The Gibson L-5: A Short History
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2022
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If you MUST have the '53 L-5, see it here:
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In 1988 I met and started studying jazz guitar with Rick Beato. Little did I know that we would become lifelong friends...despite my seeming inability to immediately ingest everything that Rick was putting in front of me. If you want to learn more about what that was like go watch my video about lessons with Rick from early in the channel.
At the time I owned a Hofner 3T, a copy of a Steinberger guitar that made it easy for me to take it on the road with me in my role as an admissions counselor. Eventually I'd buy a certified jazz box, a Fender D'Aquisto, in piano black with ebony, well, ebony everything. It was incredibly beautiful but to be honest, I never bonded with it. It was too big for me and I didn't have the hang of not getting it to feed back. But that started my love with the shape of jazz guitars and it has never really abated though now I know I'm done with my little fully hollow Gibson ES-390.
And so it was inevitable that I'd want to make this video about the first F-hole guitars and all the beautiful L5's that came later. If you're reading this I assume you have the itch too, so tell your friends. I'm just a little worried that this one might seem to esoteric to see many views. Prove me wrong, I'd love that.
Thanks for watching.
All the best,
Keith
Love this Hypes! The L-5 is a Gibson that I have never played. I was afraid I might like it too much and could never afford one :)
Oh man I hear you. I remember you playing my D'Aquisto in my living room in Owego. Man you made that guitar work.
Nearly bought one a '53 in perfect shape, in '88, couldn't Quite swing the deal, but it sounded like the most Heavenly Thing.
This is the exact reason I’ve never tried one.
Buy one. I bought mine back in 1996. Still looks brand new. I play it through a pair of amps from what used to be called the Fender Custom Amp Shop. One is a Vibro King and the other is a Dual Professional. Instead of using the 3 knob reverbs in the amps (they muddy up the sound) I run an Eventide Eclipse and a Lexicon MPX-1 through the effects loops. On the front end, I use my old tc electronic stereo chorus/flanger/pitch modulation pedal to split the signal between the amps. The sound is so pure and enveloping. I bought mine new, but after watching the video, I was shocked to learn that some had laminated/pressed backs. Those backs were probably made on the ES-5 jigs. I’ve also seen Norlin era L-5’s with plain maple sides and backs. There are still some new L-5’s out there. Buy one. You truly will not regret it. And get a proper handwired amp(s) to go with it.
ahaha it happens also with D'Angelicos 😅
Five-Watt World, you referred to this as a 'Short History' of the Gibaon L-5 but it appears to be a 'Complete History' of the iconic Gibson. Great job!!!
For something so compelling as the motto of the Five Watt World, you sure do make me want a whole lot of gear LOL
Cheers Keith and anyone else involved in these videos, they are absolutely fantastic and an excellent documentation of the legacy of guitars.
These stories and documentaries are the benchmark of the history of these topics and in the future when we are all feeding the flowers from the he bottom...and as the vast majority of these instruments fade to history and the numbers dwindle to nothing...there will be 5 watt world to keep the greatest instruments in history alive and well..the personal attention to detail and added guests knowledge and stories of the world travels associated w these artists and guitars will always be the standard... Keith has done mankind's love for guitars a great service..🤘😁🎸🎶♥️
This was very well done Keith, thanks for including me in the show. All the best from the great northwest.
Thanks Tim
I can't imagine a better example of someone showing what an L-5 can do tim! I have learned a lot from your youtube channel and recently from your trufire content..
I also feel that you have some amazing tone with your nocaster/CC pickups,Great stuff!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
It was a a great pleasure to be in this video. That 1953 L5 was such a joy to play 🎸
Thanks so much for doing that great playing Andy!
Nice playing Andy!
@@portsideguitar1981 Thanks 🤠
Really appreciate the Wes Montgomery lesson. I've only recently discovered him... Super talented, and such a sad ending to his story. Thanks
My favorite Wes fact is that he developed his thumb technique because he would practice late at night after his day job and he didn't want to wake up his family and neighbors.
Thankfully, he left us an amazing body of work.
I was fortunate enough to own 2 L-5's in my lifetime. I bought the first one, a 1957 L5 CES with the Alinco V pickups in 1968. Just a smooth player, for sure. My 2nd one was a 1937 L5 that had been formerly owned by Herb Ellis that I bought in 1069. It was my daily player for many, many years. When the Arthritis in my hands got too bad to play, anymore, I sold my entire Gibson collection to a well-known dealer in California and watched them go off to new homes to people who could appreciate them. At times, I am still wistful about them. They were old friends that I got to know very well.
