What beats an L5?

**joe2758** · 09-26-2024, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by paul s.

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** · 09-26-2024, 04:25 PM

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** · 09-26-2024, 06:58 PM

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** · 09-26-2024, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.** · 09-26-2024, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by joe2758

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** · 09-27-2024, 04:30 AM

Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan

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** · 09-27-2024, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by garybaldy

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** · 09-27-2024, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

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** · 09-27-2024, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar

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** · 09-27-2024, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by joe2758

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** · 09-28-2024, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by 58flame

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** · 09-28-2024, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by 58flame

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** · 09-28-2024, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gitfiddler

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** · 09-29-2024, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by 58flame

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.