Gibson L-5 Compared to Other Gibson Archtop Guitars

[Danny W.]

If I had been able to mess around with a Campellone and a few other small builders before buying .... I might have ended up with one of them ..

I've owned those and a bunch of guitars by other well-known builders. Nice guitars all, but they are long-since gone and I'm still gigging with an L-5.

Frequently this one:




Danny W.

[2bornot2bop]

there's nuthin' like a Tobacco Sunburst L5 in the summer shade, wearin' shades!

[Phiberopttic]

If it's this '97 CES listed for $5500...

https://boulder.craigslist.org/msg/4530286451.html

I spoke to the seller over a week ago...asked for more revealing pics other than the distant dealer photos presented. Seller accommodated pics...

but we reached a snag over the original case not being sold with the guitar. upon pressing the seller why the guitar didn't have its original brown late 90's case, the seller acknowledged he owns a pair of L5's, and he's keeping the '97 case because it's in much better condition than the late model case....so I passed. that CES has a few nicks, but nothing I couldn't live with.

Yep, thats the one. The seller was a super good guy. Extreme nice, able to work with me on price, the experience was very nice and pleasant. There are a couple of small nicks, the pick guard has a small crack, and the case has seen better days. But all of that quickly faded when I started playing the guitar. The first thing that came to mind...

"That sh*t is a motherf*cker"

I've never played anything so warm, the notes have this "rounded(?)" quality, bah, impossible to find the words. It sounds great. I dont know if its the longer scale length or being a solid wood top, or what. I'm happy and grinning ear to ear.

Thanks to all who provided feedback over the weekend. Your reward is NEW GUITAR PICS!!!!!

[rpguitar]

F*** yeah! You're converted! There's nothing like your own first hand experience to make the decision. Congratulations and many happy notes to you. (Who cares about the case? You don't play a case.)

[Danny W.]

there's nuthin' like a Tobacco Sunburst L5 in the summer shade, wearin' shades!

I agree with you in principle, but it's a vintage sunburst L5...

and I live in a hot climate--that photo was taken in winter.

Yep, thats the one. The seller was a super good guy. Extreme nice, able to work with me on price, the experience was very nice and pleasant. There are a couple of small nicks, the pick guard has a small crack, and the case has seen better days. But all of that quickly faded when I started playing the guitar. The first thing that came to mind...

"That sh*t is a motherf*cker"

I've never played anything so warm, the notes have this "rounded(?)" quality, bah, impossible to find the words. It sounds great. I dont know if its the longer scale length or being a solid wood top, or what. I'm happy and grinning ear to ear.

Thanks to all who provided feedback over the weekend. Your reward is NEW GUITAR PICS!!!!!

Looks like you ignored all the noise in this thread and made the right choice!

Danny W.

[peterbright]

I've owned those and a bunch of guitars by other well-known builders. Nice guitars all, but they are long-since gone and I'm still gigging with an L-5.

Frequently this one:




Danny W.

Danny...you would look cool without a guitar!

[Danny W.]

Danny...you would look cool without a guitar!

Thank you!

I think someone in my band said something similar, but I'm not sure it was a compliment.

Here's another from the same gig:



Danny W.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

[anothersixstringer]

Patrick2's early comments on this thread did resonate with me; I know that some other guys have posted insightful thoughts about other brands/models, but to some of us, an L5 is just...it.
I got mine last year. I decided to go for the top of tops -in my mind- as I knew that no other guitar would fill that position. In my personal experience buying/selling guitars, I know that there is no substitute for 'the one' if u have that label already set in your head. Surely there might be other guitars able to do the work, but I find this akin to buying a generic brand product: equal, maybe better, but not the "real" thing.
Of course, this a pure subjective issue and can be applied to anything, really. Personally, my landmark was the L5, so when I decided it was time, I went for it. Bottom line is, the right choice, whatever is, should make the player happy and will inspire him/her to play, more and better.
To finish, the other day I was playing it, when the sun came in over the guitar; all the beauty of the thing came out and I had to stop and shoot a picture. Some of u might have seen it at the MF's social media as they decided to share it. Here it is :

[Bluedawg]

Thank you!

