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I have never played an L5 in my 30 years of guitar wrangling!
In Dennis’ NGD thread for his new Wes Mo, I indicated that I am receiving my very own Wes Mo this week from Archtop.com. My wife is making sure my 50th birthday in August is an awesome one!!
Anyway, knowing that I only have 48 hours or so to try the instrument before my approval period is over, I wanted to try and get my hands on one before it arrived so I would have a point of reference. I remember my old guitar teacher had bought one a year or so ago. So, I asked him if I could borrow it over the weekend, he said, YES!
His is like an early 70’s model. It was kind of dirty with a loose pot, but he is a hard working professional so it does not surprise me. But holy freaking moly! There really is a difference isn’t there? I sold my old ES-175 because even after 5 years I could not get on with that one and I prefer my Gretsch 6120. But the power of the L5 was astonishing! It instantly has “the sound” through my 65 Princeton RI LE. The neck is like lightening and it has a Strat like percussiveness that is really addictive! I played it for like 6 hours and now there is no doubt that I want one of my own!!
I know there are lots of awesome options out there and some folks get excited about the cost, which is understandable as it is not an insignificant amount of $, but this is the guitar I have salivated over for 25 years!! It is hard to believe that after 30 years and having played quite a few guitars, I could still be caught off guard like that, but WOW, I was completely blown away!!
As I write this, I just received my shipping notice!! Gonna be a long few days!
Oh, it’s not all roses. Once it meets my approval, my wife is adamant about putting it away at her folk’s house till my birthday. I am actually OK with that because I will be practicing like mad for the next 2.5 months in anticipation!! I think turning 50 is gonna be OK.
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05-23-2016 04:10 PM
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That is one of the most excellent stories I've heard in a while.
I got "back" into Gibsons when I had to sell off some property in another state that had been in my family for over 125 years. I realized I'd never go back there, am the sole surviving family member, and the taxes were a burden. So with a heavy heart I sold the land. But my wife agreed to let me take a "cut" of the proceeds to buy myself a nice archtop as my "land loss comfort" guitar, and I bought a beautiful Gibson ES165 "Herb Ellis" from Joe DeNisco on this forum. The guitar is utterly perfect, and it just melts my heart to play it.
I'm now hunting a guitar built in the year of my conception-gestation-birth (1954-1955) and thinking that'll just be a fun instrument to grow old with!
You're getting a very special instrument for a really significant milestone in your life, and clearly you have married well.
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Yeah, the L-5 IS ALL THAT. I remember playing my first one about a zillion years ago. I had been listening extensively to Wes Montgomery, Tony Mottola, Kenny Burrell, and a few other L-5 players. I played an L-5CES in a Washington DC music store. Whoa! The guitar was the real deal. The guitar just exuded class. The price was easily double what I thought at the time anybody with sense would put into a guitar, but I thought to myself, "one day."
Congratulations on your impending birthday AND the hella good present you are getting!
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Guitars make fabulous birthday presents! I've receive four, no L-5s yet, but no regrets either.
Here's to seeing photos and hearing a sound bite in 2.5 months - we will be counting down with you.
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I finally got an L5CES around 2010 ... and then sold some guitars to finance an L5WES the next year
I've been getting back into my L5s a little more lately .... not that they were really getting ignored that much
But they do live up to their reputation IMHO ....
All those years and I can still get into honeymoon mode with both of them
The again I've made the mistake of playing a couple of Super 400s in the last year ..... that's a whole other level of gas ... LOL
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Ken,
That is a GREAT story.
You have an amazing wife and an equally amazing guitar coming way.
The L5 means perfection in Michiganese. Not really but it should. You will not sleep the night you get it because you will be staring at it, picking it up, putting it on a stand across the room so you can see it in a different light. You will do all these things and then you will notice.. The best part about an L5 is when you put it on your leg and play it. The sensation is otherworldly. You will love it. And it will be yours. It is ALL that it is cracked up to be.
Take Care of that wife of yours..
Joe D.
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My wife bought me a Martin HD-35 for my 50th birthday -- same story about putting it away until the actual day of the event, but she simply put it under our bed and told me not to even think about looking at it for the two months. Well, that lasted for about 48 hours before I was sneaking a peak, then sneaking a strum, then outright playing it while she was out of the house. The hardest part was acting completely surprised on the day of my actual birthday. Anyway, I'm glad you can avoid those temptations -- unless you can bribe her folks. Enjoy -- gift guitars are the best guitars.
Originally Posted by Ken Olmstead
Oh, it’s not all roses. Once it meets my approval, my wife is adamant about putting it away at her folk’s house till my birthday. I am actually OK with that because I will be practicing like mad for the next 2.5 months in anticipation!! I think turning 50 is gonna be OK.
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What is it with wives and the whole "putting it away until..." thing.
Talk about torture! What if the house burns down? What if we're robbed? What if I die before then?
Sweetie, if you really loved me, you'd let me...
Wait... that's a different conversation...
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I don't think I have ever seen an L5 in person. I think they retail in Australian for $19,999.
Even Bob Weir plays one, with P94s
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I have a question for you L5 owners and strummers. Do your L5's have low frets?
When I play mine ( I am used to playing my other guitars more often) I find that the frets take time to get used to, not that I have tall frets on other guitars.
It seems to be more pronounced on the 1st and 2nd strings. And, I doubt that the previous owner had the frets filed down, he had played it very little (from what I was told - I did not know him).
Is this standard for the model?? Other than that, it is wonderful and I can get used to low frets if necessary.
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Every day of my adult life!! Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco
Haha! The Martin HD-35 was the other possibility. We are at a spot right now to lay out the cash for the L5, but the last guitar I "plan" on acquiring is that HD-35! Maybe for number 55? Originally Posted by bmw2002
Yes, I do love GIFT guitars!!
