Gibson L-5 Wes Montgomery - Worth the money?

**2bornot2bop** · 01-18-2014, 03:54 PM

btw, I owned a '77 Ibanez 2460, the L5 CES style. The thing was a time capsule, absolutely mint, complete with original nitro guard. I loved the Super 70's pups. Being fairly new to archtops they were the best I'd heard at that point. I found that guitars tone very very respectable, although the guitar itself, being a laminate, was acoustically dead. I sold that guitar on ebay to a Cal' collector for $3k. I've seen others priced that high, but haven't seen them sell. Until an L5 arrived that model 2460 was one of a few archtops I've regretted selling.

**Loobs** · 01-18-2014, 03:56 PM

Is the Pope a Catholic?

Is Jack Zucker back on this forum?

**Mark M.** · 01-18-2014, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by 4thstuning

I have an L5CES and have played the Wes and a variety of Heritages - all are good if not great guitars. If one likes the L5 sound then one should probably get an L5.

In choosing a guitar, one should account for the ergonomics, particularly the body and the neck. The L5CES body is big and heavy so if you have a preference in body size or weight, take that into account. The stock L5CES also has a narrow neck which I didn't like so mine was replaced with one with just over 1 3/4" at the nut. Now it's a keeper - resale be damned. If you don't like narrow necks or heavy big bodies, the L5CES may be problematic. The good news is there are lots of great guitars that will work for almost any tastes.

This what I was trying to get at earlier, though you have articulated it better. I like the weight & size of the L5. It feels right to me. And, I've never played a neck as comfortable. Of course, your mileage may vary.

**yebdox** · 01-18-2014, 06:24 PM

I have a '98 Wes that, while I loved it as soon as I got it, I never felt like it was as full sounding as what I'd heard in my head.

About 3 or 4 years ago, after asking around, I decided to put a higher wind pickup in it, with the suggestion confirmed by Jason Lollar. That was all it took, all of a sudden, the full spectrum of warmth and clarity was there!

I still want to get a CES in blonde someday, but til then, I don't feel compromised, I can definitely get the tone I hear in my head. The L5 sounds better and is more forgiving than my other two archtops ( Sadowsky Jim Hall and Ibanez GB10) as far as amps… I can always find a tone I like, even if the amp is not doing what I really want, but the other two guitars take some dialing in to sound good, sometimes.

An L5 does NOT sound like a 175, but you should just decide to get both. a 175 is next on my list, followed somewhere down the line by an L5 CES. Not anytime soon, though.

**jorgemg1984** · 01-18-2014, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by yebdox

I have a '98 Wes that, while I loved it as soon as I got it, I never felt like it was as full sounding as what I'd heard in my head.

About 3 or 4 years ago, after asking around, I decided to put a higher wind pickup in it, with the suggestion confirmed by Jason Lollar. That was all it took, all of a sudden, the full spectrum of warmth and clarity was there!

I still want to get a CES in blonde someday, but til then, I don't feel compromised, I can definitely get the tone I hear in my head. The L5 sounds better and is more forgiving than my other two archtops ( Sadowsky Jim Hall and Ibanez GB10) as far as amps… I can always find a tone I like, even if the amp is not doing what I really want, but the other two guitars take some dialing in to sound good, sometimes.

An L5 does NOT sound like a 175, but you should just decide to get both. a 175 is next on my list, followed somewhere down the line by an L5 CES. Not anytime soon, though.

I have also had good experience when I upgraded the Classic 57 (I presume that was the stock pickup) on my X-500 to a Bare Knuckles Stormy Monday. Exactly as you said "full spectrum of warmth and clarity was there!".

**yebdox** · 01-18-2014, 07:02 PM

I have also had good experience when I upgraded the Classic 57 (I presume that was the stock pickup) on my X-500 to a Bare Knuckles Stormy Monday. Exactly as you said "full spectrum of warmth and clarity was there!".

See, Jorge, I told you we think alike! I will come and jam with you whenever I get to Spain

I have an open invitation from an old girlfriend who married a wealthy geologist. I think she has a beautiful daughter who needs a talented spanish guitarist in her life….!

**jorgemg1984** · 01-18-2014, 07:25 PM

It does seem like we think alike! We'll jam sure but you must come to Portugal, since that's my country

Or in NY, I want to go there a few more times because a great friend of mine lives there now-

**yebdox** · 01-18-2014, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

It does seem like we think alike! We'll jam sure but you must come to Portugal, since that's my country

Or in NY, I want to go there a few more times because a great friend of mine lives there now-

Dang! There goes the matchmaking. Oh, well.

My nephew just got married to the daughter of the keyboard player from the Yellowjackets, Russ Ferrante, so my sister wants a family reunion in NYC when they are playing there next. Who knows? One day… We will have to meet at Small's as well, to listen to Bernstein and all those great players!

**jorgemg1984** · 01-18-2014, 07:44 PM

It's a plan

**2bornot2bop** · 01-18-2014, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by neuroscan

... I am reading this thread with great interest! One question that (as a non-expert in archtops) I cannot seem to get out of mind, would Yunzhi be able to build a credible L5/Eagle replica on request? I don't care so much about the looks, but rather about the basic specs. I am aware that Yunzhi normally specialises in Benedetto-type replicas, but I don't see why they couldn't adjust the specs to L5 (scale length, parallel bracing, set-in PUPs, etc.). I am sure it would be a gamble (and almost certainly an electronic swap-out would be required), but at 1/10 the price of a Gibson... Is there anything in the Gibson specs that is particularly difficult to duplicate? (Heritage seems to have managed, according to jaz). N.

