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The 2014 L5 Premiers are actually carved the same in the cutaway as the recent L5CES's; both measure around 3 3/4". The binding in the cutaway in the L5 Premier does not completely cover the thicker top wood, but leaves a little gap of top wood above the rim. It's hard to see this on Vinny's sunburst L5P, but it is apparent on my natural L5P. I suspect that when Gibson decided to do a run of these, they didn't want to change the top carve from the standard L5 CES or Wes, so they just made the cosmetic change of not thickening the binding in the cutaway.
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06-11-2017 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Ren
Not easy to find pix that illustrate your point, but here's a shot of another L-5P, sold by one of our esteemed members in 2016, that does so. How about that! Gibson used this approach on a bunch of L-7C archtops after changing the style of the carve itself, sometime into the early-mid-'50s.
Last edited by Hammertone; 04-04-2020 at 10:12 AM.
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Originally Posted by Socraticaster
So it has, and so much for my memory. Ha!
From that thread, here is a shot of an old L-5P from the net, that clearly shows the original style of a '39 with what I call a "P-style" cutaway carve, and the photo Ren posted of his '14 L-5P. There must be at least five people in the world who care about this, and none of them work at Gibson:Last edited by Hammertone; 04-04-2020 at 10:05 AM.
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The old Gibson top carves look so much better IMO.
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I've seen a 1954 L7-C that had the newer non-carved, thick binding style cutaway so I'm guessing the change took place between '52 and '54. Anyone have a picture of a '53 they could post?
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This 2014 is not a true L5P. Another Gibson shortcut. Note the spruce showing also at the binding. A real L5P was not built like this.
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Does this mean that my '52 L-7C in the original posting is more properly called a L-7P, despite the label identifying it as the former?
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Originally Posted by Socraticaster
Last edited by Hammertone; 04-04-2020 at 10:04 AM.
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Originally Posted by Max405
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Here's a pretty neat looking guitar with the L-7P designation. Google search turned up a few others, as well, though none as unique as this one.
1948 Gibson L-7P
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Originally Posted by jschiele
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Some 1954 guitars - they all seem to still have the symmetrical binding at this point:
Vintage 1954 Gibson L5-C | Vintage, Used Electric Guitars | Wildwood Guitars
L-5 Guitars | Fretted Americana Inc.
1954 Gibson L-7C
Gibson ES-5 Sunburst 1954 | Reverb
Gibson L-7C 1954 Sunburst | Reverb
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Originally Posted by Geechnyc
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Yes, I did not recognize that as such (thought it was coincidentally straight laquer checking) until I saw your pictures and understood what it really was.
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It appears that when Gibson moved from the "P"-style carve to the "C"-style carve, they moved forward with deluxe fat binding for the L-5C (and related electric models). The L-7C continued to get skinnier binding for some period of time - it simply followed the contour of the top.
This makes sense, given the way Gibson thought about differentiating between its more fancy and less fancy models (L-5 and L-7). Same guitar, but one is loaded with plastic, dead sea-shells, gold-plating and more, while the other is not.
As far as labels go, Joe V. mentions a quantity of 39 L-7P-labelled instruments for '48, replaced with L-7C labels in '49. Makes sense to me, as my notes indicate the "P" designation on the L-5 ended in '48, replaced with L-5C labels in '49.Last edited by Hammertone; 04-04-2020 at 10:00 AM.
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Originally Posted by jschiele
Keith
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It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me but Heritage guitars can have very thick binding at the cutaway. I don't like the look at all.
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Originally Posted by floatingpickup
Your dad's L-5CES is way cool, as is his '60s non-cut L-5. I remember playing both of them when you and Glen did your "Gibson day" event way back when.
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
Keith
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
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Originally Posted by brm
Last edited by Hammertone; 04-04-2020 at 10:15 AM.
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
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Originally Posted by SocraticasterOriginally Posted by Socraticaster
The photos in Rick's ad hint at the P-style carve.
And his ad includes my laff of the day: "more finely carved top" - sure. ….ahh….commerce!
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