1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion

**2-5Guy** · 10-29-2022, 05:05 PM

I have a chance to get a 1952 Reissue L-5 CES which was made in 1994. Blonde with P-90's. It's in excellent condition and looks absolutely stunning.

My question is, was 1994 a great year for these? I had an L-5 CES (2014) with PAF's but sadly I let it go and now I'm in the hunt for another L-5 CES. The P90 variant as with this one is appealing to me.

Thanks

**FourOnSix** · 10-29-2022, 06:13 PM

The 90s were an excellent era for Gibson archtops.

**2-5Guy** · 10-29-2022, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by FourOnSix

The 90s were an excellent era for Gibson archtops.

I have heard that but wanted this forums consensus.

Thanks

**6v6ster** · 10-29-2022, 11:56 PM

Man, there’s no bad era for L5s. They were always carefully made.
p-90s sound great, go for it!!

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by 6v6ster

Man, there’s no bad era for L5s. They were always carefully made.
p-90s sound great, go for it!!

Yea, I think I am. These don't come by every day. Thanks.

**6v6ster** · 10-30-2022, 12:09 AM

Good! Then post copious pics here!
??

**Steve Z** · 10-30-2022, 01:07 PM

I had never heard of this model... very nice!

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-screen-shot-2022-10-30-12-06-19-pm-png

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Z

I had never heard of this model... very nice!

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-screen-shot-2022-10-30-12-06-19-pm-png

Yes, that's... the very one.
I really didn't want to post the link for fear someone would swoop in and buy it. I'm going to have a conversation with the seller tomorrow and get some questions answered first. But yea, it's a beauty from what I can see and read. Fingers crossed that all goes well.

**jazzkritter** · 10-30-2022, 03:18 PM

Can you play it first?
I have a contrary opinion, I do not think with Gibson it’s ever safe to say something like: ‘90’s were a great period for Gibson archtops’. 94 is close to the late 80’s/early 90’s, out of which some dogs crawled. (There were still a lot of post-Kalamazoo issues bumping around in Nashville, like the worn out top carving jig.). Hutch was still around, but by 94 Triggs was gone. I’ve had a wonderful 92, and a woof 93, an OK 95, and still have perfect 89 and 98. (Ha! Maybe because the numbers reverse: 89-98)))
So, if you can play it, you’ll know.
Best of luck!

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by jazzkritter

Can you play it first?
I have a contrary opinion, I do not think with Gibson it’s ever safe to say something like: ‘90’s were a great period for Gibson archtops’. 94 is close to the late 80’s/early 90’s, out of which some dogs crawled. (There were still a lot of post-Kalamazoo issues bumping around in Nashville, like the worn out top carving jig.). Hutch was still around, but by 94 Triggs was gone. I’ve had a wonderful 92, and a woof 93, an OK 95, and still have perfect 89 and 98. (Ha! Maybe because the numbers reverse: 89-98)))
So, if you can play it, you’ll know.
Best of luck!

Well that's not very encouraging.
I have a 48 hour trial period but since there aren't two of the exact same one, I'll have nothing to compare it to. I'm in Oregon and the guitar is in CT.
Great...

**jazzkritter** · 10-30-2022, 03:38 PM

No don’t worry, it’s all about how it feels, plays and sounds to You not me!
Advice here is freely given, but best adjusted to your own experience.
I hope it’s a joy in your hands)

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by jazzkritter

No don’t worry, it’s all about how it feels, plays and sounds to You not me!
Advice here is freely given, but best adjusted to your own experience.
I hope it’s a joy in your hands)

Thanks. I'll be sure to post once I've had a chance to talk with them.
I really don't want to go through buyer's remorse.

**Danny W.** · 10-30-2022, 06:24 PM

In the past I owned a number of Gibsons dated from '94-'96 and all were excellent. One of them looked like this:

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-front-2-jpg

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-front-2-jpg

I thought it was outstanding.

Danny W.

