1996 Gibson L-5 CES Archtop Electric Guitar Sunburst Near-Mint w/ 57 Classic PAFs, Case
$14,499.99
$14,499.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1996 Gibson L-5 CES in showroom-clean condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and hangtags. 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. This particular L-5 CES dates to an increasingly heralded era of Gibson production colloquially known as the “good wood” era.
Boasting a full 17" lower bout with a carved, tight-grain premium spruce top, curly maple sides, and a stunningly figured bookmatched fiddleback maple back, 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 57 Classic PAF humbucker pair are medium output, wax-potted for optimal feedback rejection: the bridge pickup is warm and smooth, with enough top end cut and upper midrange clarity to satisfy Jazz purists, and the neck position humbucker is even rounder and fatter, perfect for lead work that requires some meat and mellowness, further accentuated by a set of 12-52 flatwound strings. Weighing 8lbs 2oz, this L-5 CES benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with easy-playing action and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Flame maple (three-piece, walnut stringers)
-Shape: Slender C, measuring .795” 1st fret, .930” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, mother of pearl block inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-4
-Scale Length: 25 ½”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Gibson-branded (Schaller-made)
-Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to ‘96
Body Specs:
-Wood: Spruce, flame maple
-Pickups: ‘57 Classic PAF x2 (replaced covers)
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: ABR-1 bridge with ebony base, “L5”-engraved tailpiece
-Plastics: Bound tortoise pickguard (modern replacement to spec), gold bonnet knobs
The gloss Vintage Sunburst nitro lacquer finish highlights the notably tight, straight grain of the spruce top and the dynamic figuring in the fiddleback maple back; exceedingly well-kept for three decades, there are just a few small nicks on the bass side of the top and a couple finish scratches in the clear coat on the rest of the body. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless.
The original brown Gibson USA hardshell case is included.
Boasting a full 17" lower bout with a carved, tight-grain premium spruce top, curly maple sides, and a stunningly figured bookmatched fiddleback maple back, 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 57 Classic PAF humbucker pair are medium output, wax-potted for optimal feedback rejection: the bridge pickup is warm and smooth, with enough top end cut and upper midrange clarity to satisfy Jazz purists, and the neck position humbucker is even rounder and fatter, perfect for lead work that requires some meat and mellowness, further accentuated by a set of 12-52 flatwound strings. Weighing 8lbs 2oz, this L-5 CES benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with easy-playing action and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Flame maple (three-piece, walnut stringers)
-Shape: Slender C, measuring .795” 1st fret, .930” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, mother of pearl block inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-4
-Scale Length: 25 ½”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Gibson-branded (Schaller-made)
-Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to ‘96
Body Specs:
-Wood: Spruce, flame maple
-Pickups: ‘57 Classic PAF x2 (replaced covers)
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: ABR-1 bridge with ebony base, “L5”-engraved tailpiece
-Plastics: Bound tortoise pickguard (modern replacement to spec), gold bonnet knobs
The gloss Vintage Sunburst nitro lacquer finish highlights the notably tight, straight grain of the spruce top and the dynamic figuring in the fiddleback maple back; exceedingly well-kept for three decades, there are just a few small nicks on the bass side of the top and a couple finish scratches in the clear coat on the rest of the body. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless.
The original brown Gibson USA hardshell case is included.
