Two Pickup L-5 Wes Montgomery At Guitar Center?!?

[andrew]

Used Gibson Wes Montgomery Signature Ebony Hollow Body Electric Guitar Ebony | Guitar Center


Anyone want to hazard a guess what is going on here? A two pickup Wes Mo from 2015? The tailpiece and the COA say "Wes Montgomery" on them. Do we think someone added a bridge pickup and more electronics? If so, that "like new" description they have it listed as sure doesn't seem to fit.

[skykomishone]

Another oddball. I can't see a serial number on the guitar. I think someone is putting together Gibson L5's out of spare parts or cannibalism in GC's basement.

[Stringswinger]

Someone could have ordered a WESMO with an extra pickup and nickel hardware as a special order. IIRC, the WESMO has one less brace and so this example (if legit) may be a more acoustic sounding L-5CES.

Anyone here who is interested, is well advised to contact Gibson and vet this guitar before completing a purchase,

[MHeld]

I've looked at this one before. Here's what I found.

The serial number is 100585002 on the packing slip photo. A google search for that serial number brings up this L5 Wes that was sold at another shop with only 1 pickup and gold hardware.

Gibson Custom Shop Wes Montgomery L-5CES Ebony

This has been listed/sold/listed a few times at Guitar Center. It's clearly been monkeyed with.

[ThatRhythmMan]

Another oddball. I can't see a serial number on the guitar. I think someone is putting together Gibson L5's out of spare parts or cannibalism in GC's basement.

Something funny is clearly going on with these guitars. Schaller tuners and a clearly aftermarket bridge on that one in addition to no gold hardware and a bridge pickup in what is supposed to be a WesMo. Pickguard also looks a little off. The truss rod cover looks right for the period and the engraving on the tailpiece also looks correct.

If this and the L-5 Premier were at the same store, I might think they had been from the same owner who had wanted the guitars done with similar hardware changes, but this “Wes” is in Atlanta and the Premier is in Connecticut.

It seems pretty weird, but the pricing seems to reflect that they have some odd changes. They could both be good guitars.

[andrew]

I've looked at this one before. Here's what I found.

The serial number is 100585002 on the packing slip photo. A google search for that serial number brings up this L5 Wes that was sold at another shop with only 1 pickup and gold hardware.

Gibson Custom Shop Wes Montgomery L-5CES Ebony

This has been listed/sold/listed a few times at Guitar Center. It's clearly been monkeyed with.

My my, that’s some first-rate internet sleuthing right there! Definitely confirms my suspicions that it’s not original. I wonder who did the modifications (I.e. Gibson or someone else). The pickup selector switch seems like it’s off center.

[ThatRhythmMan]

I've looked at this one before. Here's what I found.

The serial number is 100585002 on the packing slip photo. A google search for that serial number brings up this L5 Wes that was sold at another shop with only 1 pickup and gold hardware.

Gibson Custom Shop Wes Montgomery L-5CES Ebony

This has been listed/sold/listed a few times at Guitar Center. It's clearly been monkeyed with.

That explains a lot. Thanks for sharing your research.


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[Jsparr1983]

This seems like AI slop. Mix match chrome and gold, who would have? All the blurs in the photo make me think it’s something fishy. Like pickups and hardware super imposed. Wonder if this is a hack of sorts but that’s just my opinion.

[ThatRhythmMan]

This seems like AI slop. Mix match chrome and gold, who would have? All the blurs in the photo make me think it’s something fishy. Like pickups and hardware super imposed. Wonder if this is a hack of sorts but that’s just my opinion.

Guitar Center uses something to remove the background in these photos, but it does a horrible job, often removing parts of the guitar.


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[Cunamara]

The GC text also notes "Its rounded C-shape mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard ensure smooth playability, while the 24.75" scale length and 20 frets deliver classic jazz tone and feel."

[brownbagpro]

Someone could have ordered a WESMO with an extra pickup and nickel hardware as a special order. IIRC, the WESMO has one less brace and so this example (if legit) may be a more acoustic sounding L-5CES.

