1962 Gibson L5

**fws6** · 03-28-2011, 08:34 AM

Just came in before the weekend; put a set of Chromes on and the PAFs are everything I had hoped for --> instant delicious recognizable jazzy sound.

Unfortunaly I also cut in my fingers with an electrical saw this weekend when DIY-ing ... only a scratch so nothing that wont heal but it'll take a while before I'll really get busy with the guitar

**RoyaleT** · 03-28-2011, 09:16 AM

Sweet. Congrats, and heal quickly, good luck.

**NSJ** · 03-28-2011, 09:27 AM

Nice! how common is the florentine cutaway on these? I've also wondered how having 2 setin pups affect the electric tone on a carved solid wood top. Please let us know how it plays.

**Cooperro** · 03-28-2011, 10:05 AM

Mine has the two pups. Seems like the top doesn't really vibrate much due to all the "crap" built into it, like the two pups and four pots, etc. But then, I never use it acoustically except to practice, and its electrified tone is heavenly.

**NSJ** · 03-28-2011, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Cooperro

Mine has the two pups. Seems like the top doesn't really vibrate much due to all the "crap" built into it, like the two pups and four pots, etc. But then, I never use it acoustically except to practice, and its electrified tone is heavenly.

well that's the most impotent thing electric tone.

**D'Aquisto Fan** · 03-28-2011, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by fws6

Just came in before the weekend; put a set of Chromes on and the PAFs are everything I had hoped for --> instant delicious recognizable jazzy sound.

Unfortunaly I also cut in my fingers with an electrical saw this weekend when DIY-ing ... only a scratch so nothing that wont heal but it'll take a while before I'll really get busy with the guitar

That's a classic! Thanks for sharing.

**fws6** · 03-28-2011, 10:12 AM

What Cooperro said... the acoustic tone is seconday to the electric tone for this model. Not loud at all. But then again, I got that acoustic archtop base pretty covered already with my other stuff

**pingu** · 03-28-2011, 11:33 AM

Thats the architipal archtop right there ....... beautiful

**M-ster** · 03-28-2011, 11:47 AM

Congrat's! Looks nice!

**pingu** · 03-28-2011, 11:52 AM

I don't suppose you wanna sell me the 'spare' PAF ?

**mr. beaumont** · 03-28-2011, 11:54 AM

Man, if guitars could talk...

**Geert** · 03-28-2011, 12:25 PM

beautifull....

**SamBooka** · 03-28-2011, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Man, if guitars could talk...

Sometimes they do

**Retroman1969** · 03-28-2011, 01:10 PM

Whoa, that's a real beauty! Just screams classic.

**customxke** · 03-28-2011, 02:56 PM

Nice!!!!

**fws6** · 03-29-2011, 03:31 PM

>I don't suppose you wanna sell me the 'spare' PAF

Nah I dont want to leave a nasty hole in the top better leave it as is ;-)

**pingu** · 03-29-2011, 04:02 PM

good point fur enough

**D'Aquisto Fan** · 03-29-2011, 04:39 PM

So, have you healed enough to play that L5? How's it sound, feel, etc? What's the neck profile like? We rarely get a great vintage guitar like yours on this site. I'd love to hear more about the guitar.

**fws6** · 03-30-2011, 03:48 AM

Yeah it is only a minor cut... I took off a slice of skin which will heal perfectly and can still play a bit. But it hurts like h*ll

The sounds is great, thick, creamy, warm, full, round, whatever word you could find for it. I use a Vibroverb (all-tube, 40 watts, 2x10). I roll off the bass and treble on the amp a bit to emphasize the mids, and on the guitar I have rolled off the treble a bit. I set it up with a set of Chromes and it is instant classical jazz tone.

As far as the feel, and neck profile are concerned, I must admit I have to get used to it. The 60s Gibsons are alwas tricky as some have very narrow nuts and thin necks. I am used to playing pre 53 Epiphones which all have wider nuts and thicker necks of course.

For this L5 one I made sure it was the wider 1-11/16 neck before I bought it (some are 1-5/9 so hardly playable). So the width is fine but the neck profile feels very thin to me still. This Gibby will take some time to get fully used to.. Easpecially at the 15 minutes a day rate I am forced to play right now :-(

**oldane** · 03-30-2011, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by fws6

As far as the feel, and neck profile are concerned, I must admit I have to get used to it. The 60s Gibsons are alwas tricky as some have very narrow nuts and thin necks. I am used to playing pre 53 Epiphones which all have wider nuts and thicker necks of course.

For this L5 one I made sure it was the wider 1-11/16 neck before I bought it (some are 1-5/9 so hardly playable). So the width is fine but the neck profile feels very thin to me still. This Gibby will take some time to get fully used to.. Easpecially at the 15 minutes a day rate I am forced to play right now :-(

Yes, the Gibsons from 1961 and 1962 have thin necks. I believe that the narrow necks came later in the 1960's. I have a 1961 ES175 with that thin neck and 1 11/16" nut width. I don't have problems with the thinness - but then, I have had the guitar since 1973, so I guess I have had time getting used to it.

Joe Pass had a 1961 175 too, and he liked the slim shape so much, that he reportedly had a little some kind of argument with Jimmy D'Aquisto later on, because Joe felt that the neck on the guitar D'Aquisto had made for him was too thick, which D'Aquisto disagreed with and he refused to shave it down.

BTW, usually I don't have problems with neck shapes. I also have an old Gretsch New Yorker with a clubby and rather thick neck, and I don't mind that either. I think it's a matter of getiing used to whatever you have and once and for all decide that it is you who are playing the guitar not the reverse. Many obstackles can be overcome by practice and what seems awkward initially becomes second nature after a while. Think about Freddie Greens monstrously high action. He admitted that it "took a while getting used to it", though.