GIBSON L-5 Description
- carved spruce top, f-holes, raised multi-bound pickguard, multi-bound body, carved figured maple back/sides, figured maple/ebony neck, 14/20-fret bound ebony pointed fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/trapeze tailpiece, multi-bound blackface snakehead peghead with pearl flowerpot/logo inlay, three-per-side silver plate tuners with pearl buttons, Master Model/Lloyd Loar signature labels, available in Natural or Cremona Brown Sunburst finish, limited in mfg. 1922-1958.
Models signed by Lloyd Loar (1922 to 1924).
Some early versions of this instrument have birch back/sides. In 1925, gold tuners replaced original part/design. In 1927, Master Model label was discontinued. In 1929, flat fingerboard with block inlay replaced original part/design, individual tuners replaced previous part/design. In 1935, The Advanced L-5´s larger body (17 inches across lower bout by 21 in. long), binding, tailpiece, peghead replaced original part/design, redesigned fingerboard replaced previous part/design. In 1936, bound f-holes replaced original part/design. In 1937, gold tailpiece with silver insert, Grover Imperial tuners replaced previous part/design. In 1939, redesigned tailpiece replaced previous part/design, pearloid pickguard, Natural finish became an option. In 1948, one or two pickguard mounted pickups became an option.
Current production instruments (1934 L-5) are part of the Historic Collection Series, found at the end of this section.