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Hello,
Which is the best alternative to acoustic gibson L5 30s?
under 3k
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07-02-2021 04:21 AM
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What do you mean with a 30s L5
Besides being the top of the line acoustic, noncut, carved archtop - There are very many differences between the various L5 s that were built in the 1930s. Like 16” and 17” bodies, parallel and x-braced, 24-3/4” and 25,5” scale
What specifics are you looking for ?
In general, if you want a vintage Gibson , and cannot afford an L5, it could be worthwhile to look for a lesser embellished model (L4, L7, L12), and for a bit later time like early 1940s. A mid 40s L7 can sometimes be found at under 3k and will look more or less the same as a late 1930s advanced model L5.
If it doesnt have to be Gibson, but still vintage, there are many NY made pre 1953 Epiphone models that could rival the quality of the Gibson L5. The high end models are the Triumph, Broadway, and DeLuxe. The deluxe would be unlikely underneath 3k but a decent player condition broadway should be possible
If it doesnt have to be vintage or Gibson at all…. The possibilities are endless.
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My focus is to play like eddie lang
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That will take some practice.
Originally Posted by user404
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Info on Eddies guitars here : http://www.prewargibsonl-5.com/eddie-lang/4594556661
The “real thing” would be 25-30k so youre obviously not going to get that
Current day reissues of a 16” L5 are made by “the Loar”, underneath 1000 new price
Gibson for a while made a “ Historic 1934 L5 Reissue” model. If you can find one of those you are a bit over budget, but not so much
In vintage territory; Id still say a 1940s noncut 16” L4 , or a 1930s Epi Broadway
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What about eastman? Too much modern?
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This one still cracks me up. "I'll bring Eddie in, he'll cheer you up. Hey Eddie, c'mon in and bring your 'music box' along."
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The L50 would do it for me. It’s a 16” carved top non-cut. I’m pretty sure the backs were laminated, although I’ve been told a few times that some were solid. It’s not as fancy as an L5 - mahogany neck, decal logo on headstock, rosewood board, standard tuners and binding, etc. But the one I had (1950 production) sounded so sweet that I gained weight every time I played it! I’ve also had a ‘34 L5, and I think the 50 sounded just as fine. You can find good ones from several decades in your price range. Originally Posted by user404
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Many years ago I had an old L50 and it sounded awesome. And the neck was easier to play than my real 20's L5. I'm sorry now I sold it back then for a pittance. Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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If you get an L50 from 1937-40 it will have both a carved top and back. It will sound quite good for Eddie Lang stuff and won't break the bank.
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thanks to all!
no modern alternative, rights?
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'The Loar' acoustic archtops. Three models in the range from $600 to $1500. Originally Posted by user404
Link: Archtop Guitars – The Loar Store
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I’d be thrilled with an Eastman AR810, which lists for $2400 with a very nice hard case. It’s a non-cut 17” carved archtop (no pup) that looks beautiful and sounds even better than it looks. I’m pretty sure they also make/made a 16” model, although I’ve never seen one. My play-at-home queen is an 810CE7 that I truly love. Originally Posted by user404
The Loar 600 and 700 are also very fine and great value. I’ve never played one, but all the talk about them is strongly positive.
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Yes they do. Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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I'll throw my hat in with Greentone on this one.
The Gibson L-50 is a poor man's L-5, no frills, but a nice carved top. Has bound fingerboard and maple back and sides.
the thing about them is they were last made in 1971 so even the newest ones are now 50 years old and have developed good tone, as most guitars tend to get better with age.
I have played a few of the imported acoustic archie models but they do not have the same depth of tone that a 50-70 year old guitar has, especially one like the L-50 which was made with hide glue and finished in nitro-cellulose lacquer. Import guitars , under 25 years old are all made with aliphatic resin glue (TiteBond) which is rubbery and damps the tone, and have soft polyurethane finishes, which are thicker and not as resonant as lacquer. Due this, they don't "breath " and so the process of the wood and finish aging takes a lot longer.
If you are playing amplified, this is not so much of an issue, but for acoustic playing it makes a big difference .
Like all guitars, some are better than others, so you need to play several of the same model before forming an opinion.
Vintage guitars have the edge of having withstood the test of time and as mentioned, have developed their tone capability due to that. Plus, a Gibson is always more desirable if it is a good one. Recall, Gibson /Lloyd Loar invented the acoustic archtop with F holes.
If you really want to hear what an archtop sounds like, have someone else play it and stand about 10 feet away and listen...it's amazing how much better they sound than when you are playing them.
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This cannot be over-emphasized. Archtops project like crazy. What the player hears is a fraction of the sound the guitar is producing, both tonally and volume-wise. I always cajole my visiting guitar-playing friends into playing one of my archtops so I can hear what they actually sound like. It is always a revelation. Originally Posted by jaymen
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I have a Loar LH-700 and I think it is great for the price (around $1K). It surprisingly projects very well. The neck shape takes some getting used to because of the very pronounced V shape.
You can hear me play rhythm on it for two songs starting at 31:05
I was lucky and it came nicely setup and played great right out of the box. I am not sure what strings are on it but they sound good to me.
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I was going to say get an L7, but those are probably rather more than 3k now aren’t they?
I have the Loar LH600 and haven’t looked back. Love that guitar. The 700 is even better apparently.
Heres me playing it in a bar, no amp
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When I saw and played the 1st release of Gibsons historic series L-5 at the Namm show many years ago, it had the awful V neck and was very stiff to play, and did not impress me at all. I understand that later they did some changes to it to make it more playable. It was a historically correct version of the 1st L-5, but I understand now why they did not sell as well as later 17 inch versions with the cut-away and rounded neck profile. I saw an old Gibson artists series guitar brochure on eBay recently and was surprised to see they noted that the L-5 CES version had laminated backs and sides.
The only reason I have not considered the Loar archtops, is because the V shaped neck hurts my hand, when playing, especially when doing bar chords. They have great tone however and have a nice finish as well.
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Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
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