Is the Gibson L-5 worth the big bucks

[Marty Grass]

I'm impressed with how many jazz players use Teles.

I have a G&L. I never worry about dinging it or polishing it. I just never worry about it. It's not tempermental. The humidity doesn't matter much. There is almost no maintenance. It's 100% reliable.

It doesn't sound like an L5 though. But it does sound good.

No offense to those who like 'em - I personally do not and I've played a bunch of them over the years and I owned a '47 Super 400 that ended up in a museum plus a real nice Johnny Smith at one time. There are other guitars out there for fewer $$$ that I'd much rather have. I will admit that L-5's are a thing of beauty to look at but, to me, playing one is like driving a stick shift dump truck compared to a new 2015 Corvette - you have to work waaaay too hard to get anything out of them. Of course YMMV...... What do I know - I play homemade Telecasters!

[Greentone]

Ms Tharpe had a sensational smile.

The guitar strap undoubtedly terminates either at a button screwed into the back of the headstock, or (more likely, given the time period) in a knot that runs under a metal strap. See the pictures below.

[Marty Grass]

At a young age my sole guitar was a very early non-cutaway L5 with a McCarty pickup. If I recall correctly, I traded a Kalamazoo made Epiphone Howard Roberts Artist for it.

It was stressful having the L5. I depended on gigs to pay for much of my rent. So I played blues and jazz on that instrument with my band. It was difficult managing the feedback since back then no one miked their amps. But the worst part was protecting it from damage and theft. People wanted to try it out. I had to watch it constantly on breaks. So that anxiety colored much of my memories of it.

Acoustically it was grand. It sounded rich and projected loudly. But the neck was like a bat.

When I think back on that guitar, I still feel that it is too much responsibility for me to enjoy it.

Part of the reason that Wes went with the L5 is that it is replaceable.

[Patrick2]

the L-5 is a '39 the pic is from '40.

if I had to guess, I'd say it's those early strap holders Gibson was using in the late 30s
it looks like it's attached behind the nut, but the strap is probably hung up on one of the tuners making it look like it's attached behind the nut

Given the location of this *artistically designed* strap hook, I would imagine that anything more than the slightest applied pressure/weight of the left hand while playing, especially while chording, would have an interesting effect on intonation.?.?.?

[wintermoon]

well, before strap buttons were used extensively, the majority of players tied the strap around the peghead under the strungs

[Danny W.]

To you folks who own L-5's, Super 400's, Benedettos, etc., do you actually take them out and gig with them? I can probably count on one hand the number of places that I've played in the past 40 years where I would even consider taking a guitar of that caliber through the front door - mostly orchestra pit and a few country club jobs, but nowhere else.

"To you folks who own L-5's, Super 400's, Benedettos, etc., do you actually take them out and gig with them?"

yes

Danny W.

[Patrick2]

well, before strap buttons were used extensively, the majority of players tied the strap around the peghead under the strungs

Yeah, I'm very aware of that. And, this exact same question came up a while ago, specifically referencing Wes. There was no difinitive consus at that time. However, Wes is seated and the weight of the guitar is mostly on his lap. The strap seems to be more for stability than it would be as supportive of the guitar's weight. By contrast, when standing, there is weight (tug) on the neck. Add to that any additional tug, or weight as a result of the fretting hand, and I'd have to imagine there might be some neck flexing . . which would difinitely affect string tension . . resulting in intonation issues.

[SierraTango]

What a great photo! A big beautiful lady of jazz, with a big beautiful smile, holding a big beautiful L5C. Thanks Wintermoon. This was indeed the lady I was thinking of. She must have been a little bitty thing of a lady. Look how huge that L5C looks on her. Trying to determine where she's got that guitar strap hooked on the neck/head stock of the guitar.?.? Looks like it just disappears somewhere behind the nut and the first fret.

Not picking nits, however wouldn't the guitar in the photo be a L5N, not a L5C? Non cutaway models had no "C" in the model name correct?

Also, to the poster asking if folks that owned L-5's Benedettos, etc. actually played out with them-I don't have a photo gallery like Danny, however I play out with my 90 Benedetto Cremona. It's my guitar, that's what it's for.

[Patrick2]

Not picking nits, however wouldn't the guitar in the photo be a L5N, not a L5C? Non cutaway models had no "C" in the model name correct?

Also, to the poster asking if folks that owned L-5's Benedettos, etc. actually played out with them-I don't have a photo gallery like Danny, however I play out with my 90 Benedetto Cremona. It's my guitar, that's what it's for.

Yeah, my mistake. I do that a lot. Usually, rpguitar spanks me on it. But, for further clarification, would an L5N denote an L5 natural? Or an L5 non cutaway? I thought the non cutaway L5 model was just called an L5.

