Gibson L-5 Compared to Other Gibson Archtop Guitars

[2bornot2bop]

Oh, believe me, if I owned 5 Gibson's that each had issues, I'd be reluctant to try another too.

But did you see the photo of the acoustic GE, with the no. 5 on the headstock rear? C'mon man, there's got to be much more right with that archtop than wrong

Yes, I know the story of the Florentine L5CES that reportedly sold for less than $8k, whose buyer is attempting to sell it for $12k plus....who doesn't know that song? Dreamin'

[Patrick2]

Greg: No shit, man. I would have had a hard time selling that GE. One of the prettiest I've ever seen. I see the letters DRW on the TRC. I'm assuming they are Danny W.'s initials. I would take them to mean Down Right Wonderful. I was going to ask Danny what the actual significant issues were with that guitar. I didn't because I was concerned he'd think I was challenging his claim. But, I'd love to know what was wrong with it. Given that it's the 5th GE ever made, I would think that JP Moats, Jim Deurloo and Marv and Floyd were all very much hands on in the build and finish/shading of that guitar. Also, given that Jim built the bodies, JP selected the wood, Marv rolled the necks and Floyd did the finish and shading of the Citations and Kalamazoo Awards and many of the L5s, Johnny Smiths and Super 400s . . it's hard to imagine what might have went wrong with this GE. But hey . . shit happens!

[wintermoon]

I'm not a fan of Heritages cosmetics, like the Gibson style artist series trapeze and 'H' tailpieces, flame maple guards that to me don't like right on a spruce topped guitar.
and like some others, I can't get past the headstock--can't believe they couldn't come up w/something more thought out/appealing.

I do understand the price point and value, especially if someone is on a very tight budget and might want a Gibson, but just doesn't has 6 grand or more for a guitar--though the Gibson will certainly hold it's value more.

none of the above is a slam @ Heritage or their owners, if you like 'em, great, what do you care what someone else thinks.

but the one thing that I like about Heritage is their cremona brown sunburst.
looks as good or better than anything Gibson has put out since the 1920's and I think only Steven Gilchrist's cremona rivals it.

[2bornot2bop]

Greg: No shit, man. I would have had a hard time selling that GE. One of the prettiest I've ever seen. I see the letters DRW on the TRC. I'm assuming they are Danny W.'s initials. I would take them to mean Down Right Wonderful. I was going to ask Danny what the actual significant issues were with that guitar. I didn't because I was concerned he'd think I was challenging his claim. But, I'd love to know what was wrong with it. Given that it's the 5th GE ever made, I would think that JP Moats, Jim Deurloo and Marv and Floyd were all very much hands on in the build and finish/shading of that guitar. Also, given that Jim built the bodies, JP selected the wood, Marv rolled the necks and Floyd did the finish and shading of the Citations and Kalamazoo Awards and many of the L5s, Johnny Smiths and Super 400s . . it's hard to imagine what might have went wrong with this GE. But hey . . shit happens!

Selling? A GE with the very slightest of old school green tinge in its tobacco burst? Can you say no freakin' way in Poughkeepsie?

That GE looked so fine I'd have to keep it as a work of art even if it didn't sound a note. I've always wanted one with that exact shading.

[wintermoon]

that looks like kinda Gibson's Argentine Grey 'burst of the early 60's [not the stunning A.G. color of the 20s 30s]

me no-likey the green......

[2bornot2bop]

I'm not a fan of the Heritage pick guards either, however, I can live with the Super Eagles more rectangular guard...the oblong styled guard rubs me the wrong way... which is why I removed it from my SKB and had a custom ebony guard designed. And when the GE with the custom solid ebony guard availed itself, well, how could I resist...best playing acoustic archtop I've had yet.

[Phiberopttic]

I'm not a fan of the Heritage pick guards either, however, I can live with the Super Eagles more rectangular guard...the oblong styled guard rubs me the wrong way...

The pickguards on that Golden Eagle in front of the fireplace and the Kenny Burrell model in your last photo both look great; IMO. It creates a double cut-away effect. Then the length of the pickguard curving the opposite direction from the bout... I think it makes the guitars look more interesting.

I wouldnt kick either of those guitars out of bed...

[2bornot2bop]

The pickguards on that Golden Eagle in front of the fireplace and the Kenny Burrell model in your last photo both look great; IMO. It creates a double cut-away effect. Then the length of the pickguard curving the opposite direction from the bout... I think it makes the guitars look more interesting.

I wouldnt kick either of those guitars out of bed...

You're the first to point out, or notice, the purposeful curvature of the pickguard design created for the SKB. Proud to say, I designed it based upon the SKB's florentine cutaway...and then of course scanned the design and email'd it to Aaron Cowles, who created it from solid ebony...RIP, Aaron Cowles.

[Phiberopttic]

I really like the look of the Heritage guitars. Although I've never played one, I certainly respect the people that refused to leave their community, then showed the determination to continue their craft. Hats off.







...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...
...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...
...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...
...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...
...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...
...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...
...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...
...i will not buy another arch top for at least one year...

[Danny W.]

