Up for sale, a circa 1970 Gibson L-5 CES in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. Upon its introduction in 1951 as the electrified version of Gibson’s L-5C, the “CES” L-5 has been the gold standard for Gibson archtops, with carved tonewoods used throughout and limited quantities produced. What makes this L-5 a standout for its era of production is the full 1 11/16 nut width, the player-preferred wider Gibson width not typically seen in 70.
Boasting a full 17″ lower bout with a carved, tight-grain premium spruce top, and curly maple back and sides, and the size of this archtop yields rich textured tones with a distinct woody quality and complex midrange character. Naturally, the ebony fretboard imparts a glassy note attack and superior articulation integral in round, present tonalities in every register and the kind of note separation essential to complex Jazz chord voicings. The original pair of T Top humbuckers are warm, well-defined and articulate, with excellent treble snap and upper midrange clarity for any complex chord voicing. The bridge pickup has a round, punchy quality, while the neck is round and meaty, with an overarching smoothness further accentuated by a set of 11-48 flatwound strings. Weighing only 8lbs 1oz, this L-5 CES has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mikes Guitar Bar with easy-playing action and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Flame maple (three-piece, walnut stringers)
-Shape: Medium C, measuring .830 1st fret, .960 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, mother of pearl block inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, refret, pristine (original fretwire included)
-Scale Length: 25
-Nut: 1 11/16, bone (replacement, original included)
-Tuners: Kluson Sealfast
-Serialization: Six-digit stamp dates to 63
Body Specs:
-Wood: Spruce, maple
-Pickups: Patent No. humbucker x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Ebony compensated floating bridge , L5-engraved tailpiece
-Plastics: Bound tortoise pickguard (replacement bracket), witch hat knobs
-Label: Rectangular Union Made
The gloss Cherry Sunburst nitro lacquer finish exhibits tight checking, with particularly dynamic curly figuring in the maple on the rims. There is one extra mounting hole for a pickguard bracket on the rim (below the current bracket) with small scuffs, dings and pickwear as shown. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with a couple tiny marks that are not distracting to the palm while fretting.
A vintage black tolex hardshell case is included, and there is some writing on the interior case pocket lid. The original fretwire and nut are also included.
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