1941 Gibson L-5, Sunburst

A wonderful 1941 Gibson L-5, serial number 97397, FON 53306 2, with the full 17” Advanced body, beautifully figured maple and classic pre-war Gibson archtop character.

The L-5 was Gibson’s flagship acoustic archtop and remains one of the most important jazz guitars ever made. By this period, the model had evolved into its larger 17” body format, giving it greater depth, projection and authority while retaining the elegance and refinement that made the L-5 such a benchmark instrument. This example has the 17” wide, 3.5” deep body and 25.5” scale length.

The guitar is finished in Sunburst and displays a wealth of vintage character. The top shows evidence of an old clear overspray, and the binding has undergone repairs over the years. Noticeable wear to the neck reflects decades of regular use, a testament to how well played and well loved this instrument has been over its 80-plus years.

The construction and quality of materials is superb, with a tight-grained spruce top, birdseye maple back, beautifully figured maple sides and a flame maple neck. The ebony fingerboard has block marker inlays, and the headstock features the Gibson script logo, flowerpot inlay and 5-ply binding.

Hardware includes gold plated Grover enclosed tuners with stairstep buttons and the correct worn gold L-5 tailpiece with its silver/nickel centre section. The bridge is a reproduction rosewood bridge currently fitted with a functioning contact pickup.

The guitar has been refretted, making it a more practical and enjoyable instrument in use while retaining its vintage feel and character. With its large body, long scale and carved archtop construction, it has all the ingredients that make these early L-5s so special: power, attack, depth, projection and a wonderfully cutting acoustic voice.

A hugely charismatic and highly desirable early ’40s Gibson L-5, with beautiful woods, classic Advanced-era proportions and plenty of honest vintage character. The guitar comes complete with its correct red plush-lined hard shell case with Excelsior latches. It also comes with a receipt from The Guitar Shoppe in California, dated 1997, adding a nice piece of more recent provenance.