Gibson L5-S
Solidbody electric guitar

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 An L5-S in an advert for Gibson pickups: Laid Back, BJB Jazz, True Blues, Dirty Fingers, Super Humbucking, Original Humbucking

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.

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

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Gibson Firebird Non-Reverse

The original Gibson Non-reverse Firebirds were produced from 1966 1969 and featured a headstock with banjo styled tuners on the bass side, and a body having the bass side horn slightly longer than the treble side horn. This body style was less radical than earlier Firebird models and provided greater access to the neck, which had a fast slim-taper '60s profile giving this instrument extraordinary playability. The Gibson Firebird Non-Reverse has a 24½ scale body made of solid mahogany and a 1-piece mahogany neck with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. Other amenities include dot inlays, gold hardware, and an ABR-1 fixed bridge and stop tailpiece.This model has electronics similar in style to the Firebird VII (originally introduced in 1963), and is fitted with 3 Gibson mini-humbucking pickups

Gibson Custom Shop L-5 CES Electric Guitar

Tone and beauty for artistic performance!

The depth and mellowness of the Gibson L-5 CES is winning acclaim for this fine jazz guitar from the most discriminating artists. The tonal quality of the acoustic guitar and the advantages of an electric are combined in one instrument. Very few carved guitars are built each year because of the scarcity of the wood required and the handcrafting involved. The building of the L-5s is overseen by Jim Hutchins, a Gibson Builder since 1963. The process has remained relatively unchanged since the 1950s, including the hand-tuning of the top and back. Guitarists sing the praises of the comfortable vintage neck; the fast, easy action; and the rich beauty of the carved spruce top. Other features on the Gibson guitar include a figured, carved maple back with solid maple rims; a pearl inlaid ebony fingerboard; and beautiful multi white-black binding. With the creation of the L-5 in the 1920s, the modern archtop guitar was invented and it has set the standard for all carved guitars that have followed. (Click on "Private Reserve" at left to see more gorgeous pics.)

Gibson 1963 ES-335 Historic Block Reissue Nickel Hardware

A Custom Shop marvel with the fleet feel and luxury looks of the fastest 335 ever.

In mid-1962 Gibson's fantastically popular thinline semihollow wonder machine adopted a thinner, faster neck profile and gorgeous pearloid block inlays to enhance the rosewood fretboard. This precision Historic reissue is identical in every way to the original. It's made on the original forms by some of the world's finest luthiers.

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Neck Heritage Cherry Sunburst Nickel Hardware

Exclusive Alnico V pickups with classic neck and head.
The feel and sound of the original '50s LP comes from a classic, hefty neck design with the smaller peghead, push-in-bushing green tuning keys, and nickel hardware. Staggering looks with brilliant transparent finishes on figured maple tops. Burstbucker V pickups feature Alnico V magnets like those used in the P90s from the '50s. One coil has more wraps than the other, as did most '50s and early '60s "Patent Applied For"s. These waxed, double-potted pickups deliver a tighter, balanced, biting tone with more midrange. Mahogany body and neck withrosewood fretboard. Includes hardshell case.

Gibson ES-137 Custom Electric Guitar Light Burst Gold Hardware

Based on the ES-137 Classic, the Gibson ES-137 Custom Electric Guitar is the first Gibson archtop to employ a mahogany center block for reduced feedback and greater sustain. Other features are all Gibson deluxe: laminated curly maple body, binding on top and bottom, bound fingerboard, bound peghead, ebony fingerboard, split-diamond overlay headstock, pearloid split-diamond fingerboard inlays, 6-way Varitone switch that filters tone from fat to thin, and '57 Classic pickups (the original Gibson humbuckers from 1957). The magnets and 42-gauge enamel-coated wire are from the original suppliers and the pickups are built by Gibson on the original machinery.

available in candy apple red, cherry sunburst, light burst and tri-burst

Gibson Custom ES-175 Electric Guitar

The Gibson ES-175 Electric Guitar debuted in 1949. With a comfortable body size and stylish pointed cutaway, it quickly became the most popular guitar of the jazz world. The transparent finishes (sunburst with gold hardware or antique natural with nickel) on the laminated maple body of this reissue electric guitar always remind you that you're touching wood. Binding on the top, back, and fretboard, combined with a trapeze tailpiece and parallelogram fretboard inlays, provides a big touch of class. Traditional Gibson design and 2 '57 Classic humbuckers dish out huge helpings of tone. Gibson includes a hardshell case with the reissue ES-175.

Gibson 57 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Electric Guitar Antique Gold

Custom Shop quality in a classic reissue!
It's the quintessential Les Paul at its finest, Custom Shop crafted to be accurate to '57 specifications in every detail including the CTS pots and bumblebee capacitors. It was the first Paul to feature humbucking pickups, and this one comes equipped with the original '57 Classics. Carved maple top, mahogany back, and one-piece mahogany neck with the '57 profile and the original extended tenon joint. It features binding on body and neck, nickel hardware, an original ABR-1 tune-o-matic bridge, and the trademark antique gold finish. Includes Gibson Custom Shop hardshell case.

Gibson Faded SG Special

The Special has always represented a combination of looks, functionality, and value, and the new Faded SG Special maintains this tradition. Under its attractive faded finish, it is the traditional SG, with mahogany body and neck, tune-o-matic/stopbar bridge, and alnico 490 pickups. Its faded finish gives it the look of an axe that started its rockin' days in the '60s.