Gibson L-5C Premier

**silverfoxx** · 05-31-2018, 12:59 PM

[QUOTE=jads57;873991]I'm not sure I'd agree with the wood bridge analogy. I have an Elferink Tonemaster archtop 16.5" x3" with a floating p/up and I replaced the the stock ebony bridge with a Wayne Compton brass bridge and it improved the sustain and overall tone in my opinion.
I like the strings to ring clear and loud!

Food for thought,, although generally I would agree with the
opinions that Ebony Bridges or wood saddles sound very well
on the majority of full bodied Archtops , an exception also is
the Tal Farlow , having owned three, they all sounded fine with
the standard TOM bridges . I might experiment just to confirm
that is so by trying a rosewood saddle ,

**FredH** · 05-31-2018, 02:46 PM

Hey George. Yes, I picked up the WesMo last fall from a guy in Rochester. It's a 98 and in overall great condition. I had been using an Epi Broadway for gigs and I always wanted an L5. So when the opportunity arose, I jumped on it. No regrets whatsoever. I like the HJS a lot, but it's not an L5. It's great for acoustic gigs when it's just me, but I prefer the l5 fuller body and neck. I'm still gigging, though not as much as before. I am still with Joe Federico, entering my 10th year as a Disciple of Joe. He is playing a rare gig on June 30 in Haddon Heights at a new jazz club. Let me know if you're I interested.

**FredH** · 05-31-2018, 02:51 PM

I agree, Vinnie. Guess that's why they call it the Holy Grail of jazz boxes, though some of my friends who play HGE would disagree. I haven't played one of those, so I wouldn't know.

**wintermoon** · 05-31-2018, 02:51 PM

yeah Fred, we're playing there June 14
is that my '69 L-5 you were posting about?
if so you're right, I've had many L-5's over the years but that one and my '64 w/PAF pickups are the best I've ever played.

**FredH** · 05-31-2018, 02:54 PM

It's Joe Federico's L5 CES I posted about. Sweetest L5 I've heard, though I'm sure it has plenty of company. I'm around on the 14th, so I will try to stop by.

**Marty Grass** · 05-31-2018, 05:58 PM

I just changed my ebony bridge for a TOM on my Howard Roberts. That prolonged the sustain and added some brightness.

I really like ebony saddles. They must be slotted well to avoid a too rapid fade and loss of high frequencies. It is much easier to slot a metal saddle.

I'll put the ebony bridge back on the HR after I work on the slots.