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I was under the impression that Gibson isn’t currently making fully carved hollow body archtop guitars but this new Gibson Custom Shop L-4 in an ebony finish just showed up at the The Music Zoo: Gibson Custom Shop L-4 Archtop Ebony | The Music Zoo. I also just checked the custom shop offerings and didn’t see this particular model being offered. Maybe it’s new old stock? Or are Gibson fully carved hollow body archtop guitars available as a special order? Just wondering.
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05-22-2023 09:15 PM
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Nobody knows for sure. A "Gibson Rep" has posted on some other forum that archtops are coming back, but that could just be a crazy person. I think someone here emailed Gibson directly and they said they aren't producing archtops, and then they keep popping up here and there.
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Originally Posted by Bill Eisele
It could be poorly taken pictures; over exposure, lens distortion etc.. but the body shape looks wrong, the headstock to neck thickness looks wrong. The fingerboard looks like it's from a factory in Korea.
I'm not saying it's a fake but it's an interesting example.
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7 grand for a black L-4??
My how times have changed.
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Originally Posted by Archie
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They have been quietly building their classic archtops for the last few years. One of our forum members just picked up a brand new 2023 Byrdland and they picked up a 2022 L5 last year.
They said Gibson will not be building any new archtops for 1 to 2 years. So we'll see.
It's possible they are still catching up on backorders and won't be taking any new orders for a year or two. More likely they are taking a pause to rework their high tier archtop line, training new workers, standing up a new dedicated assembly area or all of the above and more.
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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The guitar looks legit except for the rosewood fingerboard. I recall that L4's had ebony along with the gold hardware, solid wood and generally higher end appointments than an ES-175.
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Originally Posted by RobbieAG
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The current L4’s went to rosewood boards in 2015.
2014 was the last year for ebony boards on L4’s.
On a black L4 an ebony board would have looked much nicer IMO.
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Originally Posted by Bill Eisele
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Based on the serial number it looks like it was built in 2020.
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Originally Posted by AllanAllen
He did an AMA on another forum, answering questions of all kinds, it's currently at 74 pages.
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Black guitars are not my thing. Never ever a black guitar.
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Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
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Originally Posted by deacon Mark
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As far as Gibsons are concerned, black Les Paul Customs and ES355's with gold hardware are gorgeous to me.
Black Gibson archtops are an acquired taste.
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Originally Posted by Bill Eisele
I'm not a fan of black either. But I got an amazing deal that I couldn't pass up on a black single p'up 165 when they first came out ('91, IIRC). From the price I paid and the dealer's poorly disguised desperation, I assume that there was little to no interest in it. It showed every fingerprint, smudge, dust speck etc. But apart from the color, it was a wonderful guitar. So I tolerated the finish - but I sold it within a few years when I went exclusively to 7 strings.
I'd buy another black guitar if it was otherwise wonderful and the price was right. But I never really enjoyed looking at the only black guitar I ever owned.
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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Originally Posted by Bill Eisele
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TMZ is advertising the MAP price as they must. You can get that guitar for far less.
When I ordered my black L5 it was a $600 up charge from VSB.
No longer is black the economy color for at least Gibson archtops.
Black works with white binding and gold hardware but not nickel.
Same goes with wine IMO.
Yes a bit of a shame to cover nice wood. When you look into the F holes of my L5 you see beautiful flame.
Black is beautiful but it shows every fingerprint.
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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I thought this X500 looked good in black but the black does look quite translucent.
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Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
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My black 1988 L4 CES
Pretty sure it has an ebony fingerboard.
Eastman AR371 [Australia]
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