Gibson L-5CN

**rpguitar** · 07-31-2012, 01:04 PM

Yesterday I received the Johnny Smith pickup-equipped Gibson L-5CN.

The guitar is great. Let's get that off the table immediately. It was mostly as advertised, with a few minor discrepancies.The 'G' tuner is slightly bent (functions fine and is not really noticeable), and the inside label is missing despite the write-up claiming that it had a "Kalamazoo label." The serial # is stamped on the headstock, though. There is no question that it is what it is claimed to be, but that's a little odd. It was re-fretted at some point, and one can see the tiny gaps left where the original fret ends were embedded in the neck binding (this phenomenon was happily avoided with the re-fret done on my '47).

Guitars ship with bridges removed from archtop.com, so a set-up was required. Luckily I enjoy this and consider it my first bonding opportunity with a new instrument. I polished the frets. I replaced the unknown old strings with D'Addario 12-52 nickel rounds. I re-seated the bridge and worked on action and intonation. Truss rod needed a slight loosening to restore a bit of relief. Pickup polepieces needed to be balanced just a tad.

Everything's good.

While I was at it, I removed the pickguard to inspect the pots and try to date the guitar. They are made by Alpha and have the code 6H3 on them, but that is not a date code. So it yielded no fruit. However, the screws holding the pickguard onto the bracket were loose, so I tightened everything up nicely and tucked it all back in. There's another identical and immaculate pickguard in the case, as it turns out - it's got the exact same cutout and holes - I have no idea why it was replaced.

Spent hours playing... that's what it's all about! I have my '47 strung up with phosphor bronze for more of an acoustic sound, so I equipped the CN with nickels for a slinkier electric sound. But it's plenty loud acoustically, and has a really nice punch to it. Listen to the SoundCloud clip and you should hear a nice stereo blend between electric and acoustic sound.

In short, it's almost certain to become a forever guitar for me. I am just a diehard L-5 player - I love everything about them, including a lot that is visual and historical. And I tend to gravitate towards the more acoustic ones, which is why I could not help myself when this one showed up with a perfectly installed Johnny Smith pickup and an unmolested pickguard. That, along with the overall condition, endpin jack, lack of volute, newer frets, and proper nut width, was just about my perfect combination of features.

I'll get a comparison video up eventually with the two blonde L-5s. Thanks for the support (and for the heads up that these babies were on archtop.com!).

**voxwerx** · 07-31-2012, 01:23 PM

Thank you for sharing!

**Section Player** · 07-31-2012, 01:46 PM

I can see why you love this guitar. Thanks for your very informative writeup. I know I'd like to get my hands on one like yours and experience it. Just beautiful in every way.

**NSJ** · 07-31-2012, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by rpguitar

Yesterday I received the Johnny Smith pickup-equipped Gibson L-5CN from archtop.com, referenced in this thread.

Here are a few pics.

And

.

In short, it's almost certain to become a forever guitar for me. I am just a diehard L-5 player - I love everything about them, including a lot that is visual and historical. And I tend to gravitate towards the more acoustic ones, which is why I could not help myself when this one showed up with a perfectly installed Johnny Smith pickup and an unmolested pickguard. That, along with the overall condition, endpin jack, lack of volute, newer frets, and proper nut width, was just about my perfect combination of features.

I

Very nice, Roger. I share your opinion, particularly with regard to the bold/underlined. I get to play the attached early 60s L5C, and it shares the same qualities.

**NSJ** · 07-31-2012, 01:48 PM

P.S. Did you sell your Solomon Imperial?

**rpguitar** · 07-31-2012, 01:55 PM

NSJ, that's a beauty!

And no, I surely have and enjoy my Solomon. I just changed my sig to be 100% Gibson with no disrespect to Erich.

**fws6** · 07-31-2012, 02:49 PM

Very clean guitar, in looks and in tone. Superb recording too , thanks

I best loved your L12 as it was so big and throaty sounding. You did have a similar earlier super 400 too right ?

