1974 Sunburst Gibson L-5 (Pictures added)

[vinnyv1k]

WOW - how prices have changed. My brand new VSB 2008 L-5 was $5700 and my brand new blonde 2010 was $6700.

[Fear the Reaper]

Thank you for your thoughts. Much appreciated. Especially the "good ones get played".
As for any flaws fortunately I have an 80 year old luthier who started before the Beatles came to US. Tom is top notch and has seen alot. An old school craftsmanship from days gone by in the event this happens.

Wildcat, I too am about to turn 67. My life has been superb and if it ended today, it would be a "life well lived" with few regrets. This L-5 speaks to me very much as it sounds and plays great (assuming one likes a thin neck with a full size nut, which I do). The play wear indicates to me that this is one of the good ones (the good ones usually get played....because they are good!). I have two L-5's and a Super 400, so my carved Gibson archtop needs are more than met. If I did not have those guitars, I would have made an offer for this one. It has the mojo and they ain't making very many these days (plus, I will not live long enough to get a new one to sound as good as this one does. Only time and playing does that to a guitar).

I told the guys that I had a friend who "might" have an interest when I asked if I could take the photos, and if you make the photo of the top bigger, you can see the crack in the lower rim. It is through the wood, but seems stable to me. The time to make an offer if you have an interest is now, as someone else could make an offer and grab it before you do. If I am right about what they paid, I think they might very will take a 6K offer including shipping.

I played this guitar through a Silverface Deluxe Reverb that was bone stock and it was "the sound". I am a huge Wes fan, and for me nothing beats the sound of a Gibson L-5. They are getting hard to come by at any price and if one can get past the natural relic look of this guitar, I think the only regret the new owner of this guitar will have is the fact that they did not obtain an L-5 sooner in life. IMO, this is the top of the guitar food chain, but again, my view might be skewed by the fact that Wes is my all time favorite guitar player.

[Stringswinger]

Thanks for posting some photos. I went in there and looked at it hanging above the counter when they first listed it. For some reason it didn’t look too appealing to me and the L5 CES model is my dream guitar. They first listed it at 9 grand and it’s been at this price for a couple months now with no takers.

It has a lot of play wear to be sure. The really good guitars usually do. If they came down from 9K to 7K and it has sat for two months at 7K, They will probably take less. Good luck!

[58flame]

Way too much. I wouldn't give them a penny over 4k with a crack and who knows what else. Good luck.

[Fear the Reaper]

You mention their policy of paying 50% of what they think they would get for it. Well if they started at $9000 does that mean they have $4500 for it? Difficult to say other than at a starting price of $9000 and in that condition they were way off on that price. That lines up with your opinion of these folks and the nature of their small business.

Bottomline; Risk Factors Considered
1. Stringswinger, your report on the playablity and tone couldn't have come from a more knowledge source.
2. I have a skilled luthier with almost 60 years experience available to do what ever needs to be done.
3. The tone and playablity is primarily to me.
4.The "looks" mean nothing to me. I get tired of looking at all of the "Beauty Queens or Closet Queens" for sale. And limited to no ability to actually play the guitar.
5. Your testimony after playing through a stock silverface Fender Deluxe is very rare and virtually nonexistent. This is when the JGF shines with a member like yourself.

I am in no hurry to pull the trigger at this time. Perhaps someone reading this may decided to do it now.

It has a lot of play wear to be sure. The really good guitars usually do. If they came down from 9K to 7K and it has sat for two months at 7K, They will probably take less. Good luck!

[garybaldy]

Way too much. I wouldn't give them a penny over 4k with a crack and who knows what else. Good luck.

May be it's worth giving it a try!

[Stringswinger]

You mention their policy of paying 50% of what they think they would get for it. Well if they started at $9000 does that mean they have $4500 for it? Difficult to say other than at a starting price of $9000 and in that condition they were way off on that price. That lines up with your opinion of these folks and the nature of their small business.