I think someone in my band said something similar, but I'm not sure it was a compliment.

Here's another from the same gig:



Danny W.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

Any chance of hearing you play in Tucson? And sometimes I get up the Phoenix area.

[Hammertone]

The guitar I'm looking at is a L5-CES, 1997, $5500, made in Boseman MT; according to a Gibson serial number search...

Not made in Bozeman, but in the Nashville Custom Shop.
Nice-looking guitar - enjoy playing it!

[Patrick2]

Not made in Bozeman, but in the Nashville Custom Shop.
Nice-looking guitar - enjoy playing it!

Yeah Stephen . . that's what I thought too. So, I did a quick google research on it. The best info available from what I flound on google is ambiguous at best. I'd like to see if there is more definitive info on this somewhere. I really don't want to have to call Gibson Custom Shop . . . but, that might be the best way to get accurate info.

Anyone have anything on this?

[wintermoon]

Bozeman might have made a custom L-5 here of there, but they're not where carved archies are built.

[Jabberwocky]

The Guitar Dater Project dot org site is not to be taken as an authority. Just for fun, I entered 9xxx7004 with digits ranging from 001 to 365 and it returned Day of 1997, 004 guitar Made in Bozeman, MT every time. And then I read the sidebar: Gibson Custom Shop guitars are not supported.

Nice 1997 L-5CES, knackered non-original case notwithstanding. $5500 is a fair price for both parties although in future someone may baulk at the knackered case. But you can't play a case and it can be replaced.

Love an L-5CES or hate it, it, together with the ES-175, is a rite of passage.

[wintermoon]

The Guitar Dater Project dot org site is not to be taken as an authority. Just for fun, I entered 9xxx7004 with digits ranging from 001 to 365 and it returned Day of 1997, 004 guitar Made in Bozeman, MT every time. And then I read the sidebar: Gibson Custom Shop guitars are not supported.

Nice 1997 L-5CES, knackered non-original case notwithstanding. $5500 is a fair price for both parties although in future someone may baulk at the knackered case. But you can't play a case and it can be replaced.

Love an L-5CES or hate it, it, together with the ES-175, is a rite of passage.

+1

I can't believe anyone would pass on a guitar because of a case

[AlsoRan]

Can someone tell me about the ornate floating bridge / tailpiece on the OPs guitar? Why is it different from Danny's and 2B's?

And congratulations on lust realized to the OP!

[wintermoon]

Can someone tell me about the ornate floating bridge / tailpiece on the OPs guitar? Why is it different from Danny's and 2B's?

And congratulations on lust realized to the OP!

they all have a standard tuneomatic on an ebony base w/pearl prop inlays.
what's different?

[rpguitar]

Can someone tell me about the ornate floating bridge / tailpiece on the OPs guitar?

I believe they are reflecting the Berber carpet pattern. They appear to be standard issue.

[AlsoRan]

I believe they are reflecting the Berber carpet pattern. They appear to be standard issue.

A-ha! An optical illusion.

I have been running into a lot of illusions lately .

Thanks, rp.

[Phiberopttic]

The Guitar Dater Project dot org site is not to be taken as an authority. Just for fun, I entered 9xxx7004 with digits ranging from 001 to 365 and it returned Day of 1997, 004 guitar Made in Bozeman, MT every time. And then I read the sidebar: Gibson Custom Shop guitars are not supported.

I got that as well. I called Gibson and they said it was made in Nashville.

The bridge and tailpiece are standard, those photos were shot quickly with a camera phone, I'm too busy practicing to take proper photos

I did discover that the seller replaced the volume dials with something else, so I put the originals back on; thankfully they were in the case. Its heading to my local luthier in a week to be setup, intonation adjusted, and strap locks changed to Schaller.

The case is not an issue for me. I've been eye-balling a Calton, but they are crazy expensive, and chances are slim to nil that I would ever fly with this guitar. So I'm debating if a Calton would be overkill. Although... $5200 guitar, $1000 case, kinda seems like the right thing to do...