**Crm114** · 10-30-2022, 06:24 PM

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-a900084c-b007-4dbc-a009-e66d8c97fee8-jpeg

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-b83f2575-d69f-4a47-8d55-3d8a22fda6d8-jpeg

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-7b36b169-5a93-46d4-a326-7f38fc8121b6-jpeg

Well…

I have a ‘56 with the staple P90s and I absolutely love it. It’s a dead ringer for the guitar in that picture. It’s my Elvis guitar.

BigMike

**wintermoon** · 10-30-2022, 07:42 PM

Sorry Big, not enough flame

**wintermoon** · 10-30-2022, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by 2-5Guy

Well that's not very encouraging.
I have a 48 hour trial period but since there aren't two of the exact same one, I'll have nothing to compare it to. I'm in Oregon and the guitar is in CT.
Great...

Don't worry about having anything to compare it to, judge it on it's own.
I'm sure you'll be happy, as long as you're aware that it's not going to sound like a humbucker guitar. Staples aren't for everyone.
A friend brought over a minty '53 once and I didn't really dig the staples, I lean towards buckers or Christian pickups.
Mike has one of those too.

**Crm114** · 10-30-2022, 08:14 PM

?lol

**wintermoon** · 10-30-2022, 08:15 PM

Your '39 w Christian and P90

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Don't worry about having anything to compare it to, judge it on it's own.
I'm sure you'll be happy, as long as you're aware that it's not going to sound like a humbucker guitar. Staples aren't for everyone.
A friend brought over a minty '53 once and I didn't really dig the staples, I lean towards buckers or Christian pickups.
Mike has one of those too.

I'm a fan of both.
The two I have with P90's are a 1968 Reissue Les Paul Gold Top and a Sadowsky Walter Becker. I really like the tone of both. Having said that, I love the tone of my LP R9 and'59 Reissue ES-335.

BTW - I've never heard the term "Staples" before. Is that synonymous with Dog-Ear P-90's?

**wintermoon** · 10-30-2022, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by 2-5Guy

I'm a fan of both.
The two I have with P90's are a 1968 Reissue Les Paul Gold Top and a Sadowsky Walter Becker. I really like the tone of both. Having said that, I love the tone of my LP R9 and'59 Reissue ES-335.

BTW - I've never heard the term "Staples" before. Is that synonymous with Dog-Ear P-90's?

Sort of, it refers to the pole pieces that look like staples. They aren't the same as P90s
Electric L-5s came w P90s in '51 but switched to Alnicos pu's (staples) for several yrs after before the switch to humbuckers around late '57 early '58

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Sort of, it refers to the pole pieces that look like staples. They aren't the same as P90s
Electric L-5s came w P90s in '51 but switched to Alnicos pu's (staples) for several yrs after before the switch to humbuckers around late '57 early '58

I did not know that.
Thank you.

**Crm114** · 10-30-2022, 10:40 PM

WinterMoon

Here’s my 39 and my 2002 Byrdie
1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-5477d436-1e58-4d30-8539-eb4160a5539e-jpeg

1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-9e22eb99-7d28-4df2-bbbb-dfc0e25682f9-jpeg

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Sort of, it refers to the pole pieces that look like staples. They aren't the same as P90s
Electric L-5s came w P90s in '51 but switched to Alnicos pu's (staples) for several yrs after before the switch to humbuckers around late '57 early '58

Ran across this:
He says Gibson came out with them in 55.

**Crm114** · 10-30-2022, 10:47 PM

Here’s a closer picture of the Alnco V’s or staple P 90s on my ‘56

Bi 1952 Reissue (1994) L-5 CES Opinion-efa46f20-3454-458f-bb24-be9229d9bde0-jpeg

[ QUOTE=2-5Guy;1228204]I did not know that.
Thank you.[/QUOTE]

**2-5Guy** · 10-30-2022, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Don't worry about having anything to compare it to, judge it on it's own.
I'm sure you'll be happy, as long as you're aware that it's not going to sound like a humbucker guitar. Staples aren't for everyone.
A friend brought over a minty '53 once and I didn't really dig the staples, I lean towards buckers or Christian pickups.
Mike has one of those too.

I guess I'm confused.
It sounds like you're saying that the 52 reissue I'm looking at has Staples? I'm pretty sure the are regular P90's.