Help Finding the right (Gibson) instrument

[Jabberwocky]

Those are L5CES Thinlines with Byrdland tailpieces. As Danny sez, the L5 sounds like an L5, and the Byrdland sounds like a Byrdland...It sounds like what you'd expect a 25.5" Thinline archtop to sound. Buy one or both.

[Greentone]

As Danny says, one...the deeper bodied one...was factory shipped as a Byrdland, with a custom neck. I find it highly interesting as someone who likes both guitars.

[fartattack]

guys - thanks for all the feedback.

i'll check out the 195.

danny did message me, too rich for my blood. and i'd have to sell this byrd, which i like a lot!

thx again

[Danny W.]

Gibson made a number of thin-body L-5 guitars with 24.75" scales. The original Gobels were mostly that scale, and many of the reissue Gobels in the '90's were also. Here's one of them (I can't find a full-length shot):



They don't seem to show up for sale too often though.

Danny W.

[GNAPPI]

The discontinued ES-195? You'll just have to put up with the Bigsby. It is essentially an ES-175 Thinline with the hockey stick headstock. You may find the Ebony ES-195 for well under $1800 used.

This gug is selling a used Amber at its brandnew price: Gibson Memphis ES-195 2013 Trans Amber w/ Original Hardshell | Reverb

You do not have to put up with the Bigsby, The trem on the 195 is a B6 and can be removed without leaving a hole in the top. I pulled the B6 off of mine and installed a generic trapeze using the screw holes of the B6. The body is more resonant and lively without the B6 pressing down on the top and I replaced the bridge with one made of rosewood also.

Oh, the P94's are pretty righteous but have a full sized HB footprint so it's no biggie to go away from the single coils if they're not your cup of tea. I don't know about "well under" $1800, they're pretty scarce (meaning they failed) but still finding one will be the problem.

[Greentone]

Danny, forgot about the Lonesome George guitars. Good call. Great guitars.