Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $10,500
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1201+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
The Gibson L5 CES is not just a guitar; it's a legacy in your hands. Initially introduced as an acoustic marvel in 1922, this instrument has evolved into a seminal choice for jazz and blues musicians, boasting a rich history with legendary players like Wes Montgomery and Eric Clapton. Today, the Gibson Custom Shop L-5 CES stands as a testament to Gibson's commitment to craftsmanship and sonic excellence.
Crafted with a high-grade spruce top and maple back and sides, this semi-hollowbody electric guitar offers a harmonious blend of warmth and clarity. The maple/walnut neck, paired with an ebony fingerboard, ensures smooth playability and a luxurious feel, making each performance an experience to remember. Equipped with dual '57 Classic humbucking pickups, the L5 CES delivers a versatile tonal palette that effortlessly adapts to jazz, rock, blues, and beyond.
The guitar's elegant aesthetic is highlighted by its distinctive Venetian cutaway, pearl inlays, and gold hardware, all encased in a multi-ply binding. Meanwhile, a Plek Pro setup optimizes the fretboard for precise intonation, ensuring that each note resonates with impeccable clarity. Whether you're strumming chords or weaving intricate solos, the Gibson L5 CES offers a sound that's both iconic and unmistakably yours.
Key Features:
- High-grade spruce top and maple back and sides for rich, resonant tones
- Maple/walnut neck with 20-fret ebony fingerboard and pearl block inlays
- Dual '57 Classic humbucking pickups for versatile soundscapes
- Venetian cutaway with elegant pearl inlays and gold hardware
- Premium Plek Pro setup for enhanced playability and intonation
- Includes Custom Shop hardshell case and Certificate of Authenticity
FAQs
-
What type of wood is used in the construction of the Gibson L5 CES?
-
The Gibson L5 CES features a high-grade spruce top with a full archtop body, maple back, and rims, providing a rich, resonant tone.
-
What pickups are equipped on the Gibson L5 CES, and what tones can they produce?
-
The Gibson L5 CES is equipped with dual '57 Classic humbuckers, known for their warm, vintage tone, suitable for jazz and blues styles.
-
Is the Gibson L5 CES suitable for jazz music?
-
Yes, the Gibson L5 CES is highly regarded for jazz due to its archtop design and '57 Classic humbuckers, which deliver a warm, rich sound ideal for jazz tones.
-
What is the neck profile of the Gibson L5 CES?
-
The Gibson L5 CES features a maple neck with an ebony fingerboard, providing a smooth playing experience with a comfortable, traditional neck profile.
-
Does the Gibson L5 CES include a case?
-
Yes, the Gibson L5 CES comes with a Custom Shop case, ensuring protection and safe transport for the guitar.
Videos
Musician's Friend
Gibson Custom L-5 CES Electric Guitar
Gibson Custom L-5 CES Electric Guitar
Musician's Friend
Guitar of the Day: 1991 Gibson L5 CES | Norman's Rare Guitars
Normans Rare Guitars
Gibson L5-CES - The Granddaddy of Jazz Guitars
PREMIER GUITARS
1974 Gibson L-5 CES played by Hudson Davis
Carter Vintage Guitars
My Romance, Gibson Super 400 CES vs. Gibson L5 CES
Fred Archtop
Gibson L-5 CES from 1979 in black presented by Vintage Guitar Ol. & Tobias Hoffmann
Vintage Guitar Oldenburg
Gibson L-5 CES from 1989
Vintage Guitar Oldenburg
2015 Gibson L-5 CES Natural Custom Shop "Crimson Edition", Part1
GregsGuitars
Gibson L 5 CES
Angel City Guitars
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson L5 CES.
Features and functionality
Build quality
-
The presence of a neck volute and "witch hat" knobs are characteristic of guitars from the Norlin Era (1970-1985).
Source
Other
-
The decorative fretboard end is standard on the L5-CES and similar to that on the SJ-200, adding a touch of elegance without affecting value.
Source
Setup and maintenance
-
It's suggested to replace non-stock truss rod covers with genuine Gibson parts to maintain authenticity and potentially avoid issues with counterfeit identification.