[wintermoon]

yeah, I was going to say something, but I've pointed it out before

for example L-5N = natural
L-5CN = natural cutaway

[Patrick2]

yeah, I was going to say something, but I've pointed it out before

for example L-5N = natural
L-5CN = natural cutaway

Go it. Thanks. I'm sure I'll make the mistake again. :-)

[NSJ]

Interesting to note that my L5 almost never gets a mention-L5C---nothing cut into the wood, no HB route, Johnny Smith style floating pickup.

I would venture to guess it's hardly even made---everything must be L5CES

[Hammertone]

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was one of the cooler people of the 20th century. She played all sorts of hip guitars, including that L-5N, National Duolian, '52 Les Paul Goldtop, and more, but this is my fave, and she kicked serious butt with it. For Jeebus, of course:

[Ren]

Interesting to note that my L5 almost never gets a mention-L5C---nothing cut into the wood, no HB route, Johnny Smith style floating pickup.

I would venture to guess it's hardly even made---everything must be L5CES

Navdeep,

Gibson made a batch of these in 2014; they called them L5 Premier. A lot of them are still available at the usual dealers (Wildwood, Dave's etc). Most have BJB floaters but some are purely acoustic.

[Greentone]

The L5C is a wonderful guitar. When I was growing up it was the other jazz guitar. You either played the CES or the C with a DeArmond. Beautiful tone. Of course, if you were a fan of the West Coast guys you played the ES175 and skipped the carved body.

i always wanted the 5, but made do with an ancient L50 and an ES175. The 50/DeArmond was great. The 175 sounded like Hall/Pass/Ellis...only my technique was not so much.

[kamlapati]

I suspect we left the original post / question far behind in this discussion!

But anyway, you all inspired me and I just got my two old friends, '46 L-5 and '77 L-5C out of the closet for an hour of practice. Wow, they do have something special to say that nothing else can express. Thanks for reminding me.

[Max405]

I suspect we left the original post / question far behind in this discussion!

But anyway, you all inspired me and I just got my two old friends, '46 L-5 and '77 L-5C out of the closet for an hour of practice. Wow, they do have something special to say that nothing else can express. Thanks for reminding me.

In a roundabout way, only 2 days and 96 posts kind of says it all. You will always hear people talking about the venerable L5. I hope the OP gets one. He will be in for guitar euphoria. It's one of the only guitars that gets as much play even when your not even playing it.
This post made me even prouder that I own one. And yes, when you don't play It for awhile and then you pick it up, it shows you how special it is compared to everything else.
jd

[Cunamara]

Which actually brings up another interesting observtion. I said "guys like myself". Why is it that the jazzer ladies don't embrace the L5s" Is it because they can't comfortably "embrace" these big boxes? I can only think of one lady, an African American lady (can't remember her name) from many decades ago, who actually performed with an L5. But, I digress.

IIRC Maybelle Carter played an L-5.

[Patrick2]

IIRC Maybelle Carter played an L-5.

Mother Mabelle Carter was mentioned a few posts ago. She did play an old L5.

[yebdox]

Fun post. No losers, here.

If you can afford one, chances are good you will dig it.
If you don't dig it, you will likely not be the poorer for the experience.
If it's out of your price range, you still have wonderful options and have something to dream about, pulling you into the future.
If you love what you already own, you are indeed wealthy in your completion and can focus on the music.
If you don't like it or don't want one, no one is likely to force you to play one.
if you think they are ugly or inferior in some way (or have the same opinion about my wife or my dogs, for that matter) then we can agree to differ and you are welcome to try to find a sympathetic ear further down the road.
if you think there's nothing inspirational about owning and playing an iconic instrument blessed by your musical masters, then you have my sympathy.

I have owned a few (not several, but a few) wonderful guitars and there is nothing that can take the place of a good L5. And I won't argue the point, as it's a worthless exercise.

i hope everyone gets to play one, to put their own questions to rest.

[Marty Grass]

I don't know any sane guitarist who doesn't like the L5.

While I have no "need" for one, I keep getting drawn to the cherry or wine finished single pickup version.

[Patrick2]

Well . . . I know a pretty nice guy from NJ who happens to have a really great one available in tobacco sunburst. :-)

[Marty Grass]

Sorry. Wrong finish! But you're right, he's a nice guy.

I find the cherry L5 to have a visual wow factor.

It's just a dream- and a very superficial one at that.

Well . . . I know a pretty nice guy from NJ who happens to have a really great one available in tobacco sunburst. :-)

[Greentone]

Marty,

Ah, it's good to find another fan of the wine red and cherry finished L5 guitars. I think they look stunning.

[Skip Ellis]

Danny W.

Most of the places I've played had chicken wire in front of the bandstand - don't see that in any of your pics. We must live on two entirely different planets. In my 40+ years of playing for $$$ I have never seen stage setups such as these - we have one (sorta Latin) horn band in the area that bills itself as a 'rehearsal' band - it's owned by one guy and his wife and they play out maybe once a year. Don't think I've ever seen this many horn players in one place except on TV. I wish it wasn't the case but it's too late to move now. Enjoy it!!!