Bottomline; Risk Factors Considered
1. Stringswinger, your report on the playablity and tone couldn't have come from a more knowledge source.
2. I have a skilled luthier with almost 60 years experience available to do what ever needs to be done.
3. The tone and playablity is primarily to me.
4.The "looks" mean nothing to me. I get tired of looking at all of the "Beauty Queens or Closet Queens" for sale. And limited to no ability to actually play the guitar.
5. Your testimony after playing through a stock silverface Fender Deluxe is very rare and virtually nonexistent. This is when the JGF shines with a member like yourself.

I am in no hurry to pull the trigger at this time. Perhaps someone reading this may decided to do it now.

Hearing that it was originally advertised for 9K tells me that they probably paid $4500 for it. At some point, if it sits around long enough, they might take that amount, just to free up the working capital. One never knows what their motivation is and the worst that could happen with an offer is that they will say no.

The crack in the lower rim does not bother me. It would be easy enough for a luthier to cleat it (if it has not already been done, which I doubt).

The playwear is fine (I have seen L-5's with greater wear than this one, and the wear is part of the story of the guitar)

Someone will eventually get a cool jazz guitar with vintage mojo when this guitar sells.

@Fear The Reaper: Thanks for the kind words!

[Jimmy Mack]

Mr. StringSwinger, I wish I was 67. At 73, I just bought the guitar I should have bought 52 years ago (not the actual guitar) - a Gibson 335. I have an L5 CES. IN 1972, I had an influx of gig money, I loved 335's but thought an L5 would be way cooler for my gig and for jazz. To order an L5 CES then, the dealer wanted $800.00, but I'd have to wait for it.
So the next day, I bought an ES 150, y'know, the 3" 335. So it would be a 335 and an L5, right??? Wrong.

I would have got a lot more bang for my buck if I had just bought a 335. And then I got a Les Paul and a Strat. Had I lucked out I would probably still have the 335. Ah well, I've had some fun.

[Jimmy Mack]

That L5 in the photos: looks like the exact situation I found mine in, original p/guard missing but the p/up covers gave away the story. Only mine were rescued before it got to be so far deteriorated. All else intact, and no harm to the guitar. P/up covers are replaceable, by the right person.

[Stringswinger]

Mr. StringSwinger, I wish I was 67. At 73, I just bought the guitar I should have bought 52 years ago (not the actual guitar) - a Gibson 335. I have an L5 CES. IN 1972, I had an influx of gig money, I loved 335's but thought an L5 would be way cooler for my gig and for jazz. To order an L5 CES then, the dealer wanted $800.00, but I'd have to wait for it.
So the next day, I bought an ES 150, y'know, the 3" 335. So it would be a 335 and an L5, right??? Wrong.

I would have got a lot more bang for my buck if I had just bought a 335. And then I got a Les Paul and a Strat. Had I lucked out I would probably still have the 335. Ah well, I've had some fun.

I wish I was 27, but alas, we get the time we get. I am glad you and the 335 found each other. Better late than never. I have tried to like the 335 over the years and never bonded with one. I always thought that a 335 could do everything a Les Paul and an ES-175 does in one guitar. But it never worked out for me. I have owned many 335's and today, I do not own one. But I have several Les Pauls and ES-175's so it is all good. And I look forward to reaching 73 and having even more aches and pains than I do today. It is all part of the journey of life. May that 335 inspire your playing for many years to come!

[2bornot2bop]

I wish I was 27

No way you would have wanted to trade the musical soundtrack of the 60’s and 70’s for what’s happened since 1997. Heck, there may not even be a coastline in 20 years. These wealthy people selfishly using the world’s resources like they’re the only ones who matter and all. Okay, don’t get me started.

[[email protected]]

I contacted them
through their online form with a few questions about the guitar. They did not respond.

[Stringswinger]

No way you would have wanted to trade the musical soundtrack of the 60’s and 70’s for what’s happened since 1997. Heck, there may not even be a coastline in 20 years. These wealthy people selfishly using the world’s resources like they’re the only ones who matter and all. Okay, don’t get me started.

