What would you pay? Vintage Gibson L-5 CES with issues

**L4CESN** · 02-22-2014, 06:44 AM

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I need some help getting some perspective on the value of an L-5 CES that's become available. It's a player grade 50's sunburst. It originally had staple pickups but was routed for humbuckers by Gibson in the early 60's. It now has dogear P90's leaving the larger humbucker routes visible. So, no original electronics, and knobs were replaced with reflector knobs presumably in the early 60's. The bridge and tailpiece and tuners seem to be original. It has a light flame on the back and sides, and a flamey neck. There are several scrapes and dings, paint chips, and worn through areas through the sunburst. Not much paint on the neck. If it were a custom shop Fender it would be getting towards "heavy relic". There's a repaired split in the maple near the input jack, and a bit of a gouge in the maple about the size of a coin near it. The neck is straight and it's setup to play well.

What do you think it's worth? Ballpark?

**Broyale** · 02-22-2014, 07:20 AM

$1.00

**L4CESN** · 02-22-2014, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Broyale

$1.00

but what currency?

**floatingpickup** · 02-22-2014, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by L4CESN

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I need some help getting some perspective on the value of an L-5 CES that's become available. It's a player grade 50's sunburst. It originally had staple pickups but was routed for humbuckers by Gibson in the early 60's. It now has dogear P90's leaving the larger humbucker routes visible. So, no original electronics, and knobs were replaced with reflector knobs presumably in the early 60's. The bridge and tailpiece and tuners seem to be original. It has a light flame on the back and sides, and a flamey neck. There are several scrapes and dings, paint chips, and worn through areas through the sunburst. Not much paint on the neck. If it were a custom shop Fender it would be getting towards "heavy relic". There's a repaired split in the maple near the input jack, and a bit of a gouge in the maple about the size of a coin near it. The neck is straight and it's setup to play well.

What do you think it's worth? Ballpark?

If you are referring to the guitar on eBay, I think it is a good buy. I know of a very similar guitar that originally had dogear pickups, was routed for humbuckers, and then had the dogears reinstalled. In this case, a very competent repair man fixed the exposed routes and screw holes so they are almost unnoticeable. When it was done, it looked great. P90 L5's are not very common, so if this one could be repaired in a similar way, I think it would be a great vintage guitar that could be purchased and repaired for about the same as a new L5. Others may disagree with me on this, but I can live with some professionally repairs on a vintage instrument, as long as we aren't talking broken headstocks etc. if you decide to go for it, pm me and I can give you more details about how the person did the repair to he one I saw.
keith

**customxke** · 02-22-2014, 10:50 AM

You don't even really need to fix the routes . Most pre-paf CES guitars came with pickup risers .... Those would cover the routes

**fws6** · 02-22-2014, 11:13 AM

I think that sold a while ago for just under 5000. Then moved to australia where the new owner has been listing it quite a few times now, for 9000

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Gibson-L-5-CES-Electric-Archtop-Guitar-/291085256229

I think 5 is cheap but 9k would be to much and the truth is somewhere in the middle.

**jads57** · 02-22-2014, 01:12 PM

I'd pass especially since there are new ones that aren't a whole lot more around 6k. Unless you play the guitar in person and it speaks to you, pass!

**customxke** · 02-22-2014, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by jads57

I'd pass especially since there are new ones that aren't a whole lot more around 6k. Unless you play the guitar in person and it speaks to you, pass!

If you have any L-5s, Super 400s, Les Pauls, or ES guitars made in the 50s, I'll gladly swap you for brand new ones.

**L4CESN** · 02-23-2014, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by fws6

I think that sold a while ago for just under 5000. Then moved to australia where the new owner has been listing it quite a few times now, for 9000 http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Gibson-L-5-CES-Electric-Archtop-Guitar-/291085256229 I think 5 is cheap but 9k would be to much and the truth is somewhere in the middle.

I had a gut feeling there would be someone here who is keeping a mental database detailing the movements of all 50's Gibson archtops. Thanks!

