What beats an L5?

[Strbender]

Ha - a very entertaining discussion : ) In "proper" Italian, the correct pronunciation of my last name is Cahm-pehl-LO-neh, with accent on the 3rd syllable. However, in many dialects of southern Italy (where my family is from) it's very common to drop the last vowel, so the pronunciation Cahm-pehl-LONE (as in 'Lone' Ranger) is OK, too.

And if we want to get really technical, another important (though subtle) aspect of pronunciation is the double consonant, like the "LL" in Campellone. I wasn't aware how important this is til I'd spent time in Italy. In Italian, each letter of a double consonant pair is pronounced, and the meaning of a word can change, depending on whether or not you pronounce it correctly. For example, the word pollo (pronounced POL-lo) means chicken - and the word polo (pronounced PO-lo) means pole, as in North Pole. There are very few words in English that have pronounced double consonants (one example is "bookkeeper") - sound-wise, the effect is like the difference between the word "alienation", and the title of the old sci-fi TV series "Alien Nation" - if you pay attention to the way you say the two, you'll realize there is a subtle difference in pronunciation - in the latter, you kinda hang on the "N" a little longer.
In general, with a few exceptions (like the pronunciation of gl and gn) Italian pronunciation is pretty straightforward - if you see it, you say it : )

I guess that's the reason I call you Mark. No need for formal last names

[Betz]

We’re luckier than most guitarists realize. Top quality bows are $50k. Raguse has been making bows for about 50 years. They’re probably L-5 level quality and desirability, and they cost as much!

Attachment 115723

I wonder. If someone posts an NBD (New Bow Day) on a cello forum about their new Douglas Ragusa or Argus T9, do they have to scroll through troll posts about dummy’s paying more than $50 for a bow on Amazon because ‘tone is in the fingers’?

[Max405]

Nothing “beats” an L5. If you really want an L5, everything else will be a compromise. Wait and save your money. And if you want an L5, accept no substitutes, because there are none.
However, there’s a Tal Farlow in the for sale section that will also make you feel like you can’t get anything any better. Just different.
And that L4ces in the for sale section is keeping me up nights.
But if it’s an L5 you crave, save yourself money in the long run. Just get one. You’ll be done shopping for guitars. Well, kind of. You will still buy. But you will buy extra L5’s..
Joe D

[Cunamara]

But if it’s an L5 you crave, save yourself money in the long run. Just get one. You’ll be done shopping for guitars. Well, kind of. You will still buy. But you will buy extra L5’s..
Joe D

ROFLMAO!

[vinnyv1k]

Yes everyone needs extra L-5’s.

[JazzerEU]

I’m gonna catch some lead for saying this but I have a D’Angelico EXL-1 that was made in Korea. Everything is stock except for the nut that was swapped out with the two refrets it went through. I’ve had for over a decade and lived in died with it until I left my country to come to the EU 3 years ago. My friend has a Wes Montgomery L5 that was made after 2000 I think. I’d take my D’Angelico any day over his L5 personally. It has a floating pickup and a wood bridge which gets a clearer and woodier sound. One of my old teacher has an L5 from the 70s. That guitar is magnificent, it’s the only one I’ve played that I like more than my D’Angelico. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess…

[gitman]

There is really nothing to argue when it’s got to be a Gibson guitar- if the name on the headstock isn’t the main concern then the choice of fine/great/wonderful 17“ acoustic archtops on the used market is plentiful. Check out the Andersen „Streamline“ I‘m selling! ?
There is hardly a better sounding and playing guitar out there, even if they cost twice as much….

[spencer096]

that black wesmo is giving me the vapors

[2bornot2bop]

I was fortunate enough to own 3 L5’s. A blonde CES, a sunburst Wesmo, and a sunburst CES. All I can say is, their build quality was second to none, and their tone smokey as it gets. I should have kept the’98 CES for its tone was old school magical.

And I’m a piano player.

[RJVB]

the choice of fine/great/wonderful 17“ acoustic archtops on the used market is plentiful.

Sorry, for me it's going to be either a 16"er which can still be played with normal comfort (for me), or an 18"er. A 17" is too much of the one and too little of the other...

[lawson-stone]

I still find my L5ces in Cognac (?) Burst to be stunning. Depicted here with two other very strong contenders, though, the Aria Pro II PE180 and the Epiphone Elitist Broadway. The latter really could compete head-to-head with the L5ces. The Aria feels and plays like the only Tal Farlow's I ever played. Think L5ces laminated...

[MCampellone]

I still find my L5ces in Cognac (?) Burst to be stunning. Depicted here with two other very strong contenders, though, the Aria Pro II PE180 and the Epiphone Elitist Broadway. The latter really could compete head-to-head with the L5ces. The Aria feels and plays like the only Tal Farlow's I ever played. Think L5ces laminated...

really pretty finish on that L5 - don't think I've ever seen one done in that color before.

[lawson-stone]

really pretty finish on that L5 - don't think I've ever seen one done in that color before.