Anyone here who is interested, is well advised to contact Gibson and vet this guitar before completing a purchase,

You'd be creating an awfully unstable topped guitar if you tried to add a pickup to a top with less bracing. Not a good idea if attempted.

[brownbagpro]

Used Gibson Wes Montgomery Signature Ebony Hollow Body Electric Guitar Ebony | Guitar Center


Anyone want to hazard a guess what is going on here? A two pickup Wes Mo from 2015? The tailpiece and the COA say "Wes Montgomery" on them. Do we think someone added a bridge pickup and more electronics? If so, that "like new" description they have it listed as sure doesn't seem to fit.

The Schaller tuners aren't correct, neither is a Rosewood fretboard. What credible luthier especially from Gibson would drill extra holes for toggle, pickup and knobs on a perfectly good Wes, when in fact that would be creating a downgrade to convert it into an standard L-5, Not to mention with chrome hardware.

[garybaldy]

Someone could have ordered a WESMO with an extra pickup and nickel hardware as a special order. IIRC, the WESMO has one less brace and so this example (if legit) may be a more acoustic sounding L-5CES.

Anyone here who is interested, is well advised to contact Gibson and vet this guitar before completing a purchase,

Which brace is left out in a WesMo?

[wintermoon]

Which brace is left out in a WesMo?

the neck brace for whiplash when you find out how expensive they are.

[garybaldy]

the neck brace for whiplash when you find out how expensive they are.

I'm still suffering from buying an L5CES almost 2 years ago!!!

[floatingpickup]

Something funny is clearly going on with these guitars. Schaller tuners and a clearly aftermarket bridge on that one in addition to no gold hardware and a bridge pickup in what is supposed to be a WesMo. Pickguard also looks a little off. The truss rod cover looks right for the period and the engraving on the tailpiece also looks correct.

If this and the L-5 Premier were at the same store, I might think they had been from the same owner who had wanted the guitars done with similar hardware changes, but this “Wes” is in Atlanta and the Premier is in Connecticut.

It seems pretty weird, but the pricing seems to reflect that they have some odd changes. They could both be good guitars.

Regarding the pickguard, I notice it has an “acorn” nut, like those used on Asian pickguard brackets. Gibson always uses a flat nut, solid on the outside (which happens to be an impossible part to find). So, I would say the bracket has been replaced as well. Not a huge thing, but something that always bugs me when I see it.
Keith

[andrew]

How would one even go about obtaining a chrome or nickel Wes Mo tailpiece? Maybe it’s the original one with the gold platting stripped off?

[vinnyv1k]

Nickel and black doesn’t work on a L-5. It’s got to be gold and black.

[Archie]

Someone could have ordered a WESMO with an extra pickup and nickel hardware as a special order. IIRC, the WESMO has one less brace and so this example (if legit) may be a more acoustic sounding L-5CES.

Anyone here who is interested, is well advised to contact Gibson and vet this guitar before completing a purchase,

That’s now two L5’s with nickel hardware on their site and from the same rough dates.

[Archie]

You'd be creating an awfully unstable topped guitar if you tried to add a pickup to a top with less bracing. Not a good idea if attempted.

I think they all have the same bracing. The L5 is more of an electric guitar post 1950’s.

[deacon Mark]

I think they all have the same bracing. The L5 is more of an electric guitar post 1950’s.

All CES guitars are electric for sure and to me if they have a pickup cut or screwed in the top, they are electric. You cannot get full sound acoustically with a pickup mounted to the top.

[Stringswinger]

According to Adian Ingram's book on the L-5, the WESMO has one less brace in addition to one less pickup and set of controls (and no switch).

[brownbagpro]

How would one even go about obtaining a chrome or nickel Wes Mo tailpiece? Maybe it’s the original one with the gold platting stripped off?

Kind of like the dumb Olympic athlete, who was so proud of winning his gold medal...he had it Bronzed.

[Midnight Blues]

Could've been a M2M ("Made to "Measure"), but I doubt it. Likely cannibalized as suggested by @skykomishone. One way to find out for sure is to contact Gibson Customer Service: [email protected]