**L4CESN** · 02-23-2014, 05:28 AM

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to go check it out and see if it speaks to me, in which case I'll need to "speak" to my wife.

**3625** · 02-23-2014, 07:05 AM

FWIW - a friend of mine has played the guitar in question (he knows the current owner). The word he kept referring to was 'MOJO'.

**Jabberwocky** · 02-23-2014, 09:01 AM

When Henry Ford wanted to modernise his motorcar factory he hired an industrial engineer to help him. The engineer walked about the factory. Hmm. Hmm. Hmmmm. After pacing around for the better part of the long day, he paused and marked a red "X" on the wall. "Your master switch goes there.", he said to Henry Ford. "So, how much do I owe you?", said Henry Ford. "$50 000.", said the engineer. "$50 000!", said Henry Ford, "For marking an 'X' on the wall?" "For marking an 'X' on the wall, that's $1...", said the engineer. "And $49 999?", said Henry Ford, "What's that for?"

"MOJO.", said the engineer.

**floatingpickup** · 02-23-2014, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by customxke

You don't even really need to fix the routes . Most pre-paf CES guitars came with pickup risers .... Those would cover the routes

On a p90 or Alnico L5 there should be a riser under the rear/bridge pickup, but not under the front/neck pickup. As long as the HB route wasn't overdone, the riser should be wide enough to cover the route and the four corner screw holes from the HB ring. On the front pickup (no riser), the route will be wider than the p90, but a good luthier should be able to replace a small amount of wood there and fill the four screw holes, especially since that is a dark shaded area. I have seen this exact repair done before and it was very successful. At the right price, it could be a very nice guitar.
Keith

**Jabberwocky** · 02-23-2014, 10:51 AM

Jason Lollar sells creme and black P90 shims/risers/spacers of various thickness.

http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/mer...r-sizing-notes

**floatingpickup** · 02-23-2014, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Jason Lollar sells creme and black P90 shims/risers/spacers of various thickness.

http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/mer...r-sizing-notes

That might be a perfect low cost solution.
Keith

**L4CESN** · 02-23-2014, 05:12 PM

If I end up going for it, I'd most likely put humbuckers back in it, so the routing isn't that much of an issue for me. I already have an R6 Les Paul with P90's, and the appeal of an L-5 for me is more the Wes type sound. The question then would be, which humbuckers? Gibson '57 Classics, Throbaks, Lollar Imperial low-winds..

**Hjalmiz** · 02-23-2014, 05:30 PM

To me the value of a guitar is in its possibilities. If it helps u make musik and sounds like whats in your head then its worth all the money in the world. If it dont , its just wood and glue... I guess it dont work like that for everyone. If your concerns are its resale value or its alterations then pass it up. If it plays and sounds like the guitar u want, go for it dude... My take on it./H

**BigMikeinNJ** · 02-24-2014, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Hjalmiz

To me the value of a guitar is in its possibilities. If it helps u make musik and sounds like whats in your head then its worth all the money in the world. If it dont , its just wood and glue... I guess it dont work like that for everyone. If your concerns are its resale value or its alterations then pass it up. If it plays and sounds like the guitar u want, go for it dude... My take on it./H

Man, that's the best advice I've heard in a long time

**bananafist** · 02-27-2014, 07:32 AM

Did you buy it? I see its no longer available.

**L4CESN** · 02-27-2014, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by bananafist

Did you buy it? I see its no longer available.

Was talking to the seller, trying to arrange to see it, when someone else snagged it. I don't know what it went for. I'm a bit bummed.

**GoergeBenson** · 02-28-2014, 07:36 PM

One thing i've learnt in life is, theres always another deal. The best thing about that advice is, not only is it true, but the next deal is always better :-)

**Jabberwocky** · 02-28-2014, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by GoergeBenson

One thing i've learnt in life is, theres always another deal. The best thing about that advice is, not only is it true, but the next deal is always better :-)

I couldn't have said it better. We always want the one that someone else got 'cos his getting it validates it...somewhat like women wanting other women's husbands

It is primate instinct.