I love it too. It is one of those, however, that had some "bleed" at the binding so there is a slight cosmetic flaw, which is why I could afford to buy it in the first place! But I love the color though I don't have any idea what Gibson calls it. As noted above, I call it "Cognac Burst."

[RJVB]

Just a moment...

This doesn't "beat" an L5 of course but for the money you get pretty darn close in terms of the acoustic sound as far as I can tell (and as close as you want in the electric sound, after replacing the PU).

(I PSA'ed this guitar before but they added a bunch of pictures that show it's got a really pretty back and doesn't appear to have any neck/fretboard issues.)

[garybaldy]

Just a moment...

This doesn't "beat" an L5 of course but for the money you get pretty darn close in terms of the acoustic sound as far as I can tell (and as close as you want in the electric sound, after replacing the PU).

(I PSA'ed this guitar before but they added a bunch of pictures that show it's got a really pretty back and doesn't appear to have any neck/fretboard issues.)

Nice guitar. A great alternative. Recommended by Mr Stout.
I consider my 700 to be an L5 substitute. It get's played far more in public than my CES (different beast entirely though).

[Christian Miller]

What beats an L5? An L7, right? And then L50 is best of all.

That's totally how it works, right?

In the same way as a Super 400 is 70 points better than an ES330.

SIMPLE. AS.

[garybaldy]

What beats an L5? An L7, right? And then L50 is best of all.

That's totally how it works, right?

In the same way as a Super 400 is 70 points better than an ES330.

SIMPLE. AS.

So the Loar 700 beats them all!

[supersoul]

What beats an L5? An L7, right? And then L50 is best of all.

That's totally how it works, right?

In the same way as a Super 400 is 70 points better than an ES330.

SIMPLE. AS.

Have you ever heard of a Telecaster? I think Fender makes them. If you close your eyes it's indistinguishable from an L5. This is true!

[Stringswinger]

So the Loar 700 beats them all!

Add a Dearmond 1100 to that and it may be game over.

Except that an L-5 still wins.

[deacon Mark]

Ok, lets me more scientific. I ask the ChatGPT what a used Gibson L5 could be bought for in 1980. I used 1980 because that was the year I bought my first D'angelico Excel from George Gruhn. Here is the answer and yes to me nothing beats an L5 given I cannot get one today for $5500. The bold is my exact typing and the cut and paste answer.

In 1980, a used Gibson L-5 typically sold for around $1,500 to $2,500, depending on its condition, year, and any specific features (like custom finishes or appointments). Prices would vary based on the model's history and the demand at the time, but those are rough estimates for a standard L-5 from the 1960s or 1970s.
Adjusted for inflation, $1,500 in 1980 would be equivalent to about $5,500 today.

[2bornot2bop]

Just a moment...

This doesn't "beat" an L5 of course but for the money you get pretty darn close in terms of the acoustic sound as far as I can tell (and as close as you want in the electric sound, after replacing the PU).

(I PSA'ed this guitar before but they added a bunch of pictures that show it's got a really pretty back and doesn't appear to have any neck/fretboard issues.)

99.9% of the people here will never experience the joy that guitar has. I’ve owned 2. The first had the electronics replaced and a Bartolini 5J installed. It was the greatest joy I’ve ever experienced from an acoustic. But you must change the Chinese electronics.

The problem that seller has is he advertised the guitar as NEW for 3 months. Now he’s trying to sell the guitar as new. He’s got a lowly 2 eBay feedback. You buy the seller as much as the item. Still there aren’t many of these LH650’s available for sale anymore.

The problem with these LH650’s, unlike the LH700, is many of them were shipped from the factory with a poor neck angle, so getting a low action is challenging. And this guitar has a much better neck, imo, than the V- neck of the LH700.

[2bornot2bop]

Ok, lets me more scientific. I ask the ChatGPT what a used Gibson L5 could be bought for in 1980. I used 1980 because that was the year I bought my first D'angelico Excel from George Gruhn. Here is the answer and yes to me nothing beats an L5 given I cannot get one today for $5500. The bold is my exact typing and the cut and paste answer.

In 1980, a used Gibson L-5 typically sold for around $1,500 to $2,500, depending on its condition, year, and any specific features (like custom finishes or appointments). Prices would vary based on the model's history and the demand at the time, but those are rough estimates for a standard L-5 from the 1960s or 1970s.
Adjusted for inflation, $1,500 in 1980 would be equivalent to about $5,500 today.?

Yes, but in 2013 I purchased a Super 400, a Wesmo, and 2 CES’ each for $5500. But it’s not 2013 anymore.
And another thing. New L5’s are a rare find today.

[RJVB]

So the Loar 700 beats them all!

Add a Dearmond 1100 to that and it may be game over.

If you can find a good used LH6/7x0 that managed to avoid QC issues or had them sorted out then you it will be a very hard to beat price/quality ratio.

Except that an L-5 still wins.

In resale value?

[joe2758]

In the lead right now is a heritage standard eagle

[paul s.]

all the gold hardware, they must be fancy!! Better put my suit on!!