1069 just after the Norman invasion did you ever have a chance to meet William
Played my first L5CES in 1977, owned by my teacher. Shortly thereafter, traded my Guild F50 for an L5 solid body sunburst with low impedance pickups. Had it for 30 yrs... could not afford the humbucker version at the time. Pat Martino inspired.
I recently built an L-5 jazz box based on the Wes Montgomery model with a single HB in the neck. It is one of my fav builds! I surely appreciate learning the history of the model. As usual, your research is top notch! It has also given me ideas for another possible L-5 builds. Thanks for another splendid history lesson!!
Keith this is fascinating, so much I didn't know.... And now I want an L5 !
You should get one! I know you would really make it sing.
Tim you should definitely get one, the early L-5 in the hands of Barney Kessel and Bob Bain, Dennis Budimir and others was the secret rhythm guitar sound on a lot of 60s pop songs. You are an important part of that legacy! Who knows maybe that secret sound can make a comeback !
I for one would love to see and hear an L5 in the hands of Tim Pierce!
Skipped over the 30.’s fairly quickly. 1935 L5 Advanced first year with 17” body. 35, 36 and 37 were x braced guitars. The only three years with the L5 engraved trapeze tailpiece. 1938, back to parallel bracing and the fancy tailpiece that is pretty similar all the way thru to today. Great video!! The 30’s were transitional in the history of the L5. Thought I’d share. Thanks for all the great videos you produce!!
Thanks Bill. Yes, I could have done 30 mins on the first 10 years.
This was great! I have my Dad’s ‘51 L5 and I love to learn the history!
Outstanding. I was very lucky to have inherited a 1964 es 125 tcd and its amazing. Birds eye maple top...beautiful burst... I'm certain the L5s are even better
If you get chance to check out Melvin Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson(R.I.P.), do it! He played his L5 with Herbie Hancock, Maxwell, Rose Royce, Chaka Khan, The Pointer Sisters and countless others.
Great history lesson! I have a 69 L5 CES purchased from Gruhn’s in 2008. It’s incredible to look at let alone play. Thanks for making this presentation!
Love these videos!! Sooo well done. Please do ES175 at some point!
I love, love that you gave Molly some airtime. She is absolutely fantastic. I rewatch her duets with a “younger” Billy Strings over and over.
I think my guitar tech has one of the early post-War models hung up in his livingroom.
Super beautiful guitar, I wouldn’t even think close to even touching.
most time the collector piece is worth way more than the playability of a lot of then become wall art
The tones! Another homerun Keith - thank you.
Thanks for including Tim Lerch in your videos!
I remember watching the One More Car, One More Rider (Live) concert video from Eric Clapton where he played a natural L5… I am not sure what year it was but it sounded really really good in his hands.
He had two over time. I’m going to talk about it on the live stream. Really good story.
I just cannot understand how videos like this have so few likes and views..
Keith delivers the best information in a way that makes it super fun to listen, while always citing his sources!
I can’t emphasize enough on how important that is in our world that is more and more based on hearsay and a „what I believe is true“ mentality.
Thank you Keith for giving us the best information in the most entertaining way!
You’re always classy but also make great puns and fortunately never adopted ridiculous „UA-camr style“ behavior.
Thanks Ro!
No one can touch you with videos like this, they're the best. Gear heads will be watching them for 100 years. Rock on.
totally on point
Love these archtops with the Florentine cutaway. I just got an ES 175 style archtop for my birthday. It is my dream guitar.
Keith, please try to check out Matthew Scott's YT channel, if you haven't already. He gets hold of beat-up vintage 1958 Les Pauls, Strats, 1966 Fender Reverbs, etc. - gets them repaired by red-hot gifted artisans, then he plays them. Even though 40%-ish of the sound quality is lost when he downloads it to YT, it still sounds sublime - like angels bonking on clouds. It sort of explains why Johnny Depp and Music is Win pays tens of thousands of dollars for a 1964 Strat. There's definitely something in it. I cannot understand why - all the pick ups and pots have been replaced - it's not like it's a 1938 Martin D-28 (which is 95% original intact) - a 1960s Gibson SG is an old block of wood with entirely new electrics - how can that possible be vintage? And yet, Matthew Scott somehow shows that they have a vintage magic sound for reasons that are utterly beyond me. Note: I am not related to, I do not know/never met, have no pecuniary interest in Matthew Scott. I reckon you'd compliment each others content: two guitar geeks approaching guitars from different angles. He discovers common issues associated with a particular model, "The necks often snap on XXXXX guitars."