I really don't doubt Danny W. when he claims to have had 5 Heritage archies and every one of them had significant issues. Unlike some who continue to make stupid and baseless claims about Heritage and Gibson, Danny strikes me as a stright forward on nonsense kinda guy . . a guitar lover and a guitar player. He referenced having had issues with the color of a special order from Gibson . . and he also sold a "to die for" L5CES Florentine cut away with a ridiculously fat neck that he couldn't bond with. So, he knows what he wants and likes and won't settle for anything less. Gotta admire that!! Although, that L5CES was just so damned special . . that I'd have taken it to Aaron or Pete Moreno or sent it back to Gibson to have the neck shaved down to make it more comfortable. Marv would have been the guy to do it perfectly . . but, I'm not really sure that Marve would even let a guitar with a Gibson logo on the head stock in the door at 225 Parsons Street, K'zoo, MI. lolol

I did send it to Gibson, but they declined to bid on it after examining the guitar. I have enough great guitars to not want to expend much energy trying to make an outlier acceptable.

Greg: No shit, man. I would have had a hard time selling that GE. One of the prettiest I've ever seen. I see the letters DRW on the TRC. I'm assuming they are Danny W.'s initials. I would take them to mean Down Right Wonderful. I was going to ask Danny what the actual significant issues were with that guitar. I didn't because I was concerned he'd think I was challenging his claim. But, I'd love to know what was wrong with it. Given that it's the 5th GE ever made, I would think that JP Moats, Jim Deurloo and Marv and Floyd were all very much hands on in the build and finish/shading of that guitar. Also, given that Jim built the bodies, JP selected the wood, Marv rolled the necks and Floyd did the finish and shading of the Citations and Kalamazoo Awards and many of the L5s, Johnny Smiths and Super 400s . . it's hard to imagine what might have went wrong with this GE. But hey . . shit happens!

Those are my initials on the TRC. I wasn't going to list all the problems with that particular guitar because I really wasn't intending to turn this into a Heritage-bashing thread. Let's just say that it needed major rework as shipped from the factory, that Ren Wall called me twice to apologize for all the issues with it, and that after spending additional time at the factory, the guitar was still problematic. The dealer who got it for me also received #3 & 4, but rejected those outright. He told me #5 was also defective, but wanted my opinion on it, so it was the first GE sold. If I had a crystal ball I would have sent it back to him instead of the factory and let someone else buy it.

As for the comments about its looks, there's just no accounting for taste--I thought it was ugly, and much prefer any one of these:



Danny W.

[2bornot2bop]

Just curious...if you knew Heritage #3, 4, and 5 were defective, and you thought they were "ugly", how on earth did you later end up with 4 other Heritages? Beautiful guitar shot there by the way. Looks like a pair of Thiel speakers shoved away in the corner!

[Patrick2]

Hey Danny . . I think I'd prefer any one of those over the GE as well. Most especially the Award and the sunburst Le Grande in the second row. But, no way that makes the GE an ugly guitar, in my own eyes. As you know, the GE was pretty much patterned after the Award and the Citation. It's got the tail piece and the eagle landing on a branch inlay on the head stock like the Award . . and the cloud FB inlays and cupid's bow of the Citation.

I played 2 Citations and a Kalamazoo Award. The Award and one of the Citations were part of a collection owned by Wayne Wesley Johnson. One of the best arch top collections I've evr had the pleasure of visiting with. They were both off the charts amazing. The other Citation was an earlier model and finished in varnish. "I ain't got the words" to describe that one. I kinda felt like I was holding a 300 year old Strad. Oh . . and it sounded amazing too!! That one belonged to Scott Chinery.

But, having said all that . . they still weren't an L5 . . in my eyes.

[Greentone]

OMG that is a nice collection.

[Danny W.]

Just curious...if you knew Heritage #3, 4, and 5 were defective, and you thought they were "ugly", how on earth did you later end up with 4 other Heritages? Beautiful guitar shot there by the way. Looks like a pair of Thiel speakers shoved away in the corner!

Thank you--those are some really nice guitars Gibson built. The Thiels have been in daily use since 1984.

As for your question, talk to this guy:

What I commonly observe, on this forum, it becomes obvious that there are those who are very closed minded when it comes to brand. And there are those who are more opened minded in regards to brand.

If I allowed my first Gibson archtop experience to influence my decision to sample a 2nd, as the first was the worst dud I'd ever experienced, I'd never have later acquired 5 other Gibsons.

Open mind - It is a choice...that's all 2b is saying.

QED..and try to practice what you preach!

Hey Danny . . I think I'd prefer any one of those over the GE as well. Most especially the Award and the sunburst Le Grande in the second row. But, no way that makes the GE an ugly guitar, in my own eyes. As you know, the GE was pretty much patterned after the Award and the Citation. It's got the tail piece and the eagle landing on a branch inlay on the head stock like the Award . . and the cloud FB inlays and cupid's bow of the Citation.

I played 2 Citations and a Kalamazoo Award. The Award and one of the Citations were part of a collection owned by Wayne Wesley Johnson. One of the best arch top collections I've evr had the pleasure of visiting with. They were both off the charts amazing. The other Citation was an earlier model and finished in varnish. "I ain't got the words" to describe that one. I kinda felt like I was holding a 300 year old Strad. Oh . . and it sounded amazing too!! That one belonged to Scott Chinery.

But, having said all that . . they still weren't an L5 . . in my eyes.

I've owned one original Citation. Although it was a great guitar, the workmanship on it was somewhat inferior to the modern ones, but it did have a great finish. Check the 1983 Custom Order catalog (with HR on the cover)--you can see minor problems that I don't see on any of my current guitars.

As for the GE, maybe "ugly" is too strong, but I never thought it was a great-looking guitar when I owned it.

Danny W.

[2bornot2bop]

No need to cop an attitude. It was only an obvious question. At the end of the day, with the current state of world affairs, in the grand scheme of things, opinions from anyone on this forum don't add up to a hill of beans.