Music

Gibson L-5CESN Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 523175, natural lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; laminated maple neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case. One of Gibson's classiest electric guitars, the L-5CESN (Cutaway Electric Spanish, Natural) was a company mainstay for many years, and a particular favorite of many jazz and classic R&B players. This example is from the late 1960s, made just before the '60s sharp Florentine cutaway body reverted back to the old rounded profile used in the 1950s. Although Gibson quality is generally thought to have slipped somewhat in this time period, the top-line carved guitars suffered the least; this L-5CESN still has the much of feel of a top-quality instrument from an earlier era. This electrified L-5 is built on a 3 1/4" deep, 17" wide body with a fully carved spruce top over a laminate back. It is finished in a beautifully ambered natural, always produced in smaller numbers than sunburst. The maple back and sides have some subtle flame grain figure, but the maple in the 5-piece laminate neck has some really dramatic tiger striping. It is fitted with a multi-bound genuine pearl block inlaid ebony fingerboard. There is multiple binding everywhere and the headstock bears the pearl flowerpot inlay that is the longstanding L-5 hallmark. The neck is slimmer than earlier '60s examples with the narrow 1 9/16" nut width typical of the 1965-70 period. The hardware includes two patent number humbucking pickups with gold plated covers. The standard Gibson wiring rig is topped off with the metal-capped gold knobs more typical of the earlier '60s, not the later "witch hat" amp-style knobs. The original gold-plated tailpiece has the traditional silver-plated center insert and retains the old "top-buster" tension adjustment almost nobody has ever used. The tuners are metal-button Kluson Sealfast enclosed machines, the truss rod cover is the typical wide-bevel piece used on L-5's engraved "Custom" in the center. The L-5 CES is considered one of the seminal jazz and R&B guitars, used by many greats in the 1950s and beyond from Freddie Stone to Kenny Burrell. This natural finish example is a much rarer guitar than the sunburst version; only 11 examples shipped out in 1968 compared with 189 'bursts, and all of 161 over the entire decade of the 1960s. In either case this represents only a tiny fraction of the totals for many other period Gibson instruments. The list price in 1968 was a staggering $1025, plus $85 for the "Faultless" case; no wonder so few were sold! This is a very nice example showing some wear but still a supremely classy guitar and excellent player with the classic Gibson sound. Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 16 15/16 in. (43 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.). This guitar shows some general wear but overall remains a fine original example. The finish shows some broad checking (mostly to the top and back) and minor dings and dents overall, but no major wear except to the plating. The pickguard is a very nicely done repro; the original suffered celluloid disintegration some time ago and there is some commensurate fairly heavy corrosion and plating loss to some hardware, particularly the pickup covers, pickguard bracket and tailpiece. The pickups and wiring remain original, the Patent # humbuckers sound great but the covers have some obvious cosmetic damage. There is a correct period Gibson strap button added below the heel but no other alterations. The large-wire frets appear original with some re-crowning and playability is excellent. This is a truly lovely guitar to play and to hear, with the warm, rich, yet still lively sound characteristic of these fully carved-top Gibson electrics. It resides in the original yellow-lined "Faultless" hardshell case, showing some wear but still fully solid. Overall Excellent - Condition.