Both Tim Lerch and Andy Bowen are terrific jazz teachers...Andy desrves alot more success on his channel!! I have learned a lot from his channel and he is very generous with his free lesson content including free pdf files!!
Wonderful as always! Thanks!
Incredible as always!
Thanks, Keith, always learn from your videos!
Jerry Miller from Moby Grape has played a L-5 CES since the mid-60’s. The guitar sounds on that first album are historic.
Eddie Lang, Wes Montgomery, and a host of others have played some really great tunes on their L-5’s over the years! Great video, thanks for posting!
Great Video as Always, good job Keith
My dream guitar, partly due to Wes, but mostly because they always sounds so right in a jazz context. My preference would be a '30s vintage acoustic, but would happily own a Wes signature model. I could never see the point of choking a resonant top with two pickups and all those knobs.
@ Fred Patton - Re: "I could never see the point of choking a resonant top with two pickups and all those knobs."
If acoustic purity is your goal, then the less you have built into the top, the better - but if you play an arch-top electrified and in front of an audience, then those additions may help keep the guitar from feeding back. As far as I am aware, it is lost to history what Wes did to control feedback on his larger gigs, or if it was even an issue, but we know from modern players like George Benson, that a traditional arch-top sometimes doesn't amplify well in your bigger venues. Which is why his signature model from Ibanez isn't a 100% solid wood guitar, but has some laminates in it, probably to minimize feedback and assist in playing at higher volume.
The eternal dilemma of the jazz guitarist: The tradeoff between the wonderful tone of a pure solid-wood carved arch-top, and the problems with feedback therein. Many guys either stuff foam into the body to deaden it, or have a sound post installed. Or gravitate to a style of guitar less-prone to feeding back at higher volume.
As a long-time Gibson guitar player, collector & fan - I enjoyed this condensed history on the L-5. Thank you!
Thanks for telling this interesting story so beautifully.
Brilliant! Thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable walk down memory lane. We had an L-5 and an L6s at a music store I worked at in the late 70's. I played them occasionally, but didn't have the chops back then to do them justice.
Thank you for another wonderful video.
Really great work Keith. Always a joy to learn about these and hear Some modern masters like Kirk Fletcher and Tim Lerch in the same video!
I love your channel; this episode is as delightful as any you've done. Thanks also for introducing featured artists, I will have more fun exploring.
Hey Keith, I'm a big fan of your content and this is probably my favorite video you've done to date. I would love to see Gibson get back to archtops and hollow bodies in general. Their current marketing is totally oriented to hard rock and hair metal players. Nothing wrong with that music, but they are pigeonholing themselves as "rock guitars", even though their guitars were pivotal to many styles of 20th century music. Jazz may not be for everyone, but being the premier maker of 'jazz guitars' really solidifies the brand as the choice of the most advanced players. My opinion is that this may have helped with crossover marketing to players of other styles (like Scotty Moore). I know we live in a very different world today, but I'd love to see Gibson get back to making instruments like this.
Thanks Keith for finally doing this one. I loved it, great job as always.
Thank you for this informative video. I have an original natural finish with original white pick guard special ordered, and it's an early 1938 verified on the Gibson ledger by Walter Carter. One family owner, me and my great uncle, who originally purchased it at the New York Band Instrument Co. I have the receipt. It sounds incredible! In excellent condition.
Great video! Thanks, that was very interesting!
beautifully put together Keith as usual,,,when i see you clips pop up on my feed i know its time to grab a cuppa and settle in for some great info and in depth knowledge ,,,cheers from Australia
Very much appreciated look at such an iconic guitar that I've otherwise known very little about. Thanks for, again, expanding my knowledge.
Your videos are so well made and narrated that I'm absolutely drawn to watching videos of guitars that are far from what are my personal preferences (super strat style of guy). Thank you.
Best video ever - please do a video like this on everything in life.
