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1947 Gibson L-5

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Serial #: A-825

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25.4" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Finish: Sunburst, nitrocellulose type,

Materials: Highly figured solid bookmatched maple back and sides; handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; five piece flame maple neck with walnut centerstripes; 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: All original hardware includes original engraved deco L-5 tailpiece; original quintuple bound dark tortoise pickguard; gold Kluson Sealfast tuners; original compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. Extra bound tortoise guard installed, with Kent Armstrong floating PAF pickup with volume and tone controls, endpin jack.

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 eighth decade, it remains the most famous jazz guitar of all time.

Produced in the immediate postwar era, this guitar is one of the last to bear the classic 30's vintage fat script peghead logo. The original hardware includes compensated adjustable dark rosewood bridge, engraved gold deco style tailpiece with "Varitone" angle adjuster and original Kluson Sealfast tuners, with vintage correct single-ring keystone buttons. An extra bound tortoise pickguard is installed, and mounted with a Kent Armstrong floating PAF humbucking pickup and volume and tone controls, connected to a gold endpin jack. The original bound tortoise pickguard is in excellent condition, and is included in the case.

The instrument has been carefully maintained and lovingly played, and was in the personal collection of producer and recording artist Gary Tallent, longtime bassist in Bruce Springsteen's legendary E Street Band. A superb example, with original finish in stunning condition, and binding all original, tight and in excellent condition. The original frets are freshly leveled and crowned, ahnd the action is smooth and low over a traditional gently rounded 'C' profile neck. A single grainline crack has been immaculately resealed on the back, and feathered in smoothly with a light spot finish. The voice is open and warm, with excellent balance and clarity. An outstanding example, this versatile guitar is a delight to the ear, eye and hand alike.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; 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 and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; 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-.057). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original brown Gibson hardshell case with pink plush lining.