Tony Mottola

In 1940, Gibson made an electrified L-5P with an ES-250's pickup for Charlie Christian as part of his endorsement. Upon his death, it was sent back to Gibson and then sold to Mottola almost two months later. It was auctioned via Christie's on October 14, 2005 and then relisted by Retrofret Vintage Guitars on February 12, 2024 (Reverb.com mirror with more photos and documents). The RetroFret listing gives an extensive history of the guitar with supporting documents, including this photo of Mottola using the guitar in the studio; it became the workhorse of his early career.

Soon after buying the guitar, Mottola had a second "Charlie Christian" bar pickup installed in the bridge, as can be seen in the attached photo, in this photo and in this other photo. This was replaced with a gold humbucker in the 1960s.

Christie's Listing

GIBSON INCORPORATED

AN ARCH-TOP ELECTRIC GUITAR, STYLE L-5P, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, 1940

Labelled Gibson GUITAR, Style L-5/Number 96515 is hereby/Guaranteed against faulty workmanship and materials. Should/this instrument..etc. Gibson Inc./Kalamazoo, Michigan/U.S.A., and bearing the factory order number 1343F 6, length of back 20 7/8 in (530mm) sold with later case and a black and white photograph of Mottola recording with this guitar (3)

RetroFret Vintage Guitars listing

Gibson L-5P built for Charlie Christian later owned and used by Tony Mottola Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1940), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 96515, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides with spruce top; laminated maple neck with ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.

This electric L-5P is one of the most historically interesting and important guitars we have ever encountered, both for what it is and the players it is connected to. A purpose built fully-carved deluxe electric, it was originally intended for the most influential electric guitarist in jazz history: Charlie Christian. After Christian's untimely death it passed to a new young Gibson endorser, Tony Mottola, who used it for much of his long career. An electrified L-5P was NOT a stock model; Gibson never cataloged a carved, cutaway electric model prior to WWII and a handful at most were ever assembled.

The guitar carries factory order number 1343F-6 indicating it was built in 1940, a very early example of a cutaway L-5. It first appears in Gibson's shipping ledgers on June 28, 1941 alongside an EH-185 amplifier designated for "Chas. Christian (NY Band)". New York Band Instrument Company was Gibson's primary distributor in swing era Manhattan, with a warehouse on 6th Avenue between 45th and 46th streets Gibson used as a depot. Christian's playing had the major role in establishing the electric guitar as a jazz instrument; he initially used a Gibson ES-150 but had upgraded in mid-1940 to a fancier ES-250 shortly after that became available. This fully carved L-5P would have been the ultimate upgrade, as fine an electric guitar as could be made in 1941 equipped with the bar-magnet pickup Christian favored.

Tragically Christian had little time to make use of it; already stricken with tuberculosis, he was first treated at Seaview hospital on Staten Island the same month the guitar was sent. Despite optimistic reports of a recovery he died March 2, 1942, at age 25 and the guitar returned to Gibson.

It then appears in Gibson records shipped on April 21, 1942 to NY Band with an EH-185 amp for Tony Mottola, a new Gibson endorser at the time. It was notated as "L-5P 96515 ES-250 Pick Up" confirming it was built with a single bar magnet pickup in the neck position, something Gibson had already phased out on production instruments. Mottola appeared in Gibson's 1942 catalog "BB" with an ES-300, but this fully carved custom L-5 was a major upgrade, with the "outdated" pickup discerning players already preferred. Gibson production was feeling the pinch of WWII limitations, so Mottola was fortunate to get this set! Interestingly he at some point also received an NON-amplified L-5 P from the same batch, FON 1343F-9 with the sequential serial number 96516.

Mottola used the guitar extensively in the ensuing decades, especially in the 1940s and '50s. He himself called it his "most used" guitar. There are many photographs of him with the instrument, and it graced countless recordings. While a well known name, Mottola is perhaps less well remembered now than some more bop-oriented contemporaries. He began his career as a duet partner for the veteran Carl Kress, then served as sideman for big names in swing including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw. He became one of the most sought-after session musicians from the later 1940s up into the '70s, most memorably with Frank Sinatra. This guitar was particularly featured on one of his most interesting and influential projects, the evocative score for the 1950-55 "Danger" TV series which set the pattern for the later "Peter Gunn" and James Bond guitar-centric soundtracks.

