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1946 Gibson L-5N
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Serial #: 99233, white oval label
Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .90/.102
Materials: Highly figured solid bookmatched tiger maple back and sides; handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; five piece tiger flame maple neck with walnut centerstripe; quintuple bound solid ebony fingerboard with block mother of pearl inlay and pointed finial; quintuple bound peghead and body with bound f-holes; solid bone nut.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes Kluson Sealfast tuners with single ring tulip keys, engraved L-5 Varitone tailpiece, compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. Vintage correct quintuple bound dark tortoise pickguard.
Notes: Making its debut in 1922, the Gibson L-5 was created by the legendary Lloyd Loar, father of the renowned F-5 mandolin. The L-5 is perhaps his most influential creation, and is widely regarded as the first successful commercially produced archtop guitar. Now in its ninth decade, the Gibson L-5 remains the most celebrated jazz guitar of all time.
Produced in the immediate postwar era, this guitar is one of the last to bear the classic 30's prewar fat script peghead logo. All-original hardware includes the engraved gold deco style tailpiece with "Varitone" angle adjuster, original Kluson Sealfast tuners with single-ring keystone buttons and the compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge. The original bound tortoise pickguard remains in wonderful condition, remarkable enough for any guitar of this vintage.
Natural finished models were priced at a premium, and were a showcase for the Gibson's most extravagant tonewoods. The body and neck of this spectacular guitar are carved of tiger flame maple of simply breathtaking depth and intensity. With production slowed to a trickle during the preceding wartime years, it's reasonable to assume that Gibson still had ample stocks of prewar tonewood remaining to satisfy the pent-up demand of the immediate postwar marketplace. And this guitar was clearly the beneficiary of their very finest.
Beautifully maintained, the instrument is without cracks, checking, pick, buckle, or fingerboard wear, and apart from a few scattered lacquer nicks, shows virtually no playwear. The multi-ply binding is all original and tight to the body, and the action is smooth and low over a traditional gently rounded full 'C' profile neck, with fine precision fretwork. The deep blonde finish is ambered to a warm glow: immaculately restored in true vintage style lacquer, the finish is factory-quality, with a few wisps of light checking, and appears to be several decades in age.
The voice is open and vibrant, with the deep resonant bass and woody mids the model is famed for, and the power and projection of the classic parallel braced soundboard, hand-graduated by the best in the business. Complete with its original Gibson hardshell case, just as nice as the guitar itself. A showstopping example of Gibson's top-line 17" archtop: a delight to the ear, eye and hand alike. Don't wait on this one: call now.
Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation strobe tuned; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original Gibson deluxe brown arched hardshell case.
