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1947 Gibson L-5
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Serial #: A-474
Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Sunburst, nitrocellulose type
Materials: Highly figured solid bookmatched bubble 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: 100% original gold hardware includes Kluson Sealfast tuners with single ring tulip keys, engraved deco L-5 tailpiece, compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge, original quintuple bound dark tortoise pickguard. Kent Armstrong Handmade floating 2D Ultraslim pickup with volume and tone controls, 1/4" jack mounted under guard.
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, and one of the first with the A-series serial number. The 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 is mounted with a Kent Armstrong 2D Ultraslim humbucking pickup and volume and tone controls, connected to a 1/4" jack mounted under the guard.
A local instrument, the instrument has been carefully maintained and lovingly played, and is supplied by the family of the original owner. A superb example, the guitar is without cracks and has all original finish warm sunburst finish in stunning condition, without pick, buckle, or fingerboard wear, and shows only light thumbwear and gentle normal checking. The original multi-ply binding is tight and in excellent condition. The neck is freshly reset, the original frets are freshly leveled and crowned, and the action is smooth and low over a traditional gently rounded 'C' profile neck. The voice is open and vibrant, with excellent projection, 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; 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 black arched plush lined hardshell case.
