480-299-3790
1974 Gibson L5 CES
Near Mint Condition
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This 1974 Gibson L5 CES is a cherry sunburst Venetian cutaway. As the original owner, I know the history well. Ordered in August of 1973 from Taylor’s Music Shop in St. Louis, it was delivered in April of 1974. I was just getting into jazz with Joe Pass as my idol and wanted a jazz box. Saved every minimum wage penny I made for 9 months. An exceptionally fine instrument in outstanding condition, there isn’t another one in this condition around, period. This Gibson has a fine-grained German Citka spruce top, with flamed maple sides and back. It has a wide, thin, early 60’s style 5-ply curly maple neck with an ebony board. It has really mellowed out over these 37 years, and plays and sounds very nice, and has a very lively top that produces excellent balanced clarity with good projection. All parts are original except for a Gibson Custom shop pickguard replaced in the early 90’s. The gold is still in pretty nice shape - for a good reason. I actually took the pickup covers, pickguard bracket, and bridge height adjustment screws to a plating shop in the early 90’s and had them all gold-plated. Original Gibson Black HSC with purple lining included.