Anyways congrats with your new purchase

**Jabberwocky** · 07-31-2012, 04:02 PM

This one is in good hands now. It deserves you, Roger. More sound clips please.

**NSJ** · 07-31-2012, 04:06 PM

One question, for those who may know: how does a guitar like this sound with a DeArmond RC1100 (adjustable pole pieces), as opposed to a Johnny Smith mini-HB floater? i'd love for someone to A/B that on the same L5C.

**kamlapati** · 07-31-2012, 04:10 PM

Lucky man! Glad that baby is in appreciative hands, too. You and I see entirely eye-to-eye on L-5's.

**rpguitar** · 07-31-2012, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by NSJ

One question, for those who may know: how does a guitar like this sound with a DeArmond RC1100 (adjustable pole pieces), as opposed to a Johnny Smith mini-HB floater? i'd love for someone to A/B that on the same L5C.

I have an 1100 on the L-5N so I will endeavor to demonstrate the differences soon!

**rpguitar** · 07-31-2012, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by kamlapati

Lucky man! Glad that baby is in appreciative hands, too. You and I see entirely eye-to-eye on L-5's.

That's pretty cool, huh? Can't be too many of us out there, and it's a lot of fun to trade impressions and experiences.

**stevedenver** · 07-31-2012, 05:46 PM

oh baby-thats wonderful

and your a lucky guy to have only minor 'discrepancies" in the facts from the sellers descriptions

it is apparent, that at best, the seller may use a canned text for gibsons

on another note however,
not long ago i recall a thread where the seller, archtop, was accused of similar 'oversights'

the poster was pilloried
and archtop came to defend themselves

your experience tells me what to expect from archtop

**henkkicken** · 07-31-2012, 06:58 PM

Congrats Roger, Very Nice Looking Blondes ! Great tone. Looking forward to hear your L5 with the 1100 pup

**Patrick2** · 07-31-2012, 07:41 PM

Roger; great looking pix on those two beauties. I really like the newest acquisition to your stable. As promissed, I have photo's of Bob Ferry's 1970 L5 CES. Also, under the impression that you are probably not as forward as I am, and as such might not take my advice to contact Aaron Cowles by telephone . . . I took the liberty of doing so on your behalf. Aaron confirmed that I had infact recalled the details of our conversation (from a few years back) of how JP Moates was relieved of his wood procurement responsibilities . . albeit for only one or two orders . . . of sourcing, inspecting and approving of wood deliveries. He actually remembered the name of the person who, for a short period of time, was appointed to that responsibility. Of course, I will not state that name on an open forum. Aaron went a bit further this time . . . because I told him of your guitar and my instructor's guitar with very plain, unfigured maple.

This new buyer went up to "some where around the Grand Rapids area" as Aaron recalls it . . . to look at some wood that had come on the market at relatively low prices. As Aaron recalls the events, the Gibson buyer, looked at the top 2 or 3 layers of maple and it was well figured. So he bought it. When the wood arrived at the Gibson receiving dock, the buyer went out to check it . . . as he still had the option of rejecting it. It was exactly as he inspected at the source, so he approved it. Gibson put it in it's drying room. Buy the time they started to draw from that shippment, they discovered that the best (most attractive) pieces were on the top of the pallets . . . and the plain and unfigured wood was buried within. They went ahead and used it for arch tops and other guitars, until JP Moates was able to get the type wood they were used to using on high profile arch tops . . . then they used the rest of what remained, as what is classified as "paint grade" maple.

I was hesitant to post this at all . . . and I thought for a brief minute it might be best to send it to you in a PM . . . if at all. But, I want to add this; Aaron took a very stern tone to his voice when he said to me . . . "Patrick . . . there's not a darn thing wrong with that maple. It might not be as attractive as curly maple . . . but, it sounds every bit as good". He went on to tell me that as he and others "knuckle tapped" the backs as they were finishing the carves . . . that some of the plain stuff actually sounded better than the more figured stuff. Aaron is the ultimate wood guru!!! He confirmed to me that . . . "if it's a 1970, then probably somewhere along the way I worked on it."

