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Anybody know of any builders that do custom L-5 style guitars, and any that do custom 150-dc style guitars (oversized 335)? I know Campellone makes some l-5-ish guitars that I've heard very good things about.
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11-04-2016 04:51 PM
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I just received a Monty Blues Queen to inspect/evaluate before delivering it to its new owner.
It's far and away the best ES-3x5 style instrument I have ever played.
In your shoes, I'd get Brian Monty to build me an ES-150-DC version.
www.montyguitars.com/
This one was built with a tip o' the hat to an ES-345 (Brian usually doesn't do double-parallelogram inlays or 345 binding), with carved birds-eye top & back, Brazilian board, and customer-supplied hardware (waffle-backs, Bigsby, etc.). It's a fabulous guitar.
Of course, if you want a COPY of an ES-150DC, your best bet is probably Tom Bartlett, who makes very convincing laminated semis.
What era and configuration of L-5 are you seeking? There are several. And there are several great builders building L-5-style guitars from different eras. Campellone builds in the post-war Gibson style, but he uses his own decor instead of reproducing Gibson aesthetic details. Great guitars. Easy enough to find examples - where are you located?
Last edited by Hammertone; 11-05-2016 at 03:55 PM.
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Note that the 150DC was more like a thick 330 than a thick 335. The difference is that the 150DC is fully hollow (as is the 330) while the 335 (and the 345 and the 355) has a slab of wood down the center inside the box. Thus the 330 and 150DC has more of the hollow body guitars properties - including a greater tendency to feed back - than the 335, while the 335 is closer to a solid body. That distinction may or may not be important to you.
Regarding builders of L5 like instruments, Jim Triggs can also be mentioned. He was actually head of the Gibson Custom Shop back in the late 1980s and beginning of 1990s and as such built many L5 instruments there. Still to day he is rooted in the Gibson tradition (Parallel longitudinal bracing) though many of his instruments have D'Angelico appointments as per customer requests.
Triggs GuitarsLast edited by oldane; 11-05-2016 at 08:29 AM.
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I'm left wondering why a custom 150 clone why not a real 150?
The cost would certainly be fairly steep to go custom.
While some do not like the 150 slim neck but I would think it would still be cheaper to buy a 150 and have the neck replaced?
Anyway, I've always expected (or hoped) that Ibanez or other maker would make a fully hollow thick body DC type model but alas... not yet.
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I would just want to have more freedom in deciding how the guitar is made. The neck is a big part of it, but I would also want a say in the body.
Originally Posted by GNAPPI
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Check out walkin.co.jp
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Scotto, you are moving in on my territory. Usually, this is the stuff I'd post...
Just messin' around with ya. Good recommendation.
Love that Walnut Archtop Tribute 150DC!
Jim Triggs and Mark Campellone have been mentioned. I'd like to plug Ned Whittemore and Steve Holst.
OK, Heritage of Kalamazoo. Why not?
Bill Comins 17" and John Buscarino 17" Artisan, of course. Once we are at this price level, if you want an L5CES get an L5CES.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 11-05-2016 at 02:24 PM.
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Those Walkin Archtop tributes are nice, but I've heard they don't ship to the US
. Triggs and Campellone are lookin like my best bets for a custom l5 lookin guitar. Any thoughts on Heritage's custom shop stuff?
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If you are playing .... :
Tres rare Gibson ES 150 TDC Vintage debut 70
No affiliation
It has been for sale here for some weeks (months ?)
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Ha! Jabberwocky, great minds think alike! I love to pop in occasionally and chat with the owner, if I can throw some business his way then everyone wins. He always turns me on to something happening around the area. Those 150s are pretty cool. I want one with a single neck pickup. I'm not sure what his shipping policies are but it would be a shame if they don't ship to the US. Almost makes me want to say drop me a payment and I'll send one out myself just to share the wealth. All of these guitars have a certain "cool" factor about them and are great guitars for the price that can't be found anywhere else. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
Scotto, you are moving in on my territory. Usually, this is the stuff I'd post...
Just messin' around with ya. Good recommendation.
Love that Walnut Archtop Tribute 150DC!
Jim Triggs and Mark Campellone have been mentioned. I'd like to plug Ned Whittemore and Steve Holst.
OK, Heritage of Kalamazoo. Why not?
Bill Comins 17" and John Buscarino 17" Artisan, of course. Once we are at this price level, if you want an L5CES get an L5CES.
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BTW, if anyone is seriously interested in making an AT purchase, I would drop an email just to make a request.
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You do know that Gibson makes a double-cutaway L-5CES, no?
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Walkin does ship to the US! Masaki is a super cat to buy from but it may take several days to get a reply. Bob Originally Posted by johnnybobcat
Those Walkin Archtop tributes are nice, but I've heard they don't ship to the US. Triggs and Campellone are lookin like my best bets for a custom l5 lookin guitar. Any thoughts on Heritage's custom shop stuff?
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Heritage all the way and don't turn back.
Here is my custom Heritage H530 3"" body depth select woods, and 25 1/2 inch scale. Thump of a 175 and the comfort/access of a 335 style guitar with a 3 inch body depth . full hollow body. A thing of beauty. Gotta love that HeadStock
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Last edited by rhoadsscholar; 11-10-2016 at 11:35 AM.
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I LOVE that 530, which brings up a pet peeve with Heritage... there are no two alike it seems. Controls, pups, even body details.
There are single AND double cut Millenniums out there. In the rest of the world those are two different models.
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Wow that Heritage is beautiful! I think you guys may have steered me down the right path. Does Heritage still do custom work? Their website has changed quite a bit.
Last edited by johnnybobcat; 11-10-2016 at 08:52 PM.
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They do. I have heard prices have gone up on custom configurations. Mark (MartyGrass) recently got a similar Heritage that was NOS. Maybe he will join this thread. If you contacted Jay Wolfe at Wolfe guitars, I am sure he could give you an estimate of the new prices.
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Mark used to have a custom, double-cutaway (that George Benson played) that was a pretty cool guitar. It looked a lot like Rhoadescholar's.
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This is that guitar. I have a photo and a video of George playing that guitar. I met the original owner that had this custom built (Toty). Great guitarist and a personal friend of George Benson. In fact he shared with me that George helped him with some of the specs. A bonus as I am a huge benson fan. Originally Posted by Greentone
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@rhoadsscholar What are the specs/year on that 530? So the previous owner ordered it from the Heritage Custom Shop?
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Woooow - this is IT! What a great idea and gorgeous guitar. Never seen one like it but love it right away. Will it take any amount of gain or will it feedback like a carved archtop? Originally Posted by rhoadsscholar
Heritage all the way and don't turn back.
Here is my custom Heritage H530 3"" body depth select woods, and 25 1/2 inch scale. Thump of a 175 and the comfort/access of a 335 style guitar with a 3 inch body depth . full hollow body. A thing of beauty. Gotta love that HeadStock .
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