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1983 Gibson L-5CES

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Serial #: 82973003, stamped in headstock

Body size at lower bout: 17", Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .79/.95"

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain spruce top; solid handcarved bookmatched figured bubble maple back; tiger flame maple sides, and neck; solid ebony fingerboard with block mother of pearl inlays; abalone torch and headstock logo; 5-ply body and neck binding; bound f-holes; solid bone nut.

Hardware: 100% original gold hardware includes Gibson Pat # 'Tim Shaw' humbucking pickups, Gibson Schaller speed crank tuners, engraved tailpiece with art-deco insert, compensated adjustable ebony bridge with pearl inlaid foot, three-way pickup selector switch, 5-ply bound tortoise pickguard, adjustable truss rod. Gold Gibson bell knobs installed, original black bonnet knobs included.

Notes: The electric version of the L-5C, the L-5CES was introduced in 1951, and has been Gibson's top-line 17" electric archtop ever since. A favorite of pro players from George Barnes to Herb Ellis and Wes Montgomery, the L-5CES is built with solid carved tonewood throughout, all gold hardware, deluxe multi-ply binding, and twin humbucking pickups since 1957.

Hand crafted at the original Gibson Kalamazoo factory, this stunning guitar is in splendid condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Crafted with slab cut bubble maple of breathtaking intensity, this stunning guitar has flame maple back, sides and neck, with a solid carved bookmatched spruce soundboard, and all original warmly ambered natural blonde finish.

A special plus is the set of rare original Gibson Schaller speed crank tuners, available for only a few fleeting years in the early '80s, whose levers pull out from the keys to allow lightning fast tuning or re-stringing. The pickups are unique to that era as well, when Gibson engineer Tim Shaw produced the first truly engineered re-issue of the original late '50's PAF humbuckers. These factory ink-stamped Shaws have a characteristic warm, rich voice, making them highly sought after by players and collectors alike.

With effortless playability, the guitar has smooth, low action over an elegant D profile neck, with fine original fretwork and a fresh high precision setup. Maintained in gleaming showroom condition, the guitar appears to have spent the bulk of the intervening decades ensconced snugly in its original black Gibson logo plush lined hardshell case.

Highly coveted worldwide, the L-5CES has been the gold standard for the electric archtop for some seven decades. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge roundwound nickel strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4 to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

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