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what does the 'L' in L5/L4 etc stand for?
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02-28-2021 08:17 PM
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I have always assumed L for (Lloyd) Loar, Gibson's designer at the time... but I don't actually know if that's correct.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Loar
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The L series was Gibson's first production line introduced circa 1902 consisting of 4 models, well before Loar arrived at Gibson. Not sure what it designates.
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I've looked into it and came upon a thread where someone emailed Gibson, and apparently they aren't even sure. The only thing they could come up with was Large.
I've settled on assuming it stands for Lang!
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not a silly question at all!!
gibson used letter prefixes...F was mandolin, H was mandola, K was mando-cello & L guitar...tho i don't know how they arrived at that!!
and yes L-1 was years before lloyd loar- here's a 1907
the original L-series guitars are some of the most tuneful guitars ever made...
cheersLast edited by neatomic; 02-28-2021 at 10:45 PM. Reason: sp-
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Years ago I heard that it stood for Lang.
After that, I found out it was Loar.
Now, I find out that both were wrong.
This situation is LamentabLe.
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Maybe they thought they were building Lutes!
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Losers? Lurkers?
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Originally Posted by neatomic
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Lovely.
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"Let's make 'em wonder!"
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I vote Lute!
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I like "Loud".
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because it’s an L of a guitar
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Luscious.
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L for litre?
L for latin 50?
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Originally Posted by Herbie
i thought of that, but it originally sold for $35!! haha
cheers
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LOTS of money
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Originally Posted by neatomic
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How about Late Lamented ?
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Originally Posted by Michael Neverisky
gibson made much more than just guitars, albeit mostly forgotten now
letters that we do not know of today, probably models that did not make it past the design into the production phase
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Upright basses in B
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Gibson was much simpler in naming their first electric bass. "EB-1" = Electric Bass #1!
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I think I have a Gibson book that said it WAS used because of Lloyd Loar. I may not remember correctly. Sometimes I forget to remember stuff.
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Originally Posted by Michael Neverisky
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My guess is they were going chronologically through the the alphabet with new designs.
And some line up like bass and Jumbo.
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Originally Posted by Littlemark
John
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Originally Posted by John A.
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The only way to answer this question is to find a very qualified medium and ask Orville Gibson himself. And Orville may not wish to be bothered.
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poor orville gibson was persona non grata for gibson... a consortium of 5 investors bought his name and ideas (in 1902!) & paid him an annual fee...to keep him away...
he spent the later part of his years in mental hospitals...sad
he had nothing to do with gibsons letter prefix system
cheers
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Originally Posted by neatomic
Wait, could that be what the "L" stood for in L4 and L5??
Guild F65 Limited Run
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