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Gibson L5-S
Solidbody electric guitar


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Gibson Shipment Totals 1937-1979
Covers all Gibson instruments 1937-1979. By Larry Meiners
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Gibson 75 solid body catalogue
The fingerboard of the L5-S is inlaid with beautiful, select abalone that gives this instrument an outstanding stage presence of its own
Taken from the 1975 Gibson solid body catalogue (above)

Gibson L5-S - As pickups stack up, Gibsons on top
Gibson L5-S - As pickups stack up, Gibsons on top
An L5-S in an advert for Gibson pickups: Laid Back, BJB Jazz, True Blues, Dirty Fingers, Super Humbucking, Original Humbucking
Variations of the Gibson L5-S

Some variations of the Gibson L5-S guitar. From left to right 1) 1973 - Cherry sunburst. Note the gold plated low impedance 'recording' style pickups 2) 1975 - Still Cherry Sunburst but with humbuckers rather than recording pickups 3) Fireburst finish 4) 1980 Natural L5-S with the TP6 tailpiece.

The L5-S was a particularly fine guitar; the first high end jazz solid body. As the name suggests it was related to the L5 archtop electric acoustic - sharing many features; single-cutaway body (though less sharp horn), ebony fingerboard with block inlays, flowerpot headstock inlay, L-5 tailpiece with contrasting silver on gold and the multilayer binding throughout. Another similar model was the L6-S which was a simplified version of the same guitar, launched in 1974.

Features: Carved curly maple body, with ornate multilayer binding, laminated maple neck, ebony fingerboard with abalone block inlays, gold-plated hardware throughout (pre-78 tailpiece has contrasting silver centrepiece, later changed to a gold plated TP-6). "L5" engraving, two gold plated pickups with seperate volume and tone, three way selector switch. Width at nut 1 11/16", scale 24 3/4".

It was Gibsons most prestigeous olid body (and therefore expensive, with a couple exceptions). Prices were typically 30-40% more than the other high end Gibson solid bodies; the Les Paul Recording, LP Custom and SG Custom. The exceptions were in 1979/1980 when the very fine Flying VII and active Les Paul Artist models were available; both were between $50 and $100 more, and were deleted almost as quickly as they had arrived.

L5-S chronology
  • 1972 L5-S launched[1], though shipping figures list no instruments shipped until 1973[2]
  • 1973 $895[3].L5-S first instruments shipped, Cherry Sunburst being the only finish available
  • 1974 $895[4]. This was the best sales year for the L5-S shipping 555 instruments[2]. Late '74 - gold covered 'recording pickups' are replaced with rectangular humbuckers
  • Gibson 1975 Solid Body Catalogue1975 $899[5]. The first catalogue appearance of the L5-S was in the 1975 Gibson Solid Body catalogue, where it took pride of place.
    The fingerboard of the L5-S is inlaid with beautiful, select abalone that gives this instrument an outstanding stage presence of its own
  • 1976 $929[6]. In June of '76 the price rose to $999, and two new finishes were added to the original cherry sunburst: Tobacco Sunburst and Maple[7]
  • 1977 $1079[8]
  • Gibson 1978 Quality / Prestige / Innovation Catalogue1978 $1079[9]. Tobacco Sunburst is dropped in favour of Fireburst, Maple is now described as Natural. Cherry Sunburst still available as before. The Gibson TP-6 tailpiece became standard this year. See the Gibson 1978 Quality / Prestige / Innovation Catalogue
  • 1979 $1149[10]. Antique Sunburst added to Fireburst, Cherry Sunburst and Natural.
  • Gibson 1980 Catalogue1980 $1249[1] By late 1980, the Gibson deluxe tuners with "Crank" button, and "Posi-Lok" strap button were added to this model. See the 1980 Gibson catalogue
  • 1981 $1349[12]
  • 1983 $1699[13]

1) Gibson 1975 solid body catalog
2) Gibson Shipment Totals 1937-79 by Larry Meiners
3) Gibson pricelist 1-6-73
4) Gibson pricelist 1-2-74
5) Gibson pricelist 1-1-75
6) Gibson pricelist 1-3-76
7) Gibson pricelist 1-6-76
8) Gibson pricelist 1-1-77
9) Gibson pricelist 15-5-78
10) Gibson pricelist 1-6-79
11) Gibson pricelist 1-7-80
12) Gibson pricelist 1-4-81
13) Gibson pricelist 1-1-83

Famous users include Ron Wood and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, Pat Martino and Paul Simon

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