Blonde/natural Gibson L-5 guitars - Only look better or?

[ThatRhythmMan]

Something like an ES-350 looks best in natural.

L5's can kind of go either way.

Super 400's look better in sunburst.

I cannot explain this.

I can’t say that agree with that last assertion.









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[Archie]

I gotta go with Mr B here. There’s just too much ‘vast expanse of nothing’ with blonde 400’s. The Burst breaks up the miles of beige.

[ThatRhythmMan]

I gotta go with Mr B here. There’s just too much ‘vast expanse of nothing’ with blonde 400’s. The Burst breaks up the miles of beige.

You call that nothing?


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[customxke]

I’m partial to blondes.

[garybaldy]

I can’t say that agree with that last assertion.









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I'll have the one without the pg!

[Archie]

You call that nothing?


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I was referring to the front but it’s not my fav back if we’re asking. The figuring is somewhat chaotic, uneven and not bookmatched, although I appreciate that’s harder to do on carved plates and chaotic patterns.

I may get rightfully blown out for that opinion but there it is lol

[Archie]

I’m partial to blondes.

Nice collection.

[cmajor9]

I was referring to the front but it’s not my fav back if we’re asking. The figuring is somewhat chaotic, uneven and not bookmatched, although I appreciate that’s harder to do on carved plates and chaotic patterns.

I may get rightfully blown out for that opinion but there it is lol

If you ever have any ‘boring’ blonde archtops like that that you’re tired of looking at, I can help! :>)

[cmajor9]

I’m partial to blondes.

Wow! Very nice group photo!

Partial to blondes, but apparently not to any particular blonde :>)

[Rustic]

I don't know how much of this applies to Gibson archtops but I've come across some deep burst and black flatops that were the best I have ever played. A few luthiers I spoke with suggested that when building a natural/blonde the key prerequisite is the beauty of the wood. When building for a dark burst or black the stiffness of the wood and the tap-tone are the primary selection criteria.

Of course having both is the way to go.

[vinnyv1k]

Just love every color and be done with it.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I don't know how much of this applies to Gibson archtops but I've come across some deep burst and black flatops that were the best I have ever played.

I agree. My beautiful deep dark blue Ibanez AEL207 has a big, rich, warm, woody sound that's as good as almost any flattie I've ever played.



I had a black '91 165 for a few years in the early '90s that sounded much better acoustically than the '60 175DN that I played from '61 until '72. The early 165s had a set pickup too.