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Everything is right about this guitar.
The accurate proportions and symmetry to the Gibson L5, the color, the inlay work and the tailpiece.
Mark took an already superlative design and tweaked it just enough to make it a really special guitar.
And the 3” depth on the L5 design (ala Johnny Smiths, Tal Farlow and Golden Eagles), make the guitar a perfect companion for the player. So comfortable. Now that Gibson has decided to only make the L5 to order and do so at insane prices, these guitars as well as the Countless others who hand make L5 inspired guitars should do very well.
PDeville, you have a BEAUTIFUL guitar there sir. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Joe D
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03-10-2020 12:05 PM
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Thanks Joe, I am glad you like the pictures. The 3" depth is much better for me.
Here are a few more photos that show the back, etc. And yes, if Gibson would make the guitar I wanted for a realistic price, I would have bought one 10-15 years ago. I still have two that I like very much (not L5s!!). Actually, I was ready to buy an early 50s ES-350 several times, but I don't want P90s. I like humbucking pickups much more.
I will try to get sound clips recorded with my Direct interface, post them.
PDeville
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Hi,
Quick question, what color sunburst is that. I'm going to be ordering a new Special, I think that's the color. I don't believe that's vintage sunburst, is it Chestnut?
Thanks
Don Nielsen
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This is his dark cherry sunburst
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vinny that cherryburst is spectacular...that's a true vintage style burst!!!..i remember vintage rickenbackers had bursts like that sometimes...they called it fireglo!
hats off to mr. campellone
cheers
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Very nice! The woods have especially nice graining/figuring.
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Mark C. told me his chestnut sunburst is his most popular these days.
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Beautiful guitar and color.
It reminds me of a circa '64 Gibson sunburst, not quite as brown on the edges like the 'iced tea' burst they were spraying a few yrs earlier, but not as cherry/reddish as the later 60s -70s (exception being circa '67-'68 Gibsons which had a darker bust)
Mark really knows how to shade a finish....
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Originally Posted by 17571
He can't guarantee to match a finish seen in a photo, because sunburst finishes look different depending on the light in the room, angle and photo quality. Yet, it does look like the photo I sent him. It is nice,though, any way I look at it.
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Mark can really spray a great sunburst. He mixes his own colors. He has his standard colors but am sure he can mix up any color you want.
His long career is finally getting the recognition as one of the world’s best archtop builders. He will be in the history books along with John and Jimmy. Hopefully not for a long time though.
Building archtops is a very dedicated art form that doesn’t pay well unless you are Monteleone. John and Jimmy the 2 most famous builders just got by financially. I admire all these guys greatly and there legacy will only get bigger. Archtop passion though very small is very huge.
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PDeville,
Thanks for the info. In November 2019, I ordered a Special model from Mark. At that time, new order 2020 builds for the entire year were wide open. Prior to that order, in August I had made an offer on an estate sale 1959 L-5C. The family declined that offer. Naturally the way things always work, 3 days after placing my order with mark, the family contacted me & accepted my offer. They even included free shipping to seal the deal. So I cancelled my order with Mark & made the $8500.00 purchase. As the months went by, I had cancellation remorse & attempted to re-order with Mark this past April. Mark informed me his entire batch of 2020 order slots were full & I would now be on next years waiting list.
I made my first Campellone purchase back in 1991, as one of his early customers. My first Campellone was a short lived, plywood 17" "WES" style for $1,900.00 with shipping) . I knew back then that his talent level was on par with the best. Mark actually took that guitar back as a trade.
Right after the news on my order status, I found a beautiful "mint" Campellone special in Amber burst on Archtop.com at nearly a 3rd off current prices. I scooped it up without hesitation.
Mark apologized for my order delay ( no reason to apologize of course), so now I wait my turn. If you can give me the first three numbers of your serial number, he can most likely do a real close version of that BEAUTIFUL color.
Thanks
DonLast edited by 17571; 05-05-2020 at 05:54 PM.
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I recorded this using a FocusRite and Garage Band Plugin
Anyway, I posted pictures of the Deluxe a few months back, so I thought a few people might want to hear it.
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Very nice playing end sound. The resonance of the instrument can be heard very clearly. Thanks
Enviado desde mi LG-H870 mediante Tapatalk
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Nice playing. Sounds very good. Is this a 16 or 17 inch model?
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One of my favorite tunes! Nice to hear your Campellone. One of the better sound examples I've heard. I appreciate the patience in your playing. Thanks for sharing.
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Excellent arrangement and solid tone. I'm waiting for a Campellone Deluxe to arrive within the next few months.
Thanks for posting.
Tony D.
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PDeville
You did Mark proud on that one. Very beautiful, flowing lines. The guitar sounds flawless. Great playing.
Thanks for sharing.
JD
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Thanks all....
Gustavo> The guitar is very resonant acoustically, so it's good that you can hear it.
Tal> It is a 17" with a mounted humbucker.
SkiBoy> One of mine too. Thanks, it's not that easy for me to get a decent recorded tone. I am working on it and received that FocusRite yesterday.
TonyD> Thanks! The "arrangement" changes slightly every time I play it! I don't do much chord melody, I think.
JD> Thanks for the kind words. I saw your video two days ago and liked that one as I do your other solo pieces. It is was very unique. And, your video reminded me that I play that tune and need get a recording so people can hear the guitar!
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Originally Posted by agentsmith
As for construction & sound, your right, Campellones tend to be more mellow with less treble and in my view more projection & volume. Mark uses a "light parallel" bracing & does a variation of "tap"tuning" when carving the top, that retains strength, yet enhances tone & volume. You'll never get the new Gibson corp salaried employee to take the time, even if he had the talent, to go through the same process and produce the same results. Remember Mark makes EVERY INSTRUMENT himself so his instruments are far more consistent. Don't forget his name & reputation also go out the door every time one is shipped. Actually when it comes to the new Gibson corp, it's all theory as they don't make L-5C acoustics anymore.
Don't forget if desired, you can still special order a full acoustic "X" braced Campellone, try ordering one of those through Gibson, or for that matter, most other competitors.
I remember before D'Aquisto died, his instruments were in the $2500 range. Everyone has opinions, mine is that once mark moves on to the hereafter, his guitars will rival D'Angelico & other high end, no longer produced models.Last edited by 17571; 06-01-2020 at 05:18 PM.
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FWIW, I believe Aaron Cowles when he worked for Gibson in Kalamazoo tap tuned tops. Gibson Nashville still had him tap L5 mandolin tops as part work.
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Originally Posted by agentsmith
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Hey - Wait a minute! You're comparing guitars and cars
Originally Posted by rlrhett
1979 L5 CES - Sweden ~$7k
Today, 03:38 PM in For Sale