Long story short . . . your new baby is as good as any L5 and probably better than many with more figured wood.

Bob Ferry's 1970 does have a gibson case, purple lining. It also have the black, white and purple label in the F hole, no volute, no made in USA . . . but, it does have the serial number pressed ionto the back of the head stock. If I do this right . . . photos will be below.

**tgee** · 07-31-2012, 08:11 PM

I love these pics of the big old Gibsons!

Congrats on the new guitar, Roger.

**hot ford coupe** · 07-31-2012, 09:48 PM

Beautiful both in looks and sound. When I listened to the soundclip, the first thing I said was that it definitely sounded like an L5. I used to have 2 acoustic ones and that sound is so familiar. Good luck. I hope you really enjoy this one. Ain't NGD great?

**Jabberwocky** · 08-01-2012, 05:07 AM

I tell ya; these plain maple Norlin Gibsons grow on ya. I like the subtle "silking" of the maple grain in the right light.

Who knows? This may just catch on and one day, the Norlin Gibson archtops will be the ones in high demand because as Aaron says "some of the plain ones actually sounded better than curly". They don't make them like they used to

P.S. Anybody notice that Ibanez AF105 beside Bob's gorgeous L-5CES?

**rpguitar** · 08-01-2012, 05:39 AM

Patrick, you were right that I would not have been so bold as to call Aaron, so it's very kind of you to have done so. And Aaron speaks the truth I am sure! My ears tell me right away that he's correct about the sound, at least of my one specimen. I had another of these plain L-5s from a bit later in the seventies that also qualified (frets were low; should have dealt with that, but sold it instead). However, I'm pleased to say that this one is better!

Bob's CES looks like a sweet player. Hell, these guitars are 40 years old or close to it. If they've been loved in their lifetimes, then they have the mojo. Any way you look at it, they are fairly rare and still command a large sum. Joe Vinikow just proved it - both of the circa 1970 CNs are now sold!

**Patrick2** · 08-01-2012, 10:29 AM

[quote=Jabberwocky;245298]

P.S. Anybody notice that Ibanez AF105 beside Bob's gorgeous L-5CES?

I remember a while back, in a thread regarding these inexpensive guitars, someone scoffed that they weren't purchased or played by "real" pros. Bob Ferry is as real as it gets. He searched for a long time for a cheapie box, worthy of gigging with but cheap enough to not have to worry about losing it or having it damaged. I think he said he paid under $400 for this one. His son works in a music shop and this one was traded in on something else. Bob bought it for what the store owner gave the customer on the trade in. Plays fine, sounds good enough, stays in tune . . . . and if it "walks away" at a gig . . he said he'd be more disappointed in man kind than he would be angered about losing a prized possession.

**2bornot2bop** · 08-04-2012, 01:41 AM

All I can say is, that new arrival would be my definition of a "keeper." Congrat's on your new acquisition, and thanks for sharing pics. Looking forward to the video comparisons for sure!

**IbanezAS100** · 08-04-2012, 08:10 AM

[quote=Patrick2;245339]

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

I remember a while back, in a thread regarding these inexpensive guitars, someone scoffed that they weren't purchased or played by "real" pros. Bob Ferry is as real as it gets. He searched for a long time for a cheapie box, worthy of gigging with but cheap enough to not have to worry about losing it or having it damaged. I think he said he paid under $400 for this one. His son works in a music shop and this one was traded in on something else. Bob bought it for what the store owner gave the customer on the trade in. Plays fine, sounds good enough, stays in tune . . . . and if it "walks away" at a gig . . he said he'd be more disappointed in man kind than he would be angered about losing a prized possession.

That was our 'lovely' former member Hex scoffing at my AF125 that was posted for sale...amusing, isn't it....your comments above are my feelings exactly, there's a place for gigworthy instruments and prized possessions...

Back to the L5...congrats, wonderful guitar Roger-enjoy it in good health!