[wintermoon]

I wouldn't use a Calton unless I was traveling..boat anchor.
as long as it has a quality hardcase you'll be fine....though for the last 10 yrs I've been using a leather gig bag for mine that many wouldn't dream of using.

"a gig bag for an L-5? what, are you crazy??"

just be very careful..which I am....

[2bornot2bop]

Yep, thats the one. The seller was a super good guy. Extreme nice, able to work with me on price, the experience was very nice and pleasant.

Very kewl - Congrat's on your first CES! There's just something more striking about the late 90's shading (finishes). They're a totally different look from the later models. I dig 'em. That's why I chose to inquire about that L5.

I agree with you in principle, but it's a vintage sunburst L5...

Of course, that's it's official name. But in the early 60's, hearing Lou Rawls Tobacco Road...well, you get my gist.

+1

I can't believe anyone would pass on a guitar because of a case

Apples and oranges.

2b wasn't there at the sellers door to bond with this guitar. But, since you raise the question:

When you've gone through X number of guitars, buying every guitar blind, there's a reality factor in sampling lots of guitars - Blind.

And that is, when a new guitar arrives, you don't know if that guitar is going to remain.

Reality is, if there's any issue with a guitar, cosmetic, mechanical, or otherwise, when you buy it, that issue, or issues, becomes a selling obstacle if and when you elect to sell it. There's no shortage of L5's available for sale. It's simpler to buy guitars without issues. Too many buyers want things just right.

As in - "Oh your Super 400 looks and plays so perfect. And even though it has a 2" top repair, beneath the pickguard, professionally cleated, it's not perfect. So how's about $2k less for your guitar?"

That's reality.

At the end of the day, I'm happy I passed on this L5, for the OP was fairly local to the guitar. Now, ev'one here can indulge in the happiness of a buyers first L5 purchase.

Can someone tell me about the ornate floating bridge / tailpiece on the OPs guitar? Why is it different from Danny's and 2B's? And congratulations on lust realized to the OP!

My CES arrived with an ebony bridge. My WesMo arrived with a tom bridge. My Super 4' arrived with both a tom and ebony bridge.

[wintermoon]

"apples and oranges"

you mean you'd pass on a guitar because of an un-original case?
some of the best guitars I've ever bought came w/an un-original case.

it's definately not the same as buying a guitar w/a 2" top repair.....now that's apples and oranges
yeah, it's nice to have the org case, and if it really bothers you you can find an original case if you look long enough and hard enough you can find the correct case.

but that 2" top repair will always be there and will devalue a guitar way more than a missing case....

[2bornot2bop]

Although... $5200 guitar, $1000 case, kinda seems like the right thing to do...

Being face to face matters.

The seller refused to budge on price with me, as I wanted a "lack of original case discount."

24 hours later, I learned the seller was holding out the original case for another L5. He later conceded to selling the guitar with its original case, but by that time I'd moved on. Which now I'm glad I moved on. I mean, what were the odds of me calling from Seattle, you being local to the guitar, and starting a thread here on that very guitar?

[2bornot2bop]

"apples and oranges"

you mean you'd pass on a guitar because of an un-original case?
some of the best guitars I've ever bought came w/an un-original case.

it's definately not the same as buying a guitar w/a 2" top repair.....now that's apples and oranges
yeah, it's nice to have the org case, and if it really bothers you you can find an original case if you look long enough and hard enough you can find the correct case.

but that 2" top repair will always be there and will devalue a guitar way more than a missing case....

Some buyers want complete originality. If you don't know that, you've not encountered those buyers.

I sold a WesMo James Hutchins model, with the original humbucker replaced with a Lollar. The original '57 was being sold with the guitar. I had more than one buyer poo poo the guitar because the original humbucker had been removed. I'd think ev'one here must know how anal some buyers are. After all 2b is the least experienced among you. Don't act like this is news...hello...is this thing on?

Apples and oranges fer sure...being present with a guitar, bathing in buyers ether, is far different than staring at fuzzy internet pics.

[wintermoon]

I've seen people a little disappointed that a guitar didn't come w/an orig case, but it wasn't a deal breaker.

but then again almost all of my guitars are of the vintage variety, maybe new guitar buyers have a different mindset.