This Guitar Collection Is Begging for a Red L-5CES

[icr]

I have been looking for an appropriate L5CES to join these guitars for over a decade. I already have an Asian L5 copy and a 1947 L7, but those are not the real deal.

[icr]

BTW, the guitars in the picture:

1990s Howard Robert Fusion III
2000s ES175
2000s ES335
1990s ES135
1970s Les Paul Custom

[icr]

This is my current L5; not the real deal. Has laminate top, but otherwise sounds good and plays well.

This one is somewhat homemade. I took a 1990s Sebring (Taiwan) husk and added some Gibson USA components.

[bananafist]

Looks nice. Nut width 43mm/1 11/16" ?

[icr]

Nut width? Can't say I have much sensitivity to that on electric guitars or have ever measured it. Over 30 electric guitars and to me they are all 'about the same;' whatever that would be in millimeters.

For classical, however, 52mm at least, since I have big fingers.

[joe2758]

Man, too bad the Sebring is the wrong color!

But, really that is a screamin' collection

[lawson-stone]

Your project with that Sebring inspired me, and I have a Sebring L5 "husk" and just waiting for a block of time to do the components.

[andrew]

I thought this was going to be a PSA for a couple of red L5s that were on Reverb recently for good prices. I think they might have sold already. One of them was down to $6,700.

[icr]

I thought this was going to be a PSA for a couple of red L5s that were on Reverb recently for good prices. I think they might have sold already. One of them was down to $6,700.

...stay tuned...

[Danny W.]

Like this?:



Danny W.

[Stringswinger]

Or this? :

[Gustavo Eiriz]

You can always ask Chatgpt to add the red l5 to the pic and save 10k
But it might fail.

[deacon Mark]

Really, I think this would work too it is special red not the wine red and carved especially as an acoustic. At one time Danny W had many years ago I believe. Sounds incredible acoustic.

[icr]

I need an L5 with two humbuckers. I'm not so much a Jazz player but an archtop fan.

[icr]

You can always ask Chatgpt to add the red l5 to the pic and save 10k
But it might fail.

Very clever, I had to do a double-take on that.


A few years ago I was looking at this but thought it would be too close to my ES-175 as the L4 is said to have a laminate top:

[Woody Sound]

[joe2758]

There is a cherry red 1998 L5 on ebay right now

[213Cobra]

Very clever, I had to do a double-take on that.


A few years ago I was looking at this but thought it would be too close to my ES-175 as the L4 is said to have a laminate top:

L-4CES are carved tops. I have a prime condition cherry red one I'm willing to sell, from the Hutchins era, 2002, so it's maple body, carved spruce top. I have a wine red L-5 Wes I could get interested in selling, same era, but it's got just the neck pickup and it's not cherry.

Phil

[Pierrot]

Oops, that's a different animal, sorry. My beloved GB15, BTW.

But red nevertheless, hmm...

[icr]

L-4CES are carved tops. I have a prime condition cherry red one I'm willing to sell, from the Hutchins era, 2002, so it's maple body, carved spruce top. I have a wine red L-5 Wes I could get interested in selling, same era, but it's got just the neck pickup and it's not cherry.

Phil

What was I thinking....Now I have to get one of those too!

[icr]

Ok, new guitar day was today.

L5 CES Wine Red, Gold Hardware 2003, Hutchins Sticker

I think price information is of historic importance. (2026) $7000, discounted to $6700.

Known discount issue: wear on neck and a chip from tie-on neck strap. Yes, no heel strap lug!

Normally I'll strip a guitar down for inspection and cleaning but as this one came it is very playable even with the existing strings on it. Action exactly as I like it 4mm.

Pots not scratchy. Some wear on the pickup covers and mild scratching on the body, nothing that can't be rubbed out.

Frets look fine.

Pictures to follow

[icr]

Playing:

First off I noticed it louder than my Sebring L5 with StewMac Parson Street Humbuckers. This may be because the pickups were pretty high, higher than I like, so I lowered them.

The strings are 27mm off the top at the bridge. Maybe on the high side, but photos of the inside show no cracking or weakness of the braces and no dip to the top. No cracks or any sighs of weakness at the neck joint and neck is straight with ever so slight bow forward.

The strings are much lower on the Sebring but the fingerboard sits much lower at the neck on that copy.

Anyway, for me that puts the fingerrest too low (sitting on the pickup rings), so I added some rubber under it to raise it about to the level of the top of the bridge pickup.

The sound of the strings is more even compared to the Sebring. Mostly it is the lower strings that are just a little dead on the Sebring and more lively on the Gibson. Treble strings sound very similar on both. (round-wound on both).

[icr]

So, I'm all prepared for a chip repair based on the sellers pictures.

But...it isn't a chip, the lacquer has just lifted, there is no chip. I think I can fix this with some retarder. Soften it and get it to stick down again. No big deal, I can just play it and fix it later as there is no exposed wood!

The marks from the strap are no big deal, should buff out.

[icr]

So this was curious too. Looks like the finish is worn through from heavy playing. But...the frets are pristine!

So, also, in this case the finish has just lifted there is little or no wear and no exposed wood.

[icr]