1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration

**Gilpy** · 07-07-2022, 01:43 PM

A couple of months ago there was a post about this guitar for sale. An example of the strange things people sometimes do...
1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-vrxvbakakq1ggin2logz-jpeg

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-vrxvbakakq1ggin2logz-jpeg

This is the kind of thing I can't resist, so I bought it. Under those monstrous pickup surrounds were the old routs for low impedence pickups, plus no less than 30 screw holes.
The key to filling a large area neatly is to make the patch first and then use it to make a router template. The patch has to fit very snug. I decided to use some curly maple that matched the top, just to see if I could do a good enough job to keep the finish natural...

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1493-jpg

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1493-jpg

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1501-jpg

That worked better than expected, so I finished it with clear nitro and put it together while the lacquer cured.
1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1513-jpg

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1513-jpg

As you can see, I repaired the tailpiece and made a pickguard. I know these guitars came without pickguards but I gotta have one.
I'm sure some will disagree, but I thought the natural top looked like something I would chop vegetables on, and I didn't like it. So, back to my original plan to paint it black. The back and sides I left with the original beautiful cherry sunburst. I figured that if you can have a sunburst guitar with a black peghead, why not a sunburst with a black top?

**Gitfiddler** · 07-07-2022, 01:47 PM

So is this the look you are going for?

**Gilpy** · 07-07-2022, 01:53 PM

Here's the result:
1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1620-jpg

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1617-jpg

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1623-jpg

1973 Gibson L-5s Restoration-img_1622-jpg

This is an almost 50 year old guitar. Note that the peghead inlay is as good as new, something Gibson seems to have forgotten how to do.
The original Sealfast tuners were great but weighed 13.2 oz and made the instrument a little neck-heavy. I replaced them with Gotoh Stealth tuners, 3.2 oz!. No, the Sealfasts are not for sale.

**Gilpy** · 07-07-2022, 02:04 PM

This turned out to be a really nice guitar. It weighs exactly 8lbs...not bad. The neck is one of the best ever and the guitar has a lot of acoustic resonance. The guy who sold me the guitar asked to buy the Gibson pickups back for $300, which was great because I really didn't like them. It now has Duncan Alnico 2 Pros, but I may experiment.
This is a good example of a guitar that maybe wouldn't be wise to have professionally restored, because the cost would be prohibitive. Fortunately, I'm a do-it-yourself type.

**JazzNote** · 07-07-2022, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Gilpy

Here's the result:
This is an almost 50 year old guitar. Note that the peghead inlay is as good as new, something Gibson seems to have forgotten how to do.
The original Sealfast tuners were great but weighed 13.2 oz and made the instrument a little neck-heavy. I replaced them with Gotoh Stealth tuners, 3.2 oz!. No, the Sealfasts are not for sale.

Gorgeous!

**cmajor9** · 07-07-2022, 02:51 PM

Very impressive - especially considering what you started with!

**JohanAbrandt** · 07-07-2022, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Gilpy

This turned out to be a really nice guitar. It weighs exactly 8lbs...not bad. The neck is one of the best ever and the guitar has a lot of acoustic resonance. The guy who sold me the guitar asked to buy the Gibson pickups back for $300, which was great because I really didn't like them. It now has Duncan Alnico 2 Pros, but I may experiment.
This is a good example of a guitar that maybe wouldn't be wise to have professionally restored, because the cost would be prohibitive. Fortunately, I'm a do-it-yourself type.

That is some quality work, something to be proud of

**vinnyv1k** · 07-07-2022, 08:41 PM

Stunning restoration.....Bravo !

**Max405** · 07-07-2022, 08:52 PM

Wow!
You are a very talented guy. And you rescued a wonderful instrument. That is really amazing.
Joe D

**rpjazzguitar** · 07-07-2022, 08:57 PM

Amazing work!

When I looked at the first of the "before" pictures, I didn't see beauty in that instrument's future.

A great restoration and a lesson to me about possibilities.

Thanks for posting this.

**Mark M.** · 07-07-2022, 09:01 PM

Wow! That is very impressive! I have to say I liked the natural top because you did a masterful job of matching it up. But, the black finish is beautiful! You now have a fantastic, one of a kind L5S.

**wintermoon** · 07-07-2022, 09:08 PM

Nice job, what was the deal w the slice in the t.p. crossbar?

**rpjazzguitar** · 07-07-2022, 09:15 PM

Just curious ...

In this job were you able to get the polepieces directly beneath the node at the 24th fret (if there was one)?

The original HB guitars had the polepieces a little further toward the bridge. I heard somebody suggest that's why the guitar was never more popular -- based on the idea that the sound is better when the polepieces are right under the node.

You might have a better sounding HB L5S.

EDIT: I just noticed that the Ron Wood L5S does not have the point end of the fingerboard and the pickup is closer.

**Gilpy** · 07-07-2022, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Nice job, what was the deal w the slice in the t.p. crossbar?

There are two holes and a groove in the tailpiece and there was a lot of wear on the medallion. My best guess is maybe some kind of weird B bender, since the groove lines up with the B string. I put some half round silver wire in the groove to make it a little better.

**Gilpy** · 07-07-2022, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar

Just curious ...

In this job were you able to get the polepieces directly beneath the node at the 24th fret (if there was one)?

The original HB guitars had the polepieces a little further toward the bridge. I heard somebody suggest that's why the guitar was never more popular -- based on the idea that the sound is better when the polepieces are right under the node.

You might have a better sounding HB L5S.

EDIT: I just noticed that the Ron Wood L5S does not have the point end of the fingerboard and the pickup is closer.

I did move the pickup a little closer to the neck but I doubt it’s in the 24th fret position. There are structural reasons (binding, neck tenon) that prevented getting it closer.
I don’t think it matters much, the guitar has a good neck pickup sound.

**Jabberwocky** · 07-07-2022, 11:03 PM

Thank goodness the L5s found you. It would have been rubbished otherwise. Great job! It looks very nice now. I hope she brings you lots of joy.

**Stringswinger** · 07-07-2022, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Thank goodness the L5s found you. It would have been rubbished otherwise. Great job! It looks very nice now. I hope she brings you lots of joy.

+1

That guitar is exactly where it should be.

**Gitfiddler** · 07-07-2022, 11:16 PM

That L5S turned out to be an AWESOME looking instrument. I hope it plays as great as it looks, thanks to your personal sweat equity.

**frankl99** · 07-07-2022, 11:49 PM

Wow! Beautiful, beautiful! I imagine it sounds stunning.

**Hammertone** · 07-08-2022, 03:17 AM

Great stuff. The Gotoh Stealth tuners are hilarious.
A nice set of wafflebacks w/plastic buttons would be pretty light compared to the Sealfasts, but you do you.

**Woody Sound** · 07-08-2022, 08:37 AM

Wonderful job, looks great! Quite the craftsman. I'm glad someone did something good with it. Your natural maple plate is such a nice match, I would have left it that way.

**Woody Sound** · 07-08-2022, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Gilpy

As you can see, I repaired the tailpiece and made a pickguard. I know these guitars came without pickguards but I gotta have one.

+1: I too need a fingerrest just for reference. Those strings are quite high off the body.

**citizenk74** · 07-08-2022, 09:03 AM

Absolutely amazing! Kudos for work well done, and Congratulations on a guitar with a unique backstory - a real Cinderella tale. Play it with pride, and in good health!