Gibson 1934 L-5 Reproduction

**Dookychase** · 04-19-2010, 06:49 PM

Soooooooooo, has anyone else played this guitar?

**Squint** · 04-19-2010, 10:42 PM

Don't make me pull this car over!

**riovine** · 04-20-2010, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by randyc

I don't normally look at gibson.com - my browsing is oriented toward archtop.com, elderlyinstruments.com and similar sites that feature used classic designs. BUT for some reason, I looked tonight and found this beauty:

This - the 1934 L-5 reproduction - is it new? Haven't heard any internet chatter about this instrument. It sure looks beautiful and the price is good, by my standards. (I normally make the presumption that about 30% off Gibson's asking price can be negotiated.)

I'm thinking that I could have probably got this baby for not too much more than what I'm paying for the Carvin <sob> ! What are your impressions and have you heard anything about this instrument?

cheers,
randyc

PS: I'm envisioning the De Armond "clip-on" (that I've temporarily misplaced) on this sweetheart ... It's not the $1,000 Rythm Chief that shows up on Ebay but it formerly resided on a 12-string over thirty years ago, and sounded great.

For some reason I just can't stop looking at this guitar,

**Uli** · 04-20-2010, 03:35 AM

I don't know anything about this particular guitar either, but I bought a copy of this type two years ago:
Bestacoustics Reinhardt GmbH: Artikel-Einzelansicht[asv_id]=7296&tx_ptgsashop_pi2[asv_hash]=0d519a35f82fe74615240531c6bdf513
Very nice, very fast action, even adapts to quite a number of styles other than Jazz. However, for the "real" Jazz thing, there are some problems, especially when it comes to soloing. The tone is just too flat, plus, you really can't reach the upper frets which limits your playing possibilities.
Nice for Gipsy Style, nice for the sake of beauty and maybe a good add to your collection. But not necessarily an everyday working horse.

**amusiathread** · 04-20-2010, 03:56 AM

Yeah, it's pretty damn sexy. I'm a sucker for a non-cutaway, I own 2. Most manufacturers design them so that the fretboard is elevated over the body, this makes the higher frets more accessible in spite of not having the cutaway. Gibson hasn't always done this, on some non-cut archtops the fretboard is about flush with the top, so about anything over the 14th fret is useless. I'd be curious what the case is with this model.

I'd never buy one though. In my experience (and IMO) the Gibson's are great, but I've found guitars for less which I prefer by far.

**Dookychase** · 04-20-2010, 11:45 AM

Rio, I can't seem to stop looking at the guitar either.

I know its a reproduction, but I'd like to see it without position markers on the fretboard.

**randyc** · 04-20-2010, 11:53 AM

That might be nice. The markers ARE overstated - modern L-5 guitar position markers are about 75% that size. I think that the L-7 (very similar guitar) just had dots.

Baltar Hornbeek · 04-20-2010, 11:58 AM

I totally dig those markers, classy formal, sorta like a tuxedo. How come I can't find the L5 on the Gibson site? All I see is this L7-C

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-20-2010, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Baltar Hornbeek

I totally dig those markers, classy formal, sorta like a tuxedo. How come I can't find the L5 on the Gibson site? All I see is this L7-C

It's under 1934-L5: Gibson - Gibson Guitar: Electric, Acoustic and Bass Guitars, Baldwin Pianos

I vote for the L7-C markers -- I'm finder the markers on the L5 oversized.

**mangotango** · 04-20-2010, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Baltar Hornbeek

I totally dig those markers, classy formal, sorta like a tuxedo. How come I can't find the L5 on the Gibson site? All I see is this L7-C

Oh now that is the dog's...I mean it's very nice indeed.

**SamBooka** · 04-20-2010, 12:57 PM

meh.. I have seen nicer trussrod covers tho...

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-20-2010, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

meh.. I have seen nicer trussrod covers tho...

The L7? It's a pretty plain headstock overall. I'd like an upgrade on the plastic tuner keys, too.

**randyc** · 04-20-2010, 01:56 PM

That neck - the one on the L-7C - is widely used for Gibson guitars, I think. It's on several jumbo accoustics as well as the L-7C, ES-175, L-4CES and others. I THINK that those necks are actually made in Bozeman, Montana at the Gibson Accoustic factory and shipped to the Custom Shop. That's not definitive, just something someone mentioned.

I'm a nut for those old plastic tuning keys - they were on my '61 Les Paul Fretless Wonder (my first decent guitar) and they are still on the L-4CES. The L-5CES has the fancier looking and gold-plated tuners which don't look as retro. It's really about first impressions and I was so influenced by that old Les Paul that just about anything that looks similar is desirable to me.

Baltar Hornbeek · 04-20-2010, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by randyc

If you buy that Loar and need to dress it up, send me a PM. Given a few measurements I can make an orginal L-5 configuration pickguard for it (I have a small machine shop and a woodworking shop). It's a matter of twenty minutes to run a pickguard once the design has been established. I don't have the "tortoise shell" material but I do have some of the three-ply "ES" style pickguard material.

cheers,
randyc

I missed this.... I'm gonna hit you for this, indeed. Doing some extra work for the Census Bureau, hopefully I end up with enough extra doe to score the Loar or some other all acoustic archtop.

I just love the one trick pony concept. Like a fixed gear bike, beauty is in it's simplicity. No distractions. All is one.

Thanks man!

**randyc** · 04-20-2010, 05:04 PM

Cheers ! It will be my pleasure.

Baltar Hornbeek · 04-20-2010, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

It's under 1934-L5: Gibson - Gibson Guitar: Electric, Acoustic and Bass Guitars, Baldwin Pianos

Wait a sec....the '34-L5 is electric?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-20-2010, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Baltar Hornbeek

Wait a sec....the '34-L5 is electric?

Gibson didn't want to make it too easy to find

**Drifter** · 07-16-2010, 03:50 AM

Here's a brief sound sample:

Dream Guitars: Preowned Gibson Guitars, Gibson Guitars, L-5, AAA Figured Maple, Solid Spruce, 1934 L-5 Non Cutaway Reissue, Archtop Guitar, Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, B.B. King, Howard Roberts, Herb Ellis, Charlie Christian, Lloyd

**Eddie Lang** · 08-26-2010, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Well, the Super 400 was $400 when it came out, and it was considered very expensive, so I can't imagine an L-5 in 1934 going for much more than $100-$150.

(...)

EDIT: I was just checking. 1934 was the year the L-5 grew from 16" to 17". This guitar looks like it's a 17". That's the way I like it!

Well, I haven't tried the reissue but it sure is pretty.

I have had the privilege of playing a couple original around 1929-32 16" L-5 and one 17" late 30's L-5. The three of them were fantastic.

1934 would have been a 16", the change to 17" having officially occurred in 1935, but with Gibson, you just never know.

The going price for an L-5 back then was $275. To compare, a Martin D-28 was $100 in 1937, while their F-9 was $250. My 1934 Gibson L-4 (last year with a round hole) would have been $100 new while a 1930-31 L-4 originally cost $150 (yes, the price for the L-4 went down dramatically at the time, and so did most of the Gibson guitars with the exception of the L-5).

Here are a couple pages from the 1928 and 1934 Gibson catalogs.

**kamlapati** · 08-29-2010, 06:41 PM

That Gibson L-5 reissue has been around since the mid-90's. I've played some and they're pretty good.

BTW, the original L-5 sold for $275. That was a lot of money in 1923!