In 2021 Tony Mottola Jr. wrote: "My father was a Gibson endorser beginning in the 1940s, and a good friend of Ted McCarty who often sought his opinion on the company's new designs in the development stage." This guitar was the earliest and most lasting product of that endorsement. It was returned to Gibson at least twice for upgrades; in the 1940s a second bar magnet pickup was installed in the bridge position, an extremely rare fitting. This was replaced by a gold-plated patent # humbucker sometime in the '60s and the mounting screw holes in the lower top filled with pearl dots. At some point a thin black plastic ring was added around the original neck pickup.

The wiring rig has a single switch on the forward cutaway and standard dual tone and volume controls, fitted with late-50s gold knobs. The beautiful 1940 amber-button Kluson tuning pegs remain original, as do the engraved gold and silver tailpiece and multi-bound pickguard, trimmed at the back edge to clear the rear pickup. The ebony bridge was hand carved by Jimmy D'Aquisto and signed by him on the underside. Tony wrote his name in pencil on the label and the back under the bass side f-hole. The guitar has been refretted more than once, the frets and fingerboard showing virtually no wear.

There are a few old repairs; two old sealed grain splits to the top, one off the bottom of the treble F-hole and the other off the bass side back edge. The rim around the tailpiece has several sealed splits running up to the jack area, visible but not unsightly. The finish shows light signs of use; this is obviously a very well cared for instrument. This is not only a unique piece of Gibson (and American musical) history it remains 80+ years along a peerless instrument to play, with a superb feel and totally unique sound. It resides in a 1960s era Gibson case, and comes a detailed, extensive collection of images and artefacts documenting its history and provenance.

Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). Overall Excellent - Condition.

Among the supporting documents is a photocopy of a two-part memo on stationary "From the desk of... Tony Mottola", with a sticky note written by Mottola dating the first part (A) to 1987 and the second part (B) to circa 2000. The memo includes the following:

Memo A.1

Gibson L5 · Cutaway Electric, 2 Pickups, 1 Humbucker and 1 original Magnetic Bar Pickup. 45 years old as of 1987. Elec gtr most used During Career. (Danger, Como, Tonight Show recordings etc.) Originally Made by Gibson for Charlie Christian. After his death, I bought it from Eddie Bell of the New York Band Co on 6th Ave. He was the original Gibson Rep Dealer in N.Y.C.

Memo B.1

(5) Gibson L5 Electric Custom model [????]. – ORiginally Made for Charlie Christian — Acquired by T.M. from Eddie Bell, then Gibson Rep in N.Y.C. - Contains original Bar Pickup. 2nd Numbered pickup put in by Gibson for T.M. – Used by T.M. on "Danger" T.V. Series and throughout the Early years of career on Recordings, Radio Shows + T.V. (RARE) (Tony Jr Has this)

A 1935 "Exel" headstock guitar owned by Mottola, outfitted with a pickup, was listed on Reverb.com in 2020 by Rudy's Music, having previously been purchased at auction. It resurfaced online in 2024 in this March 12, 2024 video by Mike's Arch Angels (Instagram mirror), this April 10, 2024 video by Old-Fashioned Music, and this June 16, 2024 video by Mike's Arch Angels.

D'Angelico 1935 Exel made for Tony Mottola SN# 1123 with Hardshell Case

“This guitar was made for Tony Mottola, one of the greatest studio musicians in America at the time, who was also known for playing for Frank Sinatra for many years. I bought this guitar at an auction after Tony passed. It has a very rare, off-white finish. Hard to say what the wood types are since the finish masks the wood grains, but it is most likely a spruce top with maple back and sides, and maple neck. Ebony fingerboard. The guitar has a truly amazing playability and sounds fantastic.”

~ Rudy Pensa

If you are interested in this instrument, please contact the Scarsdale store at 914-725-0120 /

Written by Mottola and published in 1964.

Written by Mottola and published in 1959. It is the subject of this November 20, 2012 article by Randy Buckner on The Guitar Instructor's Notebook.

A 1942 L-5 was auctioned via Christie's on October 14, 2005. It was used during Mottola's time playing in the band for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (it appears in this photo from the show) and with Frank Sinatra.

GIBSON INCORPORATED

AN ARCH-TOP GUITAR, L-5, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, CIRCA 1940

Labelled Gibson GUITAR Style L-5/Number 9_808 is hereby/Guaranteed against faulty workmanship and materials. Should this instrument...etc. /Gibson Inc./Kalamazoo/Michigan U.S.A., length of back 21 in (532mm) with case bearing numerous Frank Sinatra concert venue labels applied to the cover and a black and white photograph of Tony Mottola on the set of NBC's The Tonight Show (3)

The Christie's listing quotes from a two-part memo on stationary "From the desk of... Tony Mottola" (accessible via the RetroFret Guitars listing of Mottola's L-5P), with a sticky note written by Mottola dating the first part (A) to 1987 and the second part (B) to circa 2000. Memo A includes the following:

Memo A.1

(1) Gibson L5 ([????])

