1940 Gibson L-5

[BigMikeinNJ]

I’ve been looking for a boomer, but I didn’t want another collector, I wanted a beater I can unwind with. I bought from this seller a couple years ago, great guy. Non original tailpiece, truss rod cover, pickguard. Won’t effect how it sounds. Speaking of that the seller has sent a sound clip. Oh yeah !!!

Big

[omphalopsychos]

Wonderful! I was ogling that guitar from Steve’s PSA. Out of my budget but gorgeous. Congrats Mike!

[rio]

Oh man, don’t call that a beater! She’s gorgeous.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[rolijen]

She’s gorgeous, Mike! I’m trying real hard not to covet. Enjoy!

[citizenk74]

That's one gorgeous guitar, Big! That sunny glow just says "Play Me..." Congratulations, and play it in good health!

[Max405]

Mikey,
This one doesn't look so much like a "player" grade from the pictures.
Like I said a couple of times off line, with the right strings, this guitar is probably going to be a cannon. You wont have to plug it in, but you might have to use a mic when you sing so the guitar doesn't drown you out!
I know you've been wanting one of these for a long time. Now that you got it, just enjoy what you have.
Because when that 100yr Anniversary Unity comes back from Pete, you will probably forget about every one of these guitars for a while.

Joe D.

[Stringswinger]

Congrats Mike. You are the caretaker of many fine girls....

[Papawooly]

Nice and light... That sideshot is mindblowing...

Bang away SIR!!

[Dennis D]

Congrats Mike !

Thankfully once again, an instrument ends up where it should be - in good hands !

Enjoy it !

Dennis

[johnnyjazz]

Class!

[Jabberwocky]

Congrats, BigMike. I have a 47 L-12 with blister maple. Wonder how it compares to yours.

[vinnyv1k]

Mike is it true that blondes have more fun ? You would absolutely know. Congrats my friend.

[BigMikeinNJ]

Thanks Vincenzo,

I forwarded a sound file the seller sent me to Joe, he's trying to figure out how to post it. It's so dang good I want to share it... Anyone with advice please PM me...

Big

[Bluedawg]

Lovely!!!

[radiofm74]

Just wow!

[campusfive]

I spent some time with that guitar, but that was before it was setup properly for sale.
Color me slightly bummed, if only because I was hoping a dear friend of mine was gonna pick it up, but he slept on it, so there ya go.
You snooze, you lose, right?

It's solid guitar, and solid price. Enjoy it. Just make sure you send all the info on the guitar along to prewargibsonl5.com - it's a great registry.

[fws6]

Lovely ! Congrats (again !)

i have pulled my fixer-upper 1939 from the for sale section and it is in advanced state if restauration. Hope it will be as nice as yours .... eventually....

[fws6]

By the way, did you see this one too ? Just popped up on reverb. The price (20k...) might be a bit enthusiast but great looker nonetheless. There s something about these advanced sized prewar L-5’s....

[BigMikeinNJ]

There was a refinished 1939 for sale, the seller wants 10k for it, I think it's still on Reverb, has a sound clip. Thank God Joe talked me out of that one, he felt it was worth between 7-8k maybe. I decided I wanted a blonde one and would just float waiting for an opportunity...

Big

Good luck on your restoration. Come Spring I'll get a ride to see Pete Moreno and have him go over it like he did my L5P... just being in that guys shop is a trip... What a nice man too...

[campusfive]

There was a refinished 1939 for sale, the seller wants 10k for it, I think it's still on Reverb, has a sound clip. Thank God Joe talked me out of that one, he felt it was worth between 7-8k maybe. I decided I wanted a blonde one and would just float waiting for an opportunity...

Yeah, I had been looking at that one for a while, but that I worry about discoloration hiding underneath that floating pickup because my first order of business would be to take that thing off. I think it looks silly (personal opinion) to have that gold floater in the middle of the top like that, and how horrifying would it be to find there's a "shaddow" of where it was. I'm not saying it has one, but I'd be worried.

Also, when it's been refin-ed to blonde, asking the high market rate for a real blonde is a bit laughable. I'm not saying I wouldn't play a sunburst guitar that had been refin-ed to blonde, assuming it looked legit (and was consistent with the period), but I'm not paying original condition prices for a modification.

And clearly, I think you made a great choice picking up a second generation 17" L-5 (i.e. back to parallel, long scale) that is still pre-war, I know I love mine (or can't you tell):

[BigMikeinNJ]

That was Joe's and my other concern: a floater in that middle position. Listening to the sound clip it does sound nice, but that thing would have come OFF !!! Glad I waited... I got a refinished L7 from Buffalo Brothers many years ago, it was real nice, the only place you could still see the original stain was at the end of the headstock (tip). It had a great tone and gorgeous bubble maple. A buddy of mine in Cali still has it I think.

Big

[QAman]

Congrats BigMike - nothing like these early Gibson non- cuts, what a beauty do enjoy!

[neatomic]

nice!

nothin beats that old wood!!! all the modern luthier tech in the world cant replace old growth quality wood


like happens with old spruce, you can see the marks on the top where the player picked...he picked over the neck end...a comper no doubt!!!

congrats & enjoy

cheers

[Max405]

Mikey, I can’t get the clip posted. I have to load it up SoundCloud then link it.
Ill try it tomorrow.
When are getting the guitar? I know you probably haven’t slept yet. Curl up with her when she gets home..
L,J

[BigMikeinNJ]

It’s all good Joe, no worries.
Guitar arrives via FedEx tomorrow. Meanwhile it’s snowing and cccccccccold.

Pumped, it’s gonna have a lengthy period in the guest room to adapt, maybe overnight. Cold weather thru next Wednesday. Talked to Tommy today at length, he said to say hi Jonathan.

Big