Gibson L-5CT Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (2000), made in Nashville, TN, serial # 22220002, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; laminated maple neck with ebony fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
This stately sunburst beauty is a striking reissue example of one of Gibson's most elusive vintage hollowbody guitars: the L-5CT. The model originated when comedian/singer/TV personality George Gobel (a famously not large man) asked Gibson if they could make him a slimmed down L-5 to use in his act. After he received his personal fully acoustic, cherry finished prototype the L-5CT model was introduced in December 1958 as a limited production item; all of 43 were built at Kalamazoo through 1962. This low production number makes the original L-5CT about the rarest and most collectable of all Gibson hollowbody models.
While the "George Gobel" was officially offered as a purely acoustic guitar, some were ordered as fully electric instruments. This 2000-year "Millennial' re-issue of this exceptionally rare guitar is a truly deluxe acoustic-electric with set of features many players have wished Gibson would make as a standard model. It is built with a fully carved solid spruce top and beautifully flamed maple back, multi-binding on all edges and lavishly gold-plated metal parts. The guitar is 2 3/8" deep at the rim, slimmer than the standard L-5CES by nearly an inch making for an easier to handle electric instrument, at least for most players. The 1961 style 5-piece maple neck has a hybrid medium-slim profile with the slightly flatter spine than '50s era examples and a fairly slim nut, not as wide or flat-feeling as the actual 1961 style. This is a full 25 1/2" scale neck, the critical difference that sets the rare L-5CT apart from the more common short-scale Byrdland.
The hardware and appointments the same as an L-5CES from the late '50s: two gold-plated humbucking pickups, a 3-way switch, and volume and tone controls for each. The heavy gold-plated tuners are "Gibson" logo Schallers with Kluson-style buttons. The bridge is a gold Tune-O-Matic and the tailpiece is the heavy engraved gold "L-5" unit with a silver-plated insert. The multi-bound headstock carries the pearl Gibson logo over the "flowerpot" design inlay, a trademark of the L-5 since 1923; the truss rod cover is engraved "Custom L-5".
This guitar was made in Nashville back in "Year 2K". Through all Gibson periods Gibson's these L-5s have always remained a flagship for the company made with the greatest care and pride. This is a superb playing and sounding guitar, a rare and lovely variation on this classic model an enduring example of the company's finest craftsmanship.
Overall length is 42 1/2 in. (108 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 3/8 in. (6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 21/32 in. (27 mm.).
This is an all-original and very clean guitar, with some light play wear but no damage or repairs. There are some very small dings dents and scuffs overall; overall the finish is extremely clean overall and retains a sunburst color with no notable fade. There is typicaLlight wear to the gold plating overall, most notable on the pickup covers and tailpiece. This guitar does not show very much play time over the past 25 years (yes it's been that long since "Y2K") the frets and fingerboard showing hardly any wear. This slim-line, full scale L-5 is an extremely fine instrument, a lovely latter day example of this elusive yet very player-friendly model. It lives in the original brown Tolex HSC, showing some external wear but fully solid. Overall Excellent Condition.