I can't help you here as I only have experience with the one and it has a few miles on it! I can let you know on Thursday though as mine is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday afternoon! Originally Posted by Jimmy Mack
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Not your usual L5 tone, but a great demonstration of Weir's highly idiosyncratic guitar style. More interesting to my ears than Jerry's. Originally Posted by gggomez
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It looks like Weir has an Ibanez GB10-style tailpiece on that Gibson L5.
Or else it's an Ibanez L5 copy with a Gibson logo on the headstock?
Did Gibson ever put this kind of tailpiece on an L5?
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He does play an Ibanez hollow body, maybe he swapped bits?
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
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Yes, that's true. I know he's been with Ibanez for a long time. They made a Weir signature solid body decades ago.
I wonder if the tailpiece is due to some contractual obligation, or just a convenience because it's difficult to get an authentic L5 tailpiece replacement...
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Ken,
I posted in another thread that back in the day an ES-175 was my first electric guitar.
it served it's purpose but when I bought my first L-5 it was like night and day.
just had such a more solid feel to it and sounded way better to my ears.
like Greentone, I had been immersing myself in the music of the greats, especially Wes.
so to finally have the type of guitar that he had was like driving a Ferrari.
open the case and see the flowerpot inlay in the peghead, the 'custom' on the truss rod cover, and especially the engraved tailpiece.....doesn't get any better!
btw, the 175 was $450 and the L-5 was $900.
this was a loooong time ago.
congrats in advance....
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A Gibson L-5 is it. You will have arrived. Now you have to spend the next 30 years (average life expectancy) playing it and improving. Jazz guitar is like climbing a mountain, except nobody gets to the top (well, maybe Wes did).
Congrats in advance!
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Ken,
The problem with turning 50 is that in what will feel like 7 months, you will then turn 51! Hope you enjoy your new guitar.
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Good luck Ken. I can imagine the shipping wait period - -and then the 'Do Not Open 'til Christmas' part. But here's hoping it's what it's supposed to be regarding condition, and it's a keeper. Originally Posted by Ken Olmstead
I have never played an L5 in my 30 years of guitar wrangling!
In Dennis’ NGD thread for his new Wes Mo, I indicated that I am receiving my very own Wes Mo this week from Archtop.com. My wife is making sure my 50th birthday in August is an awesome one!! Anyway, knowing that I only have 48 hours or so to try the instrument before my approval period is over, I wanted to try and get my hands on one before it
I know there are lots of awesome options out there and some folks get excited about the cost, which is understandable as it is not an insignificant amount of $, but this is the guitar I have salivated over for 25 years!! It is hard to believe that after 30 years and having played quite a few guitars, I could still be caught off guard like that, but WOW, I was completely blown away!!
As I write this, I just received my shipping notice!! Gonna be a long few days!
Oh, it’s not all roses. Once it meets my approval, my wife is adamant about putting it away at her folk’s house till my birthday. I am actually OK with that because I will be practicing like mad for the next 2.5 months in anticipation!! I think turning 50 is gonna be OK.
Tomorrow mine goes to the luthier for what has to be the first real set-up. I'm starting with 12/52 Chromes as a baseline, and we'll go from there. Then maybe I try TI's and swap the TOM bridge saddle to ebony. Mine has round wounds on it, so I'm not sure exactly how quieter the Chromes might be.
So far I am really surprised how good it sounds unamplified.
But all the best - and once you unpack it - get your wife into the room and play whatever song she requests !!
Dennis
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"Oh, it’s not all roses. Once it meets my approval, my wife is adamant about putting it away at her folk’s house till my birthday. I am actually OK with that because I will be practicing like mad for the next 2.5 months in anticipation!! I think turning 50 is gonna be OK"
...ha,
Had that too many times to count!!
"Gonna make ya suffer just a little bit"!
Yeah, what is it with wives and making you wait....?
...some how I don't think it would work the other way around......... --just sayin'
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Oh, you got it from Joe V. of archtop dot com. VinnyK has his beautiful blonde for sale.
Joe has a 48-hour trial period. I suggest you take full advantage of it before storing it away till your birthday. It is just good business to do that. Take it to a luthier and check everything to ensure that all's copacetic within this trial period. Truss rod, braces, etc.. i do that with every guitar.
And congrats!
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Hey, notice that Bobby Wier had an L-5CES custom made with a flamed maple top. I'd bet it's naturally brighter than one with carved spruce. In effect, he has an L-5 with two back plates. Kind of a cool idea for someone who plays his repertoire, don't you think?
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the L5 CES is by far the best acoustic archtop i've ever had - and its not even an acoustic archtop
its quieter than my old andersens and campellones - but its better - the tone is rounder thicker fatter and more nuanced
more JAZZY
and that is it unplugged - played the way it was never meant to be
the response to amplification - especially with the double pickup version - is a wonderful thing
but i still prefer to play it acoustic most of the time when not playing in public
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the next best archtop i've ever had is a gb10
also very full and fat acoustically despite not being an acoustic archtop
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the L5 would be the best ever even if it only felt the way it does - but sounded e.g. - like all the others.
even just the feel of the neck and the feel of note-production - is in a different league
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Originally Posted by Greentone
That's interesting.
My heritage 575 is all solid maple, and has a very dark voice. Could be the pickups, though too.
One thing I've noticed is that since maple is harder than spruce, it's less flexible, which means (obviously) less acoustic presence, but it's also very feedback resistant. Maybe that's what Bobby had in mind.
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" In effect, he has an L-5 with two back plates."
ES-350, Tal Farlow.....
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