Sell a few to get an L-5?

[Zigracer]

This is a kind of silly, first world conundrum, but I’m looking for some perspective. First of all I own 13 guitars, none of which are beaters. I don’t desire to have any more guitars in numbers. One or two less might be okay too. I really like all of them and especially love a few of them, which include my Palen 7 string, my Gretsch guitars and my Johnny A custom. I went down the 7 string path almost two years ago and I’m absolutely smitten with the 7. The 7 is what I want to play most - except when I want to play a 6, and except for the two rock/pop acts I’m in where I alternate between an acoustic and one of the electrics with a Bigsby. I love the Bigsby for that stuff. I have a second 7 string being built by Benedetto at the moment - a laminate Bravo. I am going to sell my six string Bravo Deluxe to fund the new 7.

So here is now where my issue enters: I have been gassing for a Gibson L-5 for quite a while. There are a few out there that I have my eye on. I would have to sell an Ibanez GB10, a Gretsch “mistake” spruce Country Club and a Gibson CS-336 to fund an L-5. Possibly sell a J-45 as well. I don’t really play the GB10 since I got into 7 string. The J-45 and the Country Club see limited playing time these days. I do play the 336 regularly and I quite like it. But it is somewhat similar to the Johnny A. I’d keep the JA if I had to decide between the two. The GB10 is probably going to be sold anyway and I guess if I didn’t go the L-5 route, I’d most likely keep the Country Club, but swap out the Dynasonics for some TV Jones classics that he makes in the DeArmond size, so it’s a straight swap.

Normally if I wanted a production guitar that is available at the bigger music stores, I’d order one and use the 45 day return period to decide. Not possible with an L-5, since they are all used and several are consignment guitars. Really can’t find one locally in CT to just play anyway.

So to sum it up: I’m now a lifelong 7 player, but do like to switch to the 6 at times. I play rock, pop and blues as well and have that covered by some guitars that are never going away. So what are your opinions on selling the three to get an L-5, or keeping what I have? Yes I know that only I can decide, but some perspective would be great. Thank you!

[John A.]

If it were me I’d sell some guitars, but I prefer to keep the herd small.

[Flat]

There ain't no math harder than GAS math, is there?

On the other hand, maybe it's the easiest cuz there ain't no wrong answer.

Good luck!

[FourOnSix]

From experience, if you're gassing for an L-5, you'll either get an L-5 or continue gassing for one. Depends on which scenario you prefer.

[Stringswinger]

From experience, if you're gassing for an L-5, you'll either get an L-5 or continue gassing for one. Depends on which scenario you prefer.

Exactly. Life is short, ticking off the bucket list stuff is a way to avoid deathbed regrets.

I have sold some excellent guitars to consolidate the collection and get something I wanted without putting more money into guitars. And at one point I was up to 22 guitars and wanted to "cull the herd". I went down to 13 guitars, but a few years after that I was back up to 20 guitars. I recently sold a guitar and am holding steady at 19. Some days I regret selling some of the excellent guitars that I had. Other days I feel that I have too many and should sell some of the excellent guitars that I have. I have two L-5's and selling them is never part of my thought process and buying them was among the smartest guitar purchases that I have made. HTH

[Jimmy blue note]

Buy two L-5's and in about 6 months you can sell one. That way you can ease your conscience about having too many.
If at that point you want to keep them both, then mission accomplished, you have your L-5 and a spare and all you have to do is find the time to play them. It's a lot easier to get them than to play them, so that sounds like a win-win situation.

[Mark M.]

Speaking from personal experience, after a lot of buying and selling guitars I decided I’d never be happy until I had an L5CES. After I finally acquired one, I played it for about 10 years and part of that time it was my only guitar. I gigged with it and played it every day. I loved it and had no regrets about the sacrifices I made to get it. However, over time I felt it was too heavy and uncomfortable to play, even though the neck was the best I had ever played at the time. I eventually sold it and made a little bit of a profit off of it - the first time that ever happened for me in a guitar sale. Now, I have a couple of nice, carved archtops that sound great and are very comfortable to play. I’m happy I had the L5 and happy I moved on from it. Bottom line, if you will only be satisfied after have one, go for it. But, don’t let owning one keep youi from moving on in the future if there is something else out there that’s ultimately better for you.

[jads57]

They are all different variations of tools and colors to paint with. An L-5CES is definitely different from your Palen if it’s an acoustic suspended pickup version.

Before selling try a few different L-5’s to see if it’s what you really want, or just a GAS. You don’t want to get rid of things based on wants.