Thanks Keith. I enjoy your guitar histories even if I don't yearn for that particular model, or know anything about it. Fascinating little glimpses into musical history. :)
That was really interesting. Thank you.
Great video. I enjoy learning about Gibson pre 1950s; seems get overlooked a lot.
Once again, a very informative episode. Great Job! On a side note... that T-shirt sums it all up....so true.
Missed your live even though I was in the first 3 there waiting..lol..busy morning but my time to catch up now! Thanks Keith!🤘😜🎸🎶
This is such a good series of videos.
As always, here’s another great video showing me so many interesting details I did not know about. It makes me smile when my phone blings to tell me there’s a new feed which was just uploaded from this channel, thanks 😊
Thanks Thomas
Interesting you posted this, I have been a solid body player for years but have recently become fascinated with archtop style guitars for both the artistry of their design but rich history as well.
Thank you for this excellent episode Keith. I have wanted an L-5CES for decades, but budget and cost never aligned. I do have a Custom Shop L-4C that I got about 16 years ago and just last month got a 1957 L-50 that had been its original case under a bed for over twenty years. Lucky catch that one. I did mount a Kent Armstrong pickup to the end of the fingerboard on the L-4C along with volume and tone wheel pots under the pick guard to give some oomph without needing to mike it and it worked out really well. Thank you as always, wonderful work.
Another great video. Thanks. This is the first time I've heard that Gibson head-stock inlay called a 'flower pot', but I can see now that it's regularly used. I've seen it for years but never really thought about a name for it, unlike the 'crown' or 'split diamond'. For something so ornate and elaborate it has ended up with a very down-to-earth sobriquet.
The most gear info for the least amount of your time!!
Another gem from KW.
Love it.
We want a video about the Gibson ES-175 :) Another iconic Gibson hollowbody.
Nice!!! I love it. This and Gibson Jumbo are my favorites.
Wow, so few of these guitars were built, very informative, thanks!
Sssssmokin'!! You cut scene and were saying if I missed anything. I felt the metaphorical chest restraints rise on this amusement park ride of a video. Over so soon? I'll rewatch. From when I was 12 and Dad brought me to friends home to share the country jam culture, my first glimpse of an L5 just filled my eyes and never left. Well? Something to save for. I'll look for Brian Setzer at the local grocery. I helped him with the self check aisle once. WE are blessed with musical talent and stars squirreled away in the lake district of Minnetonka. Thanks for this one!
I had the Pat Martino model cherry flame. Wish I still had it. Love your video. Thank you and done well !!!
I really love your videos! I'm not sure this was mentioned in a previous comment, but the earliest Loar signed L-5s have birch back and sides. They switched to the maple after Loar's departure from the company. Thanks so much for all of your videos. It is clear how passionate you are about the history and joy of guitars.
Well done👍👍!
Really interesting video and lovely playing - I’ve subscribed 👍🖖
Another great one
Another great video.
I Love these videos.👍👍👍👍👍
Molly Tuttle is one of my favorite pickers!! Love your work!
Great history lesson of the iconic L-5. Thought I knew everything about the L-5 but I learned more from this video. I believe one of the funk brothers at Motown records used an L-5 for a lot of the recordings in the 60’s and 70’s.
I found those early L-5's to be particularly beautiful and elegant. Gibson got a lot right with those early guitars, including the snakehead headstock shape. It's nice to know my old Gibson ES-175, the model Herb Ellis used, is directly connected in the history of the L-5. I feel lucky to have such an amazing instrument. Wonderful video as always, they put a smile on my face. Thanks
That headstock is so superior to the modern Gibson headstocks! It is kind of similar to what they did on the ES-346 to improve tuning stability, but prettier.
I had the honor of playing Wes Montgomery’s L5 at Mandolin Brothers 20 years ago. Magic.
Wow!
@@fivewattworld it was the one with the heart inlay. A real parting clouds and shafts of sunlight moment for sure!
Another magic school day, thanks Keith, the guitars shown have some sweet tones. 👍🥃Respect to you mate
Another great video.
This isn't a guitar that I would every consider buying but it was still a fantastic episode. There's so much history and this guitar really was an important step into Gibson designing guitars that I do play, like the Les Paul. I appreciate how much you put into these videos. It really says a lot that I enjoyed watching this video so much despite it being about a type of guitar that doesn't appeal to me.