Source
Comparisons
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating
Artist usage
Add artist
A known performance of this is playing I'm Gonna Find Another You with Wynton Marsalis. The guitar can be seen on the 'In Repair' recording video. CES stands for Cutaway Electric Spanish.
Play featured with his Gibson Custom L-5 CES
Mark Knopfler used the Gibson L5 CES guitar on The Notting Hillbillies album "Missing... Presumed Having a Good Time" (1990). The Newcastle Chronicle provided photographic evidence of Knopfler playing this guitar during an impromptu early Notting Hillbillies performance at Le Papillon Restaurant in Corbridge on February 12, 1988, as documented in the source "Mark Knopfler and his guitars."
In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his Gibson L-5: "I bought the Gibson L-5 I used with Charlie and the Ford Band just because I wanted a jazz guitar. My mother co-signed a loan for me, and I got it at Sherman & Clay, in San Francisco. It was brand-spanking new, and it was never a great guitar. Somehow while I was working with Spoon, I kind of figured that out, and I wanted something else."
Guitar on the right looks to be a Gibson L-5 CES.
In the YouTube video titled "Wes Montgomery, TV show in Brussels, Belgium, April 4th, 1965 (colorized)" by ebjazz93, Wes Montgomery is clearly seen playing a Gibson Sunburst L5-CES with a Venetian cutaway.
1927 Gibson L-5 Sunburst Cremona serial number 87230 (Est. $10,000 - $15,000). Hole drilled through the original pickguard, back re-finished, no original case. This is one of the two L-5s purchased by Les Paul, then going by the name Rhubarb Red, at Gibson in Kalamazoo Michigan with his friend and band mate Sunny Joe Wolverton in 1933. Paul discusses the trip and purchasing this guitar extensively in his autobiography. He later gave this guitar to a friend Dave Moran requested the guitar be returned to Paul upon his death.
Well, I bought an L-5. I forget what the model is, but it’s got a pointy cutaway and it’s with humbuckers. I bought it from Rudy [Pensa, of Rudy’s Music] up in New York. It’s a jazz guitar. And I have a couple of those.
A very young Roy performing on a Gibson L-5 with Mickey Rooney clowning.
A young Leroy Buchanan with Mickey Rooney, ca. 1956 (making him 17 years old in this shot). Taken from Phil Carson’s Roy-biography called “American Axe”.
In this picture, David used Gibson L-5 CES in a rare Wine Red finish Monteray Pop Festival 1967.
In this photo, Jan can be seen with his Gibson L5, which is talked about on his website.
Except for a ‘58 Les Paul, I’ve had nearly every desirable vintage guitar. I’ve had ’57 and ‘54 Stratocasters and a Broadcaster. I had an early goldtop Les Paul. I’ve had an L5 and a Super 400. I’ve had nearly every classic guitar and I don’t think I paid over $500 for any of them.
This comes from an interview done for Premier Guitar in 2007.
Album Usage
The Gibson L5 CES has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson L5 CES, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
-s.webp?v=1781017058)
Community setups
Show yours
More Gibson Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
$2,555.00 - $3,499.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1781017218)
$3,031.97 - $3,499.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,099.00 - $2,999.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,555.00 - $3,499.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$1,449.99
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1781017094)
$2,938.00 - $3,799.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
.png?v=1780986769)
$4,990.43 - $6,499.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$3,499.00 - $3,600.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
.jpg?v=1780986769)
-m.webp?v=1781017050)
$3,250.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$3,900.00 - $7,999.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$3,143.16
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,149.00 - $2,999.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$1,599.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$1,750.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,299.00 - $4,834.20
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,799.00 - $6,488.19
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1780757759)
$2,400.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$1,499.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$1,995.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$5,500.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,299.00 - $6,599.99
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,299.00 - $4,834.20
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
.jpg?v=1780840560)
$1,900.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$1,599.00
in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars Rank
$2,099.00 - $5,640.17
$1,499.00
$2,938.00 - $4,209.65
$3,250.00
$1,615.00 - $4,844.00
$5,111.00 - $6,499.00
$2,687.00 - $49,950.00
Accessories & Related Items
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
austinmwGear IQ 5226
-