Not only was the music better in the 60's and 70's (It is not that I am old, the music of today mostly sucks!), but the girls were better to look at. I prefer women without tattoos and piercings. Okay, don't get me started.

[Stringswinger]

I contacted them
through their online form with a few questions about the guitar. They did not respond.

I would call. The store is not very well run, IMO.

[2bornot2bop]

I contacted them
through their online form with a few questions about the guitar. They did not respond.

Why not use a telephone, like we did back in the 60’s…Rotary dial!

[pawlowski6132]

Not only was the music better in the 60's and 70's (It is not that I am old, the music of today mostly sucks!), but the girls were better to look at. I prefer women without tattoos and piercings. Okay, don't get me started.

And stay off your lawn!

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I wish I was 27, but alas, we get the time we get. I am glad you and the 335 found each other. Better late than never. I have tried to like the 335 over the years and never bonded with one. I always thought that a 335 could do everything a Les Paul and an ES-175 does in one guitar. But it never worked out for me. I have owned many 335's and today, I do not own one. But I have several Les Pauls and ES-175's so it is all good. And I look forward to reaching 73 and having even more aches and pains than I do today. It is all part of the journey of life. May that 335 inspire your playing for many years to come!

I'm closer to 80 than 70 and pleased to be getting along very well. I've never wished to be younger - I'm very pleased with the life I've had and grateful to be able to enjoy it still. But to tell the truth, it was a lot easier to jump into pursuit of lofty goals fueled by optimism and innocence than it would have been with the knowledge that comes from experience. It was a lot easier to chase dreams and goals when I didn't understand the odds against achieving them. Overall, I'm content and happy to be close to completing 8 decades in fine physical condition with all of my OEM parts.

My first good guitar was a well used '59 345 TD-SV that my dealer found for me at a very reasonable price when I was in high school. But as I found out quickly, it did not do everything a 175 did and I wasn't as happy with it as I guess I should have been. So when he found me a used 175 DN and offered to take the 345 back in trade a year or so later, I jumped at it. That was a critical decision - I adored that 175 for years until I sold it to buy a new early Norlin L-5 CN w/ a monkey on a stick. That was a big mistake!

JImmy Mack, I hope you find the joy in that 335 that's waiting for you. The 3X5s are excellent guitars that cover a lot of ground. I was too inexperienced to undstand how really good my 345 was, and I probably should have kept it since I played a lot of pop, blues, and commercial dates for many years in addition to jazz. But it "wasn't a jazz guitar", which was more important to me at 14 years old than it should have been. The 3X5s sound mighty fine for jazz, and today I'd love to have mine back!

[Jimmy Mack]

I would call. The store is not very well run, IMO.

Just wondering....could one trust them to ship this guitar?

[Jimmy Mack]

Dear Mr. Never.......
Happy Thanksgiving, sounds like you have a lot of life to be thankful for. May we all.

You mentioned : "The 3X5s sound mighty fine for jazz, and today I'd love to have mine back!"

I bought a high quality Epiphone Chinese Casino, the '61 Reissue. Because it has very resonant woods and a thin line hollow body, I find it be a great guitar for jazz, easier to handle than my L5, and an inexpensive alternative - one I'm not hesitant to take out of the house! Of course it doesn't do what a big box guitar will do, but that hollow body can go very far.

[Stringswinger]

Just wondering....could one trust them to ship this guitar?

I would suggest flying into San Jose and getting an Uber to their store to pick it up in person. If one wanted to get it shipped, put the purchase on a credit card that has your back. Starving Musician is not a high end store by any means.

[Bobby Timmons]

Not only was the music better in the 60's and 70's (It is not that I am old, the music of today mostly sucks!), but the girls were better to look at. I prefer women without tattoos and piercings. Okay, don't get me started.

I actually think the girlies look nice in any era.. Just not Sarah and Ginger in 84. :P

That's dressing up? Sarah looks like a gramma and Ginger looks like Micki Free or something.