45 years old as of 1987. Guitar Most used during career. Made the Duet recordings with Carl Kress on this guitar. ("Fun on the Frets")

Mottola's one-of-only-two 1952 seven-string Super 400 CES was put up for auction in Guernsey's "The Guitar Auction" on February 27, 2016 (online bidding took place on Invaluable and on Live Auctioneers). A photo of the guitar in a display case during the public preview period (taken by Stephen Smith on February 25, 2016) is hosted on Alamy. The guitar later ended up on display at Rudy's Music in September 2016, as documented by The Jazz Guitar Forum user David B in this August 17, 2022 post.

Invaluable listing

Serial#: A 9934. This one-of-kind instrument was produced by the Gibson Guitar Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1952 for legendary studio musician Tony Mottola. Mr. Mottola was one the most in-demand musicians of his era and worked extensively with artist such as Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. In addition to his studio work, Mottola also occupied the guitar chair in the Doc Severinson Orchestra on The Tonight Show. The guitar is one of only two 7-string Super 400s ever made and the only one produced with 24 frets. The instrument has a top carved from Spruce with stunning Maple back and sides. It is equipped with custom made P90 picks with 7 pole pieces. The instrument includes the original hard shell case as well as copy of the production ledger for the month of March 1952 which was provided by the former president of Gibson, Ted McCarty.

The Jazz Guitar Forum, David B

That guitar was on display in Rudy's when I visited NYC in September 2016. I just found the two photos I took of it, which included a copy of a register entry giving its date and serial number.

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/attachments/guitar-amps-gizmos/93936d1660774498-tony-mottolas-7-string-s400-guernseys-dsc01822-jpg

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/attachments/guitar-amps-gizmos/93935d1660774498-tony-mottolas-7-string-s400-guernseys-dsc01821-jpg

The guitar eventually ended up with Mike's Arch Angels, as documented in this August 9, 2021 video and in this August 31, 2022 Instagram post.

Mottola was pictured and quoted in a 1963 ad for the Gibson Vanguard GA-77RVTL.

Tony Mottola is always looking for ways to improve the fidelity of his sound. When the new Gibson amplifiers were introduced, we sent one for Tony to try.

Tony's reaction? He latched onto that new Gibson and he's been using it for all his recording sessions and playing dates. Any comment? Tony says, "My new Gibson Vanguard provides the truest, most sensitive amplification I've ever heard."

Mottola appears with a Varitone equipped ES-355TD with Deluxe Vibrola in at least five Gibson advertisements, all apparently sourced from a single photoshoot in 1960 (cf. Vintage Guitar & Bass). The first three have Mottola photoshopped with the Gibson GA-88S (#1, #2 (pictured), #3 (1962)), the fourth has him photoshopped with the GA-77RVTL Vanguard and specifies the ES-355TD (#4 (1963)), and the fifth is an artistic rendition of Mottola with just the guitar (#5 (1965)). A circa 2000 memo by Mottola lists a "Gibson Electric 355 Stereo (STOCK) with Varitone Control" among his personal guitar inventory; it also appears in this photograph and on the back cover of Guitar U.S.A.

Mottola also owned a custom ES-355TD-SV (sans Vibrola) with several unique features, including a rosewood body and low-impedance Les Paul pickups. It appears on the front and back cover of All the Way, as well as this photo from the same photoshoot. It was put up for sale via Rudy's Music in 2016, before being relisted by Well Strung Guitars in February 2024 (Gbase mirror, cf. February 28, 2024 Instagram post). In a 1987 memo, Mottola refers to it as the "T.M. Model":

Memo A.1

(3) Custom Gibson Elec. T.M. Model (only one made) given to Tony by Ted McCarty then president of Gibson. Has 2 Les Paul low impedance pickups. Only time Les's pickups were used on a model other than those guitars bearing his name.

A Gibson ES-335 Dot is listed in this circa 2000 memo written by Mottola.

(2) Gibson Electric 335 Dot (STOCK)

A custom ES-355 without f-holes (visible in this Gibson poster) is listed in this circa 2000 memo written by Mottola.

(4) Gibson 355 Electric - Custom Made For T.M. - No "f" Holes