With its roots dating back to 1922, this custom ordered 1964 Gibson L-5 Stereo is formally known as the L-5 CES (Cutaway Electric Spanish), though the label identifies it only as an L-5. This model was aimed at professional, working guitarists, and until 1934 was built with a 16 inch wide body. In 1934, the body grew to a 17 inch width and gained X braces.
L5
The Gibson L5 was the premiere cutaway archtop for jazz guitarists – in fact it was originally named the Premiere – from its 1939 introduction. Close on its heels, though, the 1949 ES-5 offered three P-90 pickups but was built with laminates instead of solid woods for the body, all to reduce feedback. Here we’re looking at a Gibson L5 built during 1948, and some time later converted to an ES-5 configuration, with three P-90 pickups, but wired as other Gibson models – four controls and a switch – and not the six controls of the ES-5.
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MORE →The Gibson L-5CES is a big guitar, built for use on the largest bandstands. The 17 inch wide body features a carved Spruce top and a carved Flame Maple back. The sides are matching Flame Maple, and the neck is a five-piece design using three Flame Maple sections with a pair of Walnut strips between the joins. The bridge and bound fingerboard are Ebony.
This instrument has sold
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