This Gibson L-5 is a rare wartime example with serial number and factory order numbers both dating to 1943. At an uncertain point in its life it was modified to be an electric guitar with the addition of a P90 pickup and associated volume and tone controls. The output jack is mounted in the side in the tradition manner of a Gibson electric archtop. The P90 appears to be a fairly recent example. I am not certain of the maker. The installation was clearly done at a professional level.
The bridge, endpin, and tailpiece are original to the guitar. The tuners are recent replacement Kluson Sealfasts, matching the bodies of the original tuners. The guitar has also had a professional refret and a new bone nut that has helped make this guitar have exceptional playability.
The finish shows some delamination on the back, as shown in the photos. The back shows a repaired center seam separation in the lower bout, and a repaired crack on the treble side of the lower bout. The top appears crack free, as do the sides. The neck has a small area of discoloration near the heel, but no other issues. There appears to have been a neck reset, but as with the refret, contributes to the superb playability. The pickguard bracket is mounted in a second hole in the side while the original mounting hole is exposed. A strap button has been added to the neck heel with an additional open screw hole from it being mounted in a different spot originally.
The P90 sounds great and being installed in an originally acoustic L-5, makes this guitar a lot like Wes Mongomery's very early L-5. This guitar is totally capable of those kinds of tones. It also retains great acoustic tone, although with a little less volume than it likely had before the modifications. I found feedback relatively easy to control despite the acoustic resonance of the guitar.
The neck is a full C-shape to very slighly D-shaped as one goes up the neck. The action can be set quite low. The bridge has room to adjust either up or down as the player prefers.
Weight - 7.0 pounds
Nut width - 1.65 inches
1st fret depth - 0.91 inches
10th fret depth - 0.97 inches
The guitar comes with a top end version of TKL's archtop case which is in excellent condition, although the locking latch hasp has been removed because despite never being used, the lock does not appear to work. The hasp is included in the case.
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