[deacon Mark]

Wise thoughts about not getting rid of things based on wants. I wanted a 7 string guitar many years ago like you. I had Bill Barker make me a custom 18 inch Barker 7 string. I picked out all the woods and was ready and waiting for a guitar. In the end it was as a guitar nothing I needed at all. I could do better in 6 strings and that was enough for me. The low A even with an .82 would not quite pop like a guitar string should. It worked I played it for about 4-5 years off and on. Traded it to Scott Chinery for a 1937 Dangelico Style B.

Go try an L5 and play a number of them and frankly most 7 strings players tell me they go all 7 in playing or it does not work. Even Jimmy Bruno now just plays the 6. So if you like 7 strings as primary guitar then be very careful about getting an L5. GAS always gets in the way, and we are " restless until we rest in God."

[wintermoon]

[rpjazzguitar]

Do I understand correctly that the L5 model has, over the years, had different specs for the size and shape of the neck?

If so, then how do you know that you're going to like one without being able to play it first?

I don't know how much weight this deserves, but when I studied with Warren Nunes (an L5 player) students would bring him L5s to check out before purchase. He'd trill the open high E string and immediately announce whether it was a "good one". I never could hear what he was hearing, but there you have it.

Seems to me there might be a split between the idea of owning an L5 and the reality.

[Tal_175]

I was on the same boat. I wanted an L5CES for so long. I have recently acquired one. I had only played l5's a couple of times before so I kept my expectations low. It takes a long time to find out if you really like a guitar or not. I figured as long as I don't buy an overpriced one, I can always flip it after a couple of years if I don't use it enough.

It exceeded my expectations. I'm completely blown away buy it. It's got a dreamy electric sound. My favorite electric sound by far. Even acoustically it's got a very sweet and elegant voice despite the mounted pickups. It's mellow but ready to go with you if you dig in with a big headroom. I thought I had nice guitars but L5CES is in a different league.

Yeah trying a few before buying one is a good advice but it's easier said than done. Most people don't live in one of those few cities where you can go to a store and find used a few L5's to try.

[Tal_175]

I don't know how much weight this deserves, but when I studied with Warren Nunes (an L5 player) students would bring him L5s to check out before purchase. He'd trill the open high E string and immediately announce whether it was a "good one". I never could hear what he was hearing, but there you have it.

I don't know if this story is sad or funny. Students who haven't developed musically enough to really know what they like and dislike in their main tools as musicians choose their instruments based on subtleties they can't even hear themselves. Moreover, what Warren Nunes likes in his L5's probably isn't even universal. He was maybe looking for a certain articulation characteristic that another player may find too bright. He was maybe looking for certain acoustic qualities that another player may find not electric enough etc.

[jads57]

The L-5CES is designed to have thicker plates to reduce feedback as well as support the double Humbuckers. In the 1960’s they went with laminated sides and back to further reduce feedback issues.

The L-5CES is not designed to be like a Johnny Smith Acoustic with suspended pickup. So there for it can be used in louder ensemble applications. Many R&B greats used these models back in the day!

[hotpepper01]

I promised my better half that I would keep the flock limited to 10 guitars.. at present that is the number for me. I allowed myself to selling and buying as long as the number was no more than 10. The guitars that do not get playtime anymore, simply had to go. And yes, I own two L5s, a 77 L5CES and a 02 Hutch L5CT. They are awesome guitars. I do believe that other makes make great guitars as well. I have a Gretsch 6136DC White Falcon that I like as much as the L5s. A great guitar is very desirable, for me it does not have to be a L5.

[Tal_175]

A great guitar is very desirable, for me it does not have to be a L5.

Clearly, otherwise you'd have had ten L5's, not just four.

[Zigracer]

I am smitten with the 7 string, but I still play 6 for other styles and sometimes when I have a 6, I want to play some standards or jazz. I’ve found that my limitations with the 7 string have nothing to do with the 7th string. They are just my limitations of overall guitar skill and knowledge. Guys like Howard Paul can seamlessly go back and forth between the 6 and the 7. That’s one of my aspirations. I stink equally at playing both.

[ccroft]

...I would have to sell an Ibanez GB10, a Gretsch “mistake” spruce Country Club and a Gibson CS-336 to fund an L-5. Possibly sell a J-45 as well...

I would do this in a heart-beat!!

[Oscar67]

Whether or not to sell A to fund B is such a personal choice. Deep down inside you know what you want.

[andrew]

The L-5CES is designed to have thicker plates to reduce feedback as well as support the double Humbuckers.

Be careful with that "H" word!

[Zigracer]

Whether or not to sell A to fund B is such a personal choice. Deep down inside you know what you want.

