Is the Gibson L-5 worth the big bucks

[Wes29]

They are more expensive than ever but not that much more. Don't know if you're in the US but they'll be more expensive overseas.
Check Reverb and you can find a used one for much less. There's a couple on there now for less than 9K.

I live in Indonesia. Really hard to find one in here, so im looking online at the moment, ideally from japan / australia.
Already checked reverb, fellowship of accoustic, greg guitar, ebay, etc..But im searching for a sunburst L5 Wes year 2002 and up. Ideally 2004, 2007, 2013 or 2014.

thank you.

[Wes29]

It seems the going price in the USA for a used sunburst WESMO is 7K and a sunburst CES is 8K. A bit more for the blondes and a bit less for the wine red examples.

Forget about asking prices on Reverb.com.

Prices in other nations may be higher.

New ones will be more and you will be waiting a long time to get it.

noted. Will keep looking for it. Thank you Stringswinger, really appreciate it for the info.

[citizenk74]

Hello everyone,

May i ask for an advice about l5 wes guitar prices at the moment? It is quiet difficult to find one online at the moment. Im looking for 2002 and up model. Finally found this one :

Gibson Custom L5 Wes Montgomery Guitar Vintage Sunburst - On Sale at Guitar World Australia

but the price is quiet amazing ( about 17000 usd ). Its a new one. What do you think about the price?
Really appreciate for any advice.

thank you so much.

best regards

[Wes29]

Thank you Citizenk74.

[wintermoon]

I live in Indonesia. Really hard to find one in here, so im looking online at the moment, ideally from japan / australia.
Already checked reverb, fellowship of accoustic, greg guitar, ebay, etc..But im searching for a sunburst L5 Wes year 2002 and up. Ideally 2004, 2007, 2013 or 2014.

thank you.

I can see wanting one built in a certain era, but what makes those individual yrs special?

[Wes29]

I can see wanting one built in a certain era, but what makes those individual yrs special?

those are birth years of my kids

by the way, I found this too today..price about 9000 usd.

Gibson Custom ShopCustom Crimson L-5CES -Vintage Sunburst-【中古品】【3.32kg】【金利0%対象】商品詳細 | ギタープラネット | 御茶ノ水 楽器の専門店、通信販売、楽器買取

but im a bit confused, because it looks like a wes model but it doesnt have wes montgomery writen in the tail. And in the headstock, only “custom” writen in it, instead of custom L5. The year is 2012.

[Filmosound 621]

^^ I knew it ...

you are a lucky person, welcome !

[Wes29]

^^ I knew it ...

you are a lucky person, welcome !

why am I a lucky person? Thank you Filmosound

[wintermoon]

why am I a lucky person? Thank you Filmosound

Because you get to buy 4 Wesmos
Some have Wes Montgomery on the tp, some don't

[Wes29]

Because you get to buy 4 Wesmos
Some have Wes Montgomery on the tp, some don't

Hehe not 4, only 1..hopefully

[Wes29]

2013

1994


Hello,

Would like to ask for an opinion again. I have 2 candidates for the L5 at the moment, the situation is I couldn’t try both of them due to location.
Love the 2013, perfect year, love the finishing, brand new condition, but the price is very high.
The 1994 is looking great too, finishing and near mint condition, price is perfect. Only the gold hardware pickup is a bit tarnishing.

any input would be really appreciate it. Thank you..

best regards

[Filmosound 621]

be nice Wintermoon.

that ain't silly but romantic ... and he does not have to follow that idea anyway ...


as someone with no clue of L-5's, but a strong desire to own one in the near future, I'd go with the '94.

it is 20 years older than the other one, that would make me pick it.


I hope the store has a return policy.

[bluejaybill]

Definitely don't worry about the tarnish, all the gold pickups get like that! And IIRC the '90's were a good period for Gibson? Reestablishing their quality at that time I believe.

Do you know what questions to ask ? Such as neck size, straightness, condition of frets, no cracks etc- there's a lot I would ask, others probably have their own questions that they ask when buying a used guitar especially at this price point. I find if you don't ask, they won't tell.

And get an approval period as was said!

[FredH]

I have several Gibson archtops- L7s, Johnny Smiths, a 175 and even an old Les Paul Custom. I love to play them all, but when I pick up my Wes Mo it's totally different. Warmer, sweeter sound, a totally different vibe. Yes, they are that good, IMO. Maybe its the history, the players, whatever. But to me, they are clearly different. And no other guitar I have ever played comes close to the sound, the feel.

[skiboyny]

The 94 pickup tarnish looks to be a result of gassing pickguard. The pickguard looks to have been replaced.If it hasn’t been replace, it needs to be. Have a carefull look for case or finish damage. Pickup cover is easy enough to replace. Other than those things if the price is right you might have found your guitar. Good luck.

