Gibson L-5CES Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968)
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 10297
Prices subject to change without notice.
Gibson L-5CES Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 532914, sunburst lacquer finish, maple body and neck; spruce top, maple neck with ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
One of Gibson's classiest electric guitars, the large-bodied L-5CES (Cutaway Electric Spanish) was a company mainstay for many years, and a particular favorite of many jazz and classic R&B players. This example is from the late 1960s, made just before the '60s sharp Florentine cutaway body reverted back to the old rounded profile used in the 1950s. Although Gibson quality is generally thought to have slipped somewhat in this time period, the top-line carved guitars suffered the least; this L-5CES still has the much of feel of a top-quality instrument from an earlier era.
This L-5CES is built on a 3 1/4" deep, 17" wide body with a fully carved spruce top over a laminate back. It is finished in a subtly shaded sunburst darker than many later 1960's Gibsons, with a look more typical of the preceding decade. The maple back has a lovely flamed grain figure. The neck is a 5-piece maple laminate with a pearl block inlaid ebony fingerboard. There is multiple binding everywhere and the headstock bears a pearl flowerpot inlay that is the longstanding L-5 hallmark. The neck is slimmer than earlier examples with a very narrow 1 1/2" nut width typical of the later 1960s.
The hardware includes two patent number humbucking pickups with gold plated covers. The standard Gibson wiring rig is topped off with the metal-capped gold knobs more typical of the earlier '60s, not the later "witch hat" amp-style knobs. The original gold-plated tailpiece has the traditional silver-plated center insert and retains the old "top-buster" tension adjustment almost nobody has ever used. The tuners are Kluson Sealfast enclosed machines, the truss rod cover is the typical wide-bevel piece used on L-5's since the late 1930s.
The L-5 CES is considered one of the seminal jazz and R&B guitars, used by many greats in the 1950s and beyond from Freddie Stone to Kenny Burrell. This is not an exceptionally rare guitar as 189 were shipped 1968 (the peak production year in the 1960s) this still represents a small fraction of the totals for many other period Gibson instruments. This is a nice example with some wear and repair, a supremely classy guitar and fine player with the classic Gibson sound.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 16 15/16 in. (43 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This guitar shows some general wear and evidence of some re-working over the years but overall remains a fine looking and great playing example. The lacquer finish shows checking and some minor dings and chips overall; the most noticeable is finger wear around a couple of the controls from a lot of apparent knob turning. This guitar has been well cared for but has definitely played over the past 50+ years.
There is some sort of very old repair work on lower quarter of the top, to the area under the knobs. This region only was cleanly overfinished in lacquer (starting below the treble F hole) but the actual section of the solid spruce top does not appear to have been replaced. Looking at the area it is hard to tell why that finish work would have been done, but it is there. The top center seam has been resealed and cleated in the area under the tailpiece. There is a VERY slight crack repair to the side by the jack.
The headstock stamped serial number appears very faint, there is what looks like a lacquer overspray on back of neck and headstock. We cannot detect any cracks or breaks under this, just a couple of spots of old wear along the neck under the later finish. This appears to have been done a long time ago (it blacklights as period lacquer) and feels identical to a period Gibson finish.
The gold Patent # pickups are original as is the switch, but the remainder of the wiring rig has been replaced with later components. Three of the knobs are the correct period Gibson pieces; the uppermost volume knob is a well-matched reproduction. For some reason the neck pickup ring has been just slightly hogged out; probably someone tried another pickup there at some point then reverted to the original again.
The original bound celluloid pickguard and bracket are in the case but suffering typical celluloid distress so have been removed. There is some commensurate corrosion and plating loss to the pickup covers. The Tune-O-Matic bridge and rosewood base are original, the saddles only have been replaced. There is a strap button on the heel which is a correct Period Gibson piece but was most likely added. The rest of the hardware is original, showing some general wear.
