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1978 Ibanez L-5CN
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Serial #: L-784899, Sugihara signed label
Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1 11/16" Body depth: 3 1/4"
Materials: Arched spruce top; three-piece solid maple neck with adjustable truss rod; figured arched maple back and sides; solid ebony fingerboard and compensated bridge; mother of pearl block fingerboard inlay and torch peghead inlay; 5-ply body, headstock and pickguard binding, triple bound fingerboard, bound f-holes
Hardware: 100% original gold hardware includes trapeze loop tailpiece, sealed tuners, and Johnny Smith style humbucking pickup. Original 5 ply bound tortoise pickguard; original ebony adjustable compensated bridge with inlaid feet.
Notes: If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, consider this guitar a valentine to the Gibson Guitar Company. In the early 70's Ibanez set out to make high-precision replicas of Gibson's top-end instruments. So successful were they that Gibson sued to stop production, which was subsequently halted under court order. Now known as 'lawsuit' L-5s, these guitars have become legendary for their rarity, and their scrupulous faithfulness to the originals.
This beauty, the model FA-510NT is in fine original condition, without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and a handsomely ambered natural blonde finish. A small piece of neck binding has been replaced, and the finish shows just a bit of light normal checking. A handmade classic, this guitar bears the signature of its builder on the label, and has the "Super 70" JS style floating humbucking pickup attached. With it's comfortable modern neck profile, this guitar is an all-time favorite of gigging pros, who prefer to leave their $10K originals at home. If you've been waiting for one, don't dawdle: this guitar is the most faithful L-5 clone anyone's going to build, as long as Gibson has lawyers.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; 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 nickel strings (.013-.056). 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 plush hardshell case.