What beats an L5?

[joe2758]

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

I don't understand; is the gold hardware unique to this guitar?

[2bornot2bop]

The better question is what guitar gets you closer to an L5?

In the hands of Rich Severson any guitar sounds great, despite the overwhelming reverb.

The sound is in your fingers, but yes each guitar has a certain sonic signature. L5’s have an entire history established over decades for sounding fabulous, so they’ve set the bar very high!

[Irishmuso]

Where I live L5's are almost mythical. 'I've heard of 'em, I just ain't actually seen one...'. However, I am very grateful for the fact that the guitar which I own and would never sell was acquired from a chap who was selling it to buy an L5. I still don't understand why he let me buy that guitar so that he could buy an L5. I can only assume that an L5 is something beyond my imagining...

[ThatRhythmMan]

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.

Although in the acoustic archtop world there are definitely L-7s and even L-50s that can definitely beat many if not most L-5s.


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[paul s.]

I don't understand; is the gold hardware unique to this guitar?

no I was just messing around b/c I dislike gold hardware, much as I dislike gold watches

[garybaldy]

Although in the acoustic archtop world there are definitely L-7s and even L-50s that can definitely beat many if not most L-5s.


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Even though Christian's post was very much in jest I find your serious reply very interesting.
It clearly becomes an almost impossible task to find and choose your perfect L5 (or similar). There is always a better one around the corner.

[lawson-stone]

Even though Christian's post was very much in jest I find your serious reply very interesting.
It clearly becomes an almost impossible task to find and choose your perfect L5 (or similar). There is always a better one around the corner.

This being true, if you find a great player with some finish flaws, you can often get a very fine instrument at a less exorbitant price. I bought my L5ces from ThatRhythmMan for an extremely decent price (for L5 that is) because it had some problems with the finish that had zero impact on playability and sound. My L5ces has brought me immense pleasure, making even my mediocre music sound pretty nice!

[garybaldy]

This being true, if you find a great player with some finish flaws, you can often get a very fine instrument at a less exorbitant price. I bought my L5ces from ThatRhythmMan for an extremely decent price (for L5 that is) because it had some problems with the finish that had zero impact on playability and sound. My L5ces has brought me immense pleasure, making even my mediocre music sound pretty nice!

I have a beautiful CES from 2005. It wasn't cheap but I don't care

[vinlander]

I've never heard Wes' sound from anything other than an L-5. Not that I've heard it tried on a number of guitars.

And despite this Wes sounded like himself on The Incredible Guitar of Wes Montgomery album using a 175

[58flame]

In the lead right now is a heritage standard eagle

The new Heritage Eagles are world class guitars. I have a 2023 Eagle Classic and I enjoy it as much as my 68 Super 400CES. The Eagle is a little louder acoustically. Both are outstanding amplified.

[RJVB]

The Eagle is a little louder acoustically.

About beating in terms of acoustic volume/loudness: how loud are these really when used as acoustic guitars (i.e. not as whack-a-mole percussion)?

My only comparison here is my Loar, but I know it's supposed to be loud and it definitely sounds like it is (esp. since I put on a saddle with bone insert). However, when I get out my dB meter app it turns out that my classical and the nylon-strung reso are both considerably louder with a lot less required effort.

[Gitfiddler]

The new Heritage Eagles are world class guitars. I have a 2023 Eagle Classic and I enjoy it as much as my 68 Super 400CES. The Eagle is a little louder acoustically. Both are outstanding amplified.

I'm not surprised that your Eagle is louder acoustically than your Super 400. I mostly play my '93 Golden Eagle unplugged due to its huge voice. And yes, it sounds beautiful amplified.

Conversely, my Ibanez GB200 needs to be amplified to bring out its sweetness. Likely that is due to its heavy build and solid spruce top/maple back-sides construction. Ibanez specs do not state 'carved' top/back/sides.

[58flame]

I'm not surprised that your Eagle is louder acoustically than your Super 400. I mostly play my '93 Golden Eagle unplugged due to its huge voice. And yes, it sounds beautiful amplified.

Conversely, my Ibanez GB200 needs to be amplified to bring out its sweetness. Likely that is due to its heavy build and solid spruce top/maple back-sides construction. Ibanez specs do not state 'carved' top/back/sides.

I don't plug either one in when I practice. They're loud enough.

[Rickco]

The new Heritage Eagles are world class guitars. I have a 2023 Eagle Classic and I enjoy it as much as my 68 Super 400CES. The Eagle is a little louder acoustically. Both are outstanding amplified.

the old Eagles are world class and best in class bang for the buck...a Heritage carved archtop is a custom shop Gibson. One may prefer the Gibson build size but build quality is directly comparable.
plugged in a 575 or S16 will give any CES a run for the money at half the weight,size and $$$. If were talkin pre norlin L5C I agree a good acoustic L5 from that period is damn hard to beat.

[Doug B]

keep in mind that an L-5 is typically 17" wide w/25.5" scale length and an L-4 16" /24.75 if that's a consideration.

That's exactly my limitation. My arm reach doesn't extend to 17" guitars, only 16" Ah well, it has become part of my "style"

Doug

[joe2758]

Happy to announce I pulled the trigger on the Standard Eagle Classic.

[2bornot2bop]

Happy to announce I pulled the trigger on the Standard Eagle Classic.

Good for you! Can’t wait to see it!

[joe2758]

Here it is!

[joe2758]

just ordered some 14 gauge strings I hope I don't need to mess around with the setup

[Tal_175]

Here it is!

I am guessing this one is not going in the garbage, lol.
The sunburst looks good (despite not being darker).

[58flame]

Beautiful instrument. I think it’s reasonable to assume going up 3 string gauges or so from factory will require a setup adjustment.

[joe2758]

I am guessing this one is not going in the garbage, lol.
The sunburst looks good (despite not being darker).

lol!

[joe2758]

does it raise any red flags that the bridge is adjusted so high? it looks like it would barely go higher if needed

[Bluedawg]

That Heritage looks awesome!

[Tal_175]

does it raise any red flags that the bridge is adjusted so high? it looks like it would barely go higher if needed

High good, low bad.
Low bridge height might mean a neck reset down the line. High bridge means the neck angle is good (unless it has a sunken top, not to cause any alarms as the top looks fine.)