Selling A to fund B is really more about my self imposed limit on what I spend on instruments and less of an emotional thing. I like the guitars that I would sell to fund an L-5, but not so much that I’d miss them. The GB10 will probably go anyway as it doesn’t ever get played since I got the 7 string. The 336 and the Club do get some attention, but not a lot. There are guitars that I have that I’ll be buried with and they never make the sale list. And of course I know that only I can decide and make the value judgements.

That said, I respect many of the opinions in this neighborhood and figured I’d draw on some collective L-5 experience.

[skiboyny]

I would do exactly that. Sell a few and get a L5. Not because I think the L5 is the holy grail of guitars, but because the only way to really know if it's for you, is to own one and spend some time with it. If you find one at a "decent" price it's really like money in the bank. The guitars that you would be getting rid of are easily replaceable should you decide you miss one. New stuff is fun, it inspires you to play.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Even Jimmy Bruno now just plays the 6.

Shortly after I went fully 7 (about 1995 or so IIRC), my wife & I went to have dinner & hear him play at Chris’s Jazz Cafe in Philly. We weren’t friends, but he knew me as a local player and he spoke to me for a while on one of his breaks. He’d been playing a 7 intermittently for a short time by then, and I told him I was in the process of switching over.

His advice was straightforward: if you want to really master 7, sell all your 6s. Otherwise, you’ll always play a 7 like it was a 6 with an extra string. I think his unwillingness to do that is why he abandoned the 7 within a few years.

For most of us, I think he was right. The first time I took a 7 on a gig, I assumed I could just ignore the 7th string if
I was unsure of how to use it on a given tune or section. Trying to do that was really hard, and I found myself one string off so many times that I had to play watching the fingerboard. The next day I completely stopped playing a 6 - and it still took me 6 months or more to get really comfortable with the 7 on gigs.

So as much as I love L5s et al, I wouldn’t buy one now because I couldn’t even play it well. After so many years playing only 7s, I have trouble with voicing chords on a 6 and can’t sustain a walking bass line for fingerstyle solo playing because my thumb keeps hunting for the 7th string but finding the 6th.

My hat is off to those who can switch back and forth from 6 to 7. I can’t.

[Zigracer]

Shortly after I went fully 7 (about 1995 or so IIRC), my wife & I went to have dinner & hear him play at Chris’s Jazz Cafe in Philly. We weren’t friends, but he knew me as a local player and he spoke to me for a while on one of his breaks. He’d been playing a 7 intermittently for a short time by then, and I told him I was in the process of switching over.

His advice was straightforward: if you want to really master 7, sell all your 6s. Otherwise, you’ll always play a 7 like it was a 6 with an extra string. I think his unwillingness to do that is why he abandoned the 7 within a few years.

For most of us, I think he was right. The first time I took a 7 on a gig, I assumed I could just ignore the 7th string if
I was unsure of how to use it on a given tune or section. Trying to do that was really hard, and I found myself one string off so many times that I had to play watching the fingerboard. The next day I completely stopped playing a 6 - and it still took me 6 months or more to get really comfortable with the 7 on gigs.

So as much as I love L5s et al, I wouldn’t buy one now because I couldn’t even play it well. After so many years playing only 7s, I have trouble with voicing chords on a 6 and can’t sustain a walking bass line for fingerstyle solo playing because my thumb keeps hunting for the 7th string but finding the 6th.

My hat is off to those who can switch back and forth from 6 to 7. I can’t.

For jazz chord voicings, the 7 string is now where my orientation is. I play the 7 every day and I'm in love. A bass player friend of mine and I are trying to put together an act. For certain tunes I stay off the 7th string to stay out of her way and with the exception of an intro or outro I only use six strings. For example: for one of my solo acts and I play a Bossa style version of The Way You Look Tonight. I am all over the 7th string, but when I play the same version with the bass player I lay off the 7th during the verses. On songs where I am doing straight comping with a pick where only the 3rd or 7th of the chord sings out, I don't necessarily change what I play either way. I have a rock/pop solo gig tonight and it will be all 6 string electric and acoustic. I can't see myself trying to pull that off with my Palen 7. Now I know that there are metal guys out there who use 7's - many of which have pretty long scale lengths, but I'm just not quite ready to get rid of my Gretsch guitars with Bigsbys for that type of music, which I still enjoy. I'm probably trying to do too much, but I love all of the music. I will admit that when I now first pick up a 6 string and want to play jazz voicings, I really have to think about it because I'm now so used to that low A.

[omphalopsychos]

I would totally do it. However for me it would be a wes rather than ces. Owning both I can see that people like the thickness of the notes in the ces version but I like the brightness and crispness of the Wes model.