1934 Gibson L-5

[teleman3726]

It's OK, Roger. Derailment happens.
Somebody made a nice comment about the white carpet!
I thought it might go in that direction at one point.
More pics and some sound clips coming.

[Daniel Kuryliak]

Kamlapati was just referring folks to that site because it's cool and relevant to pre-war L5s, not to cite it as an authority in the headstock inlay wars. We really have trodden upon Chris's awesome '34 L-5 NGD thread after all.

I was not referring to Chris's awesome 1934 L5 or trying to lessen the excitement of his historic find.

We started the discussion on... why/if/when/ and how the MOP icon on the L5 headstock,
ended up to be called "a flower pot", that is all.

[tragg]

Sorry, but this is just another modern writeup on the L5.

While it may have some historical info, when they mention Bob Benedetto started making them in the 70s it doesn't go back far enough to satisfy me. The Gibson L5 has been around a lot longer than that, so whatever the original artistic intent was of the icon whether a "flaming chalice" or a "flower pot", only the original people that were involved would know and they are no longer around.

Can you explain what you mean by this? My wife and I run www.prewargibsonl-5.com and Bob Benedetto is included in the Revivals section (together with Daniel Slaman and other contemporary luthiers) only as an example of a current guitar maker who found inspiration in Gibson's groundbreaking archtop. Nowhere on the site is it suggested that Bob contributed in any way to the design of the L-5 - in the 1970s or at anyother time! The site traces the development of the model back to its introduction in 1923 and includes a growing gallery of surviving examples. With the help of vintage guitar experts George Gruhn, Joe Spann and André Duchossoir we aim to provide accurate information which is regularly updated. If you own a prewar L-5 (1941 or earlier) please contact us through the site as we would love to include it!

BTW, prior to WWII, Gibson's did not cut or inlay its own mother of pearl. Between 1903 and 1930, Aumann Brothers Pearl of Detroit, MI was Gibson’s main source of pearl inlays while Union Pearl Works of Brooklyn, NY appears to have become Gibson’s major pearl vendor through the first half of the 1930s.

[Pukka-J]

Great looking guitar. Unlike some on this thread I'm not much into worshipping anything, let alone a guitar, but I bet she plays and sound fantastic! Congrats!