The guitar was neatly refretted with factory-style wire some time back and playability is excellent. This is a truly lovely guitar to play and hear, with the warm, rich, yet still lively sound characteristic of these fully carved-top Gibson electrics. It resides in a more modern well-fitted HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
One of Gibson's classiest electric guitars, the large-bodied L-5CES (Cutaway Electric Spanish) was a company mainstay for many years, and a particular favorite of many jazz and classic R&B players. This example is from the late 1960s, made just before the '60s sharp Florentine cutaway body reverted back to the old rounded profile used in the 1950s. Although Gibson quality is generally thought to have slipped somewhat in this time period, the top-line carved guitars suffered the least; this L-5CES still has the much of feel of a top-quality instrument from an earlier era.
This L-5CES is built on a 3 1/4" deep, 17" wide body with a fully carved spruce top over a laminate back. It is finished in a subtly shaded sunburst darker than many later 1960's Gibsons, with a look more typical of the preceding decade. The maple back has a lovely flamed grain figure. The neck is a 5-piece maple laminate with a pearl block inlaid ebony fingerboard. There is multiple binding everywhere and the headstock bears a pearl flowerpot inlay that is the longstanding L-5 hallmark. The neck is slimmer than earlier examples with a very narrow 1 1/2" nut width typical of the later 1960s.
The hardware includes two patent number humbucking pickups with gold plated covers. The standard Gibson wiring rig is topped off with the metal-capped gold knobs more typical of the earlier '60s, not the later "witch hat" amp-style knobs. The original gold-plated tailpiece has the traditional silver-plated center insert and retains the old "top-buster" tension adjustment almost nobody has ever used. The tuners are Kluson Sealfast enclosed machines, the truss rod cover is the typical wide-bevel piece used on L-5's since the late 1930s.
The L-5 CES is considered one of the seminal jazz and R&B guitars, used by many greats in the 1950s and beyond from Freddie Stone to Kenny Burrell. This is not an exceptionally rare guitar as 189 were shipped 1968 (the peak production year in the 1960s) this still represents a small fraction of the totals for many other period Gibson instruments. This is a nice example with some wear and repair, a supremely classy guitar and fine player with the classic Gibson sound.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 16 15/16 in. (43 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This guitar shows some general wear and evidence of some re-working over the years but overall remains a fine looking and great playing example. The lacquer finish shows checking and some minor dings and chips overall; the most noticeable is finger wear around a couple of the controls from a lot of apparent knob turning. This guitar has been well cared for but has definitely played over the past 50+ years.
There is some sort of very old repair work on lower quarter of the top, to the area under the knobs. This region only was cleanly overfinished in lacquer (starting below the treble F hole) but the actual section of the solid spruce top does not appear to have been replaced. Looking at the area it is hard to tell why that finish work would have been done, but it is there. The top center seam has been resealed and cleated in the area under the tailpiece. There is a VERY slight crack repair to the side by the jack.
The headstock stamped serial number appears very faint, there is what looks like a lacquer overspray on back of neck and headstock. We cannot detect any cracks or breaks under this, just a couple of spots of old wear along the neck under the later finish. This appears to have been done a long time ago (it blacklights as period lacquer) and feels identical to a period Gibson finish.
The gold Patent # pickups are original as is the switch, but the remainder of the wiring rig has been replaced with later components. Three of the knobs are the correct period Gibson pieces; the uppermost volume knob is a well-matched reproduction. For some reason the neck pickup ring has been just slightly hogged out; probably someone tried another pickup there at some point then reverted to the original again.
The original bound celluloid pickguard and bracket are in the case but suffering typical celluloid distress so have been removed. There is some commensurate corrosion and plating loss to the pickup covers. The Tune-O-Matic bridge and rosewood base are original, the saddles only have been replaced. There is a strap button on the heel which is a correct Period Gibson piece but was most likely added. The rest of the hardware is original, showing some general wear.
The guitar was neatly refretted with factory-style wire some time back and playability is excellent. This is a truly lovely guitar to play and hear, with the warm, rich, yet still lively sound characteristic of these fully carved-top Gibson electrics. It resides in a more modern well-fitted HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.