Gibson L-5CES Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer re- finish, curly maple body and neck; spruce top, ebony fingerboard, Period brown hard shell case.
In Scotty Moore's hands alongside Elvis, they called the L-5CES "the Guitar that changed the World". This guitar is an original 1950s instrument, but it's own world has changed considerably since it was originally shipped in August 1957 as it has been completely and expertly refinished and practically all of the hardware is of more recent vintage. Compared to Gibson's current re-issues, this is the original 1950s Gibson wood carved to perfection and fitted with the correct style modern hardware, a super player's example of this rare high-end guitar.
Alongside its 18" sister the Super 400CES, this was Gibson's flagship 1950s instrument representing the fanciest, most deluxe electric guitars available. Built with all solid wood including a fully carved top and back and including two built in pickups, the L-5CES was a guitar worthy of Gibson's top endorsers, the biggest name jazz, Country & Western, and pop.
The features on this instrument were based on the contemporary L-5C including multi-bound body, fingerboard, and headstock; bound f-holes; pearl block inlay in the ebony fingerboard; and a pearl "flowerpot" inlay on the headstock. The two pickups are modern hand-made versions of the high-end "staple pole" units used by Gibson only in the 1954-57 period, before humbuckers were designed. Compared to earlier P-90 pickups these put out a brighter sound (not unlike the DeArmonds they resemble) with a sharper attack. These are controlled with the standard Gibson four knob, one switch rig. The tuners are the heavy enclosed Kluson "Sealfast" individual units with translucent plastic keystone buttons.
This particular mid-1957 guitar was one of only 22 Sunburst models sold that year. While no longer an original instrument this is still a lovely and very classy guitar to handle and play with a unique tonality for a large-body Gibson due to the combination of the solid wood construction and repro alnico staple-magnet pickups. It perfectly re-creates the early Elvis RCA sounds, and a host of others besides.
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 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar has been totally restored including a complete refinish in Nitrocellulose lacquer, extremely well done in a very close approximation of the period Gibson finish. The color in the sunburst is a perhaps a bit "redder" than most from that period we have seen, but otherwise the look and feel are spot on. This finish shows only some very minor handling wear. Virtually all the hardware on the instrument is newer correct style reproduction including the bridge, pickguard and bracket, tailpiece and the complete wiring rig.
The pickups are hand-made versions of Gibson's 1950s Alnico-bar polepiece units, but lack the elaborate pole elevating mechanism; the rectangular poles are fixed height. The sound is actually pretty close to the originals, with the characteristic 'pop' on each note. The tuners appear older; they are the correct original style at least if not original to the instrument. The fingerboard has been expertly trued and refretted with the correct style wire.
The original orange label under the bass side F hole and ink-stamped FON under the treble side are fully intact verifying the originality of the instrument. There are no visible cracks or structural repairs; We don't know what kind of shape this guitar was reduced to engender such a complete restoration but all work was done with love and respect for the original character of the instrument. This model rarely comes up in "player grade" condition making this a rare opportunity to acquire a "Gigger" example of this very high end instrument. It resides in a 1950s Lifton case with the typical brown Gibson exterior but a darker lining than the typical Gibson pink plush. Restored to Excellent Condition.
