has carved maple all the way around. Also, the L4CES has, unless I'm mistaken, an ebony finger board. The ES 175 has rose wood as does the H575, unless ordered special with an ebony board. Some say that an Ebony board could also produce a slightly brighter tone. The ES175, while dimensionally similar to the L4, is laminate maple. On the '70s Guild AA . . the De Armond is probably the 1100. I don't think there was ever a sweeter jazz pup made.

[Ged]

Which actually leads me onto something else...the L5 Wes you mentioned. I'm currently on the lookout for a single pick up L5, although all I seem to get online are crooks either selling guitars that don't exist, or characters who expect me to deposit a few thousand in their bank accounts in the (vain) hope that a guitar might turn up one day. It also seems that when I see and L5 listed on the London site of Craigslist, the guitar (inevitably) is in some Godforsaken island north of Scotland which means I can hardly take a quick look. It seems that almost the entire population of these islands seems to 'own' L5s!

Anyway, I recently tried out the (enormously expensive) limited edition model, and didn't like the neck at all. It was thick and flat at the back and felt most uncomfortable. Is this the way that Gibson are making the new L5s, or is this just the limited edition, or a one-off. I wonder?

And another moan. How many shop L5 have I come across which use the worst possible strings you could imagine? They are like wet barge ropes. Hardly a way to encourage a sale.

[Patrick2]

Originally Posted by Ged

Which actually leads me onto something else...the L5 Wes you mentioned. I'm currently on the lookout for a single pick up L5, although all I seem to get online are crooks either selling guitars that don't exist, or characters who expect me to deposit a few thousand in their bank accounts in the (vain) hope that a guitar might turn up one day. It also seems that when I see and L5 listed on the London site of Craigslist, the guitar (inevitably) is in some Godforsaken island north of Scotland which means I can hardly take a quick look. It seems that almost the entire population of these islands seems to 'own' L5s!

Anyway, I recently tried out the (enormously expensive) limited edition model, and didn't like the neck at all. It was thick and flat at the back and felt most uncomfortable. Is this the way that Gibson are making the new L5s, or is this just the limited edition, or a one-off. I wonder?

And another moan. How many shop L5 have I come across which use the worst possible strings you could imagine? They are like wet barge ropes. Hardly a way to encourage a sale.

WET BARGE ROPES??? I love it!! I WILL use that in the future. (Hopefully, you won't expect any royalties on that phrase.) Regarding the necks on the L5s . . my 2011 L5 Wes Montgomery has a neck that is very much like my 1994 L5CES. It's full and robust, but not a fat chunky baseball bat either. If you've ever seen the process of "rolling a neck" it's all done by feel and eye. No computer or specific tolorances are "strictly" adhered to.

To get an L5 that you are going to be happy with, it's either going to be a leap of faith for you . . or quite expensive. Possibly both. Unless you luck out and find someone selling one within a couple of hunder miles of your home. I bought mine from G-Brats Guitars in Houston Texas. An extremely honorable and honest young man. My biggest risk was about $100 in return shipping costs if I didn't want it. Your case is a little more involved. I feel for ya man!! Gibson L-5 Wes Montgomery Archtop Jazz Guitar L5 L 5 - eBay (item 140586720070 end time Aug-10-11 20:03:14 PDT)

Give this link up a try. I've heard nothing but favorable things about this guy.

[Squint]

PLEK?

It can see what the human eye can't.

PLEK / A+D Gitarrentechnologie GmbH - Welcome to plek

www.westwoodmusic.com

[Ged]

"Wet barge ropes"? You can have it for free my man! I originally used it in the 60s as most of the strings we got were like that. You have to travel into central London to get anything half decent. It was the same with classical guitar. Absolutely garbage, although things have changed since then.On this I now use Savarez Corum with a mixture of high and medium tension.

I've seen this L5 on ebay before and it looks very nice. However, you've got to consider import duty which is not cheap. Plus the cost of sending it, it all adds up.

And I've never seen the "rolling a neck" process, although it's gratifying to know that the one I saw is not now the norm.

I've enclosed a photo of my guitars - from the left, one made by a friend; then the John Scofield Ibanez; a Paul Fischer which was made for me in 1976; the L4; an absolutely superb Howard Roberts Gibson which has a terrific sound, and a Hofner. (Having some real problems loading this photo...it's all the right size etc, so we'll see if it works).

And the mailing by Squint about PLEK...I thought this was a joke until I looked up the YouTube video. It's amazing. See ‪Introduction to Plek Technology Berlin‬‏ - YouTube

All guitars.jpg

[Dennis D]

That seems a logical progression, 'cause that's what I did. I started out with a '60's ES-175, and once I became to accustomed to the size and scale, I never saw a need to change. I like the L-4 sound better, although the 175 was never any slouch either. The solid top just makes a difference- - and the ebony fingerboard doesn't hurt either. The L-4 I found is a natural, and now for me that color is a must have. A friend of mine said 'the L-4 is what a 175 should have been', and I agree. MHO Dennis

[boatheelmusic]

FWIW:

My Es-175 and L-4 CES had a bit of the "gargling" sound when chorded high, especially through an amp.

When I readjusted the pickup heights, it disappeared.

I have the bridge pickup at 4/32 on the high E string, and 3/32 on the low E, measuring from bottom of string to top of pole piece.

For the neck pickup, I have the high E at 3/32 and the low E at 4/32.

All measurements with strings fretted at last fret.

These heights give good top-to bottom string balance, and bridge to neck volume balance.

I use .012's.

The guitars also sound better acoustically with these heights!