This is a trivia question I guess. I got this L-5 from Danny W. that came from Gibson Custom Direct long ago. It's red but not the usual traditional cherry shade. There is a name for this finish, but it escapes me. Danny says that Gibson said it's a custom finish.
Does anyone know the name of this red finish? I put a 345 pic next to it to highlight the difference.
The L5 finish is opaque, the 345 is transparent. The sides of the L5 aren't completely opaque, but close. The 345 is completely transparent. Can't tell about the backs, but I would guess they're the same as the tops. I'd call the L5 an opaque cherry finish. But I could be wrong.
The 345 had the Gibson VOS treatment. You can see the gunk on the hardware.
The VOS finish is not glossy, although it can buff out. But the cherry shade seems spot on for a mid 60s 335.
Gibson bought their basic finishes from somewhere in Grand Rapids, MI. When Gibson left, Pete Moreno bought a ton of leftover Gibson stuff. That included several gallons of the original finishes. In the 30 years since Gibson left Kalamazoo, Pete has used may 10 ounces of cherry. He has more than a gallon left.
The L-5 has a glossy finish. Also, the pic was shot in bright sunlight. The red is deeper, more crimson.
Here's a cherry L-4. It's more like the 345 and not as crimson.
This is a one-off guitar that Gibson spec built and auctioned off when they had their Custom Direct program. It's an L-5C with a floating BJB in what they told me is a "custom red color", so I don't think there is an actual name for it. On the original listing for the auction the color is unspecified.
In this photo the one in the lower right is "light faded cherry", the one above that is "dark faded cherry" and the one on the top left is "wine red." The final one is the L-5C, which is different from the others.
I really like the sound of the L5 with the suspended pickup in the clip you provided. You can hear the acoustic-electric aspects of the guitar quite clearly on that rendition of "Moon River."
Compare it with Royce Campbell below. Royce is using the L5 CES that he used for 19 years with Henry Mancini on his "Moon River." It, too, sounds quite pretty--but doesn't have quite the acoustic-electric sound. (Still, that L5 can probably play "Moon River" by itself after doing it for almost two decades with Mancini.)
As Danny mentioned above, it would likely be an L-5C by name, since the Premier moniker did not surface until very recent times (mid teens, maybe 2014?). Not counting the original 1939 L-5P of course, which was the first cutaway L-5 produced.
When I think about what I actually play … like ACTUALLY … it’s 95% solo or trio. So I’m either getting a lot of mileage out of moving bass punches in my solo playing, or I’m playing some pseudo...
I attended a trio gig yesterday. Not jazz. Two guitars, bass and three part harmony vocals. Pop tunes of various styles. My personal favorite was a very nice version of Suite Judy Blue Eyes with the...
They’re just there to decorate the work of the rhythm section. Actually I have no beef with brass and reeds. Some keyboard players on the other hand … Although no complaints with our current chair.
Here's 3 choruses of RC in Bb about 140.
Would have done more but the beginning of this Brazil/Norway match has been interesting, I keep getting distracted.
Big band rhythm is pretty much all I’m doing these days. Some days are better than others. We have a very good electric bassist but I do miss working with standup acoustic bass.
Just got home after an afternoon rock gig playing my 2004 Gecko Burst LP Std through my old Musicman RP65. What a bloody gorgeous sound. I'll never tire of it.
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