Duplicating appearance is far from successfully duplicating sound. Having owned a Yunzhi, and being very high on their guitars, I'd not expect them, or anyone really, to duplicate an L5's tone.

To begin, electronics are not Yunzhi's forte...acoustic archtops are. The 17"Yunzhi I previously owned was closer in acoustic tone to an Eastman 910 than anything else I'd known. But electrically the Yunzhi required a complete redo to even determine its actual capability. Which is why I sold it, as it wasn't worth it to me to invest X amount of dollars to set the guitar right. All imho, of course.

**skiboyny** · 01-19-2014, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by bob dullam

would like a high-end jazz box, love the sound of the L-5 wes, but is it worth the mega bucks? and how does it comp. to other high-end boxes? i.e. benedetto, george B. signatures, etc. etc.

I have owned some of the best guitars on the planet starting with Gibson, moving toward the benedetto camp and everything japanese and chinese in between and full circle back to gibson. Nothing sounds like Gibson period. If that's the sound you have in your head, only Gibson will do! It's not that the other makers guitars don't sound great cause they do, it's just not the Gibson vibe. If the people who's sound you like most, were recorded in the 50s, 60,s 70,s they probably were making music on a Gibson. As far as holding their value as well as appreciating in value, Gibson is king. All and all it's a safe bet. You can't compare Gibson to anyone else really. It's apples and oranges....

**fumblefingers** · 01-19-2014, 01:10 PM

I don't disagree about Gibson. They invented the archtop and have been a symbol of excellence since the late 1800s. Hard to top that.

Nevertheless, I'll say this for Benedetto.

Benedetto's are resonant and very, very light. They are great for gigging and recording but they are also great for playing at home unplugged. That's a niche Gibson doesn't really pursue. Benedetto's hold there value - if one gets a good original price. Granted, you may have to wait longer to sell it given the limited market for fine guitars. But why sell? Think hard about what you want and then get it. Hand it down to your heirs. Same goes for Buscarino.

**AlainJazz** · 01-19-2014, 01:24 PM

There is an aura about Gibsons and they are fine guitars no doubt but their overall quality is not as good as many of the other luthiers (Benedetto and co. ). Still, they definitely have "the sound". Whether or not they are worth it is of course in the eye of the beholder. I am very happy with mine but the sadowsky gets more love from me.

**bob dullam** · 01-22-2014, 12:47 PM

much thanks to all for responding to this thread, am learning a lot here. my conclusion is that someday I do want to get either a wesmo gibby, or the lee ritenour model. somethin bout the sound they have is like no other.

**jads57** · 01-24-2014, 12:46 PM

Some great info on this thread already, but here's my take for what it's worth. I've played one Wes Mo L-5 that was incredible, and wish I had bought. Others including L-5CES that while very good not as much, and some that had a very small acoustic tone, and great electric tone. I agree that the specs of a Gibson L-5C electric parallel braced vs L-5C acoustic X braced sound a bit different from each other. Gibson tends to use thicker carved tops overall as opposed to the Benedetto thinner lighter designs. And while I have played many Heritage Golden Eagles mostly X braced floaters, they don't speak to me at all. In fact I prefer my eastman 810CE tone and playability over the Heritage. I will say I got lucky and found a very good one. Now maybe the Heritage electric Eagles are totally different from the std floaters, so Jack Z. can chime in here as an expert on that. My advice is go w/ the Gibson if that what speaks to you unless you find another particular archtop that does it first.

**Chazmo** · 01-24-2014, 01:58 PM

The L-5s are unlike any other guitar. I grew up wanting one and finally bought a 90s Wesmo a couple of years ago. The Wes, with the carved top, had some acoustic properties plugged in, even with the set in pickup. The neck was very comfortable, a little thicker than the Epiphone Elitist Broadway I already owned. The wood was flamey and beautiful. The one thing that bugged me was a wolf tone in one place on the neck that I tried and tried to address, but alas, could never resolve.

When I got the Wes, I put my Epi in the case and stored it in the closet. After a few months I pulled the Epi out and realized I liked it much more than the Gibson. The Epi didn't have the acoustic tone of the Gibson--it has a pressed top and two set in pickups, like the L-5 CES--but it actually played and was constructed better. The electric sound is pure L-5 territory. I sold the Gibby for more than I paid for it. The moral of the story is that the value, or what something is worth, is all in the eye of the beholder.

**gcb** · 01-24-2014, 08:47 PM

would Yunzhi be able to build a credible L5/Eagle replica on request?

Neuroscan: I dont´t own an L5 CES, but two L5 studios, and since one month ago a Yunzhi. Sounds well, but nothing close to the Gibsons. Different things, different construction, different feel, sound and don´t like the smell. Subjective as it is, in my case I am back to think that "only a Gibson is good enough"

**Ara** · 03-11-2025, 05:05 AM

Initially, about 8 years ago, I bought it to learn and play Jazz. Loved the smoothies of playing it, recorded Take Five, Summer Time, etc. See #MultiMediaAra.

But after a while, its weight and the bulk got to be somewhat uncomfortable and really not usable unplugged, at least not motivating enough to play the L-5 vs other slimmer hollow body guitars like the Heritage Custom Shop 50's H-530 limited run (50 of them), that I just purchased. I always loved the P-90's and only hum bucker I have is the L-5 which is a chore to plug in and play at a decent tone without humming.

So, I've finally decided to sell it for the 4th or 5th times which I think I'll go through with it. Don't need the money, but that guitar needs to be played and I'm not playing it, especially after getting the CS H-530 Limited with a much comfortable body and a gorgeous fat C neck. They were all sold out in a matter of week.