[Wes29]

be nice Wintermoon.

that ain't silly but romantic ... and he does not have to follow that idea anyway ...


as someone with no clue of L-5's, but a strong desire to own one in the near future, I'd go with the '94.

it is 20 years older than the other one, that would make me pick it.


I hope the store has a return policy.

thank you Filmosound. noted and really appreciate your inputs.

its okay, i know it might be sound silly for some people lol..for me its a bit of sentimental reason. thank you Wintermoonn

Im not a good guitar player, but i love to play..it is my happy place. every time i play Polka dots and moonbeams on guitar, it transfer me to time and place in my memory. its a time machine. and with L5, it will be more special..with its magical history, beautiful shapes, and wonderful warm tone.

and for the year, i finally includes the 1994 because it has some memory too. not all the chosen year is my kids born year. 2013 is the year when me and my wife got married

[Wes29]

Definitely don't worry about the tarnish, all the gold pickups get like that! And IIRC the '90's were a good period for Gibson? Reestablishing their quality at that time I believe.

Do you know what questions to ask ? Such as neck size, straightness, condition of frets, no cracks etc- there's a lot I would ask, others probably have their own questions that they ask when buying a used guitar especially at this price point. I find if you don't ask, they won't tell.

And get an approval period as was said!

noted. thank you so much for the advice. I am clueless about questions that i have to ask. before when i buy a guitar, i just buy it if it in mint condition. will do ask all the things you said then.

[Wes29]

I have several Gibson archtops- L7s, Johnny Smiths, a 175 and even an old Les Paul Custom. I love to play them all, but when I pick up my Wes Mo it's totally different. Warmer, sweeter sound, a totally different vibe. Yes, they are that good, IMO. Maybe its the history, the players, whatever. But to me, they are clearly different. And no other guitar I have ever played comes close to the sound, the feel.

thank you FredH. i used to have an es 175 too. and at the moment have es 355, j45 and a martin d45.
cant wait to try the l5.

[Wes29]

The 94 pickup tarnish looks to be a result of gassing pickguard. The pickguard looks to have been replaced.If it hasn’t been replace, it needs to be. Have a carefull look for case or finish damage. Pickup cover is easy enough to replace. Other than those things if the price is right you might have found your guitar. Good luck.

thank you Skiboyny. noted and really appreciate the info. will check all the things that you have mentioned again.

[FredH]

I would pick the 94 over a new/newer one because it has had time to open up. To me, it's all about the sound, the tonality, and the feel of older wood. For what its worth, I have a 98 Wes Mo and it's the guitar I always come back to. There is something, to me, about a set single humbuckeron an aged, carved spruce top.

[Wes29]

I would pick the 94 over a new/newer one because it has had time to open up. To me, it's all about the sound, the tonality, and the feel of older wood. For what its worth, I have a 98 Wes Mo and it's the guitar I always come back to. There is something, to me, about a set single humbuckeron an aged, carved spruce top.

Noted and agree about the tonality and the feel of an older wood. This is the picture of the humbucker pickup



it looks a bit green on the edge, probably because the case’s sleeve?

and it has wooden bridge instead of gold like the newer one.





so they say its not in a mint condition, more like a near mint condition.

will still be looking more option at the moment. Thank you FredH

[skiboyny]

The green on the pickup cover is from the pickguard off-gassing. It’s something that happens to tortoise when it ages. It’s quite destructive,and that’s why the shroud is discolored. The shroud probably helped save the guitar from finish damage. The abr “gold like the newer one” bridge is shown in the picture so you can pick the sound you like. As I said previous if the pickguard hasn’t been changed it will need to be so add that into the cost. Once it starts off gassing it won’t stop and it will continue to damage the case the guitar.

[Wes29]

The green on the pickup cover is from the pickguard off-gassing. It’s something that happens to tortoise when it ages. It’s quite destructive,and that’s why the shroud is discolored. The shroud probably helped save the guitar from finish damage. The abr “gold like the newer one” bridge is shown in the picture so you can pick the sound you like. As I said previous if the pickguard hasn’t been changed it will need to be so add that into the cost. Once it starts off gassing it won’t stop and it will continue to damage the case the guitar.

i see, so its from the pickguard off gassing. Never knew about this before. Okay noted, thank you so much Skiboyny.

best regards

[Wes29]

The 94 is sold already. Will keep searching then. On the reverb there still the 2013 Wes with the really high price and a 2002 “Hutch” L5 but not Wes version.
thanks again for all the advices, really appreciate it.

[Dennis D]

i see, so its from the pickguard off gassing. Never knew about this before. Okay noted, thank you so much Skiboyny.

best regards

......I see a p/g like that and absolutely all I can think of is getting that thing off - like yesterday. Replacement guards are available, and they're good and barely distinguishable from new. And the hardware is lifetime, so that's easy.
But for the damage that can and does occur from off-gassing, and for as easy a fix as it is, I'd probably be removing the old one in the car on the way home ! : )

Good luck with your search !