Showing a Little Love for a Gibson 1934 L-5 Reissue

[kamlapati]

I’m really enjoying this guitar after two weeks in the house. It has a unique voice, different from my 17” L-5s, different from my modern Trenier / D’Aquisto voiced guitars. It has a soft attack, smooth, balanced bass and treble, long sustain. It’s great for chord melody and vocal accompaniment. It is supernaturally comfortable in the lap and hand.

Even though I owned an original 16” L-5 back in the nineties (that’s a story for another day) this new guitar has added to my archtop education. In its soft attack and balance I hear a hint of the later (earlier?) D’Angelico and D’Aquisto guitars. But on the downside, I can hear why there was such a fast transition to 17” bodies for their increased volume, dynamic range, and fast attack.

Like all L-5s, I like the relatively understated design. Everything is simple and functional except for the fabulous flowerpot.

This one was made in 2001. It’s not an exact reproduction of any early 16” L-5, but I am totally OK with the changes that the builders made to make it manufacturable and sellable. It captures a lot of the spirit of that old era / guitar without the baggage that comes with a 90 year old guitar. I’m appreciating it for its strengths.

Perhaps some vids in the future.

[garybaldy]

I'd love to hear it compared to a Chinese Loar 600/700.

[kamlapati]

I can't do a side-by-side, but I did own a Loar 700 a few years ago. Unfortunately, the neck angle was off a little and I could never get it to play easily. I think you hear this a lot, if you get a good one they're really good. But there are many not-so-good. So much about guitars is that the devil is in the details.

[kamlapati]

I did a side-by-side comparison with my '46 L-5, and it really makes me think these reissues are underrated. I don't see many for sale, but the price I got mine for, mid $5000's, now seems utterly reasonable. And I gotta believe that being a Gibson, it will hold it's value.

Mine has gotten quite a bit of lap time and I'm conviced it's louder and sounds better that when first received.

And my original reason for getting it, the 16" body and short scale, is holding up for me. It's easy on my old hands.