Pre-War Gibson L-5 Owners' Club
1936
A total of 169 L-5s were shipped in this year (includes 17 with old-style 16-inch body)
If an instrument appears in one of our picture galleries this is noted beneath the serial number.
Model: L-5
Serial number: 93291
FON
Year Shipped: 1936
Headstock:
Neck/fingerboard:
Body:
Hardware:
Notes: According to Guernsey’s Auction House, where this L-5 was offered for sale in 2016, its first owner was George VanEps. It subsequently belonged to Howard Roberts before being acquired by Don Peake in the early 60s. A member of the famed Los Angeles Wrecking Crew, Peake used the guitar on numerous hits including ‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling’ and ‘Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ by Ike and TinaTurner and ‘If I Were a Carpenter’ by Bobby Darin. The list of entertainers whose recordings feature Don playing this L-5 includes Jan and Dean, Roy Orbison, The Monkees, Barry White, Del Shannon, Rick Nelson, The Jackson Five, The Osmonds and the Mamas and the Papas.
Source: Guernsey’s Auction House
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 92783
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON: 321A3
Year Shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal script 'Gibson' logo, truss rod cover engraved G.E.M. (possibly C.E.M.)
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, narrow block inlays start at first fret, 24 ¾ inch scale length
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated hardware including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds
Notes: This guitar was refinished, refretted, and had the tuners replaced by Gibson in the late 1950s. A floating DeArmond pickup has also been installed.
Source: Carter Vintage (cartervintage.com)
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 92824
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON: 314-3
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal script 'Gibson' logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and block inlays from the first fret
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with small bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, Grover Imperial tuners, hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and long pickguard
Notes: Returned to Gibson factory in 1936, where it was reconditioned and upgraded – hence the small bound f-holes, the hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and the Grover Imperial tuners
Source: Craig Brody of guitarbroker.com
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 92895
FON
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock:
Neck/fingerboard:
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Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 92947
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON: 447B
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal script 'Gibson' logo, ‘Made In The USA’ stamp on rear of the headstock
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and block inlays starting at first fret
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, individual open gear Grover G-98 Tuners with metal ‘butterbean’ buttons and flat tailpiece with ‘L-5’ legend. The bridge is a replacement
Source: Vintage Jazz Guitars
Model: L-5
Serial number: 92961
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON: 447B followed by ‘12’ in red pencil
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal 'Gibson' script logo with no dot on the i
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony fingerboard with block inlays starting at the first fret
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides
Hardware: Rosewood bridge, gold-plated hardware including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds and open gear Grover G-98 tuners with metal butterbean buttons
Notes: Repaired crack in X-brace and new mother of pearl nut. The bottom of the original bridge (which had been shaved down) was built up.
Images courtesy of Greg Poulos
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93079
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON: 554B-6 (the ‘6’ is in red ink)
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal Gibson script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony fingerboard with pointed end and narrow blocks inlays from the first fret
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with small unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated hardware including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend. Tuners and bridge are replacements and a strap button has been installed on the heel
Notes: Fitted with a nickel-plated DeArmond Rhythm Chief Model 1000 pickup, which is dated July 13th, 1966. Evidence suggests that this guitar was refinished at the Gibson factory early in its life. 1950s Gibson brown hardshell case with pink plush lining.
Records indicate that this guitar was sold by Skinner Auctioneers in 2002 (where it was incorrectly dated as a 1935 L-5) for $6,463
Source: Glen Johnson and Skinner Auctions and Gruhn Guitars (guitars.com)
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93097
FON:
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock:
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Hardware:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93099
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON: 554
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal script 'Gibson' logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays starting at the first fret
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with X-braced top and unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, individual tuners, flat tailpiece with ‘L-5’ legend and long pickguard
Source: Vintage & Rare Guitars
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93121
(See Type Three Gallery)
FON: 1356-18
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: horizontal 'The Gibson' logo,
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard (refretted) with a pointed end narrow and narrow block markers from the first fret
Body: 16-inch body
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, individual tuners, regular trapeze tailpiece and replica long pickguard
Notes: This guitar is listed in Gibson shipping ledger as 'Old L-5'
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93170
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON:
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal 'Gibson' script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony fingerboard with narrow block inlays from the first fret (has been re-fretted), 24 3/4-inch scale length
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with unbound f-holes and Sunburst finish
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, flat tailpiece with ‘L-5’ legend, reproduction Gotoh tuners and long bound pickguard
Source: John Stewart
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93206
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal 'Gibson' script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with X braced top and unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, Grover Imperial tuners, hinged L-5 tailpiece with silver centre insert, long pickguard and Brazilian rosewood bridge
Notes: Has original hardshell case
Source: Dexter Johnson, Carmel Music Co. (carmelmusic.com)
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93207
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal 'Gibson' script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays starting at the first fret
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, Grover G-98 tuners with metal ‘butterbean’ buttons, hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert, long pickguard and rosewood bridge
Source: Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey Auctions
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93222
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON:
Headstock:
Neck/fingerboard: 24 ¾-inch scale length
Body: 17-inch Advanced body with X braced top and unbound f-holes
Hardware: Non-original Kluson Deluxe tuners, bound celluloid pickguard and bracket
Notes: Some overspray to the rear of the headstock and a strap button installed on the bass side of the heel. One of 19 17-inch L-5s shipped in 1936
Photograph courtesy of Musurgia (musurgia.com)
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93276
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON:
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal 'Gibson' script logo with no dot on the ‘i’
Neck/fingerboard: 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pointed end and block inlays starting at the first fret
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes
Hardware: Rosewood bridge, gold-plated hardware including a hinged L-5 trapeze tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds. Grover G-98 tuners with metal butterbean buttons
Notes: Has original tweed hard shell case. This L-5 displays a number of unusual features including a rosewood fingerboard and parallel top bracing (in general early Advanced L-5s are X braced)
Source: Retrofret (retrofret.com)
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93277
FON:
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock:
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Hardware:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93281
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
FON: 634
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal script 'Gibson' logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and block inlays starting at the first fret
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, Grover open back tuners, flat tailpiece with ‘L-5’ legend
Source: Gruhn Guitars
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93549
FON:
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock:
Neck/fingerboard:
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Hardware: Old style tailpiece
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 93639
FON: 999-2
Year shipped: 1936
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, narrow block inlays from the first fret, 24 ¾ inch scale length and 1 ¾-inch nut
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with X braced top and unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, flat tailpiece with ‘L-5’ legend, rosewood bridge and long pickguard
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com