What does the 'L' in L5/L4 stand for?

**nickyboy** · 02-28-2021, 08:17 PM

what does the 'L' in L5/L4 etc stand for?

**Cunamara** · 02-28-2021, 09:20 PM

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

**wintermoon** · 02-28-2021, 09:40 PM

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.

**lang&django** · 02-28-2021, 09:54 PM

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!

**neatomic** · 02-28-2021, 09:58 PM

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...

cheers

**rpjazzguitar** · 03-01-2021, 12:20 AM

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.

**thelostboss** · 03-01-2021, 02:47 AM

Maybe they thought they were building Lutes!

**Woody Sound** · 03-01-2021, 10:01 AM

Losers? Lurkers?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-01-2021, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by neatomic

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...

cheers

They skipped G?!

**ronjazz** · 03-01-2021, 10:35 AM

Lovely.

**Sam Sherry** · 03-01-2021, 11:25 AM

"Let's make 'em wonder!"

**skykomishone** · 03-01-2021, 11:55 AM

I vote Lute!

**Gitfiddler** · 03-01-2021, 12:09 PM

I like "Loud".

**pingu** · 03-01-2021, 12:41 PM

because it’s an L of a guitar

**citizenk74** · 03-01-2021, 01:31 PM

Luscious.

**Herbie** · 03-01-2021, 05:10 PM

L for litre?

L for latin 50?

**neatomic** · 03-01-2021, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by Herbie

L for latin 50?

i thought of that, but it originally sold for $35!! haha

cheers

**vinnyv1k** · 03-03-2021, 12:04 PM

LOTS of money

**Michael Neverisky** · 03-03-2021, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by neatomic

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!!

A for mandolin too, the ones without the expensive strap hanger. Also J for acoustic guitar.

**silverfoxx** · 03-04-2021, 08:56 AM

How about Late Lamented ?

**fws6** · 03-04-2021, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Neverisky

A for mandolin too, the ones without the expensive strap hanger. Also J for acoustic guitar.

B for the upright bass, C for Cello, G for viola, V for Violin, and U for the harp guitar

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

**JFranck** · 03-05-2021, 12:31 PM

Upright basses in B
What does the 'L' in L5/L4 stand for?-gibson-upright-label-jpg

**Gitfiddler** · 03-05-2021, 02:00 PM

Gibson was much simpler in naming their first electric bass. "EB-1" = Electric Bass #1!

**ScottM** · 03-05-2021, 06:04 PM

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.

**jonh** · 03-05-2021, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Michael Neverisky

A for mandolin too, the ones without the expensive strap hanger. Also J for acoustic guitar.

I think J was for "Jumbo."

**Littlemark** · 03-06-2021, 09:18 AM

My guess is they were going chronologically through the the alphabet with new designs.
And some line up like bass and Jumbo.

**John A.** · 03-06-2021, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Littlemark

My guess is they were going chronologically through the the alphabet with new designs.
And some line up like bass and Jumbo.

They made L's before they made J's.

John

**Littlemark** · 03-06-2021, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by John A.

They made L's before they made J's.

John

That's some good logic.

**Stringswinger** · 03-06-2021, 12:02 PM

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.

**neatomic** · 03-06-2021, 10:21 PM

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

**Gitfiddler** · 03-07-2021, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by neatomic

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

I never knew Orville was a lefty.

Wait, could that be what the "L" stood for in L4 and L5??