❤❤🤘🤘I am happy 😎 Another Five Watt video!
Great video.
Wow what a great video, I've been playing the Ibanez AF95 for years but if i could afford a Gibson L5 with the Venetian cut i certainly purchase one. Love the sound Wes Montgomery got out of his L5
Thanks for making this video! I'm lucky enough to have an L5-CES in ebony. Not only is it my idea of a nearly perfect-looking guitar, my 2015 version is a VERY good sounding and feeling example. Even unplugged, it has a very round and sweet tone. And it's not just me, every semi/pro player and working luthier who's tried it out have agreed. Bought it "open box" from musician's friend on credit. Paid it off over 48mos at 0% and I've kept it through thick and thin for almost 10yrs. My jazz chops being nearly nonexistent (I'm trying to sort that out!) I can tell you the feedback is honestly not that bad, even at high volume or high gain/high volume. The L5 really can do it all!!
Excellent!
Molly watched it with me, and said your video was really good. I agree wholeheartedly.
I’m not surprised you’d raise a ver discerning viewer, :). Tell her thanks.
16” L-5’s have a snap to them that no other guitar has
I’ve had a couple of entry level/intermediate archtops over the years and players like Wes and Joe Pass have always thrilled me. I guess it’s time to sell something to buy something (you know how that goes) to get my Jazz on again. As always, thanks Keith.
Keith, great job, as usual! 👍 I'd love to own a single pickup Wes Montgomery L-5, but my '76 ES-175 will have to suffice.
A other informative and interesting video. Thank you
Thanks!
Another fantastic history lesson! That new shirt is hilarious! I might have to get one....
Thank You
Great story ! That guitar sounds good and I like that intro tune!
I was fortunate to buy a ‘42 L5 from Larry Wexer several years ago. He was so knowledgeable and a pleasure to deal with. I offered a few dollars less than asking. He politely declined in such a way that though I paid full price I felt like it was a great deal. It’s a beautifully clean example with great archtop tone.
Fantastic as usual KW - love your channel. Andy Bowen's playing on the 1953 L5 was excellent. BTW the guitar at 19:42 looks exactly like my 1977 blonde L5CES; which plays like a dream and sounds like...an L5! I have played other 1960s L5 CES guitars and the Norlin 1977 which I own plays just as well. The guitar is probably just opening up. Just my 2 cents!
Great stuff, the chapter on L5C thinline / “George Gobel” would have been interesting.
Gibson L5 was always on my dream list since I started playing, maybe those old jazz records around the parents house. Finally acquired one late in age now but too scared to take this one out much, needs to be a special gig and usually there is a tux involved. Could never find one for sale in the 80’s I could afford, thus the ES-175 choice at the time.
Yet ANOTHER well-done history lesson!
I really enjoyed this video!
Thanks for your insight and research!
I have been a fan of Wes Montgomery since I first saw him on the Hollywood Palace TV show in Junior High.
Keep up the good work!
Quick aside/request...
As a bass player and Fender freak, could you please do a history vid of the Fender Bass V and Bass VI?
Love this guitar, but can't afford one. Love Wes, one of my favorite guitarists.
I read somewhere that the solid bodied L6-S was also related to the L5. It had normal impedence humbuckers, though. Nice vid, thanks.
A guitar I dreamt of owning from my youth, even when playing a Flying V through a Marshall JCM800, although I was using jazz chords much to the frustration of my friends. When I finally got a beautiful L5ce at 56 years I find myself too afraid to leave it out for fear of damage from a boisterous French bulldog or the central heating…..it now resides in a case under my bed and never sees the light of day….perhaps one day I will throw caution to the wind and leave it out, or perhaps just knowing it is there satisfies my youthful urge. Great UA-cam piece BTW, I will be clicking subscribe.
Welcome to five watt world John!
I've wanted a Gibson Full hollow body L5 but could never afford one but I've found an awesome Epiphone Emperor swingster full hollow body in orange with Chet Bigsby and it almost as wonderful as the vintage Gibson ! I'm happy with the Epiphone as it came with nice hard case and has the series/parallel switches like Gretsch and I only paid like $250 for the Gretsch I traded for the Epiphone so it's a no brain needed type of deal !😁👍
Love the video! It’s tough, I imagine, to mention everyone associated to L5’s. So I’ll give shout for Wah Wah Watson!
I liked the range of the demos.