BadgerDave Posted May 3, 2020 Posted May 3, 2020 I wanted to share photos of my recently completed project. I found a beaten, battered and butchered 1970-72 era Gibson L5-S at my local GC a couple of years ago. For those unfamiliar with the model, It was, at the time, the most expensive electric guitar in Gibson's catalog. It had a body shape similar to the Les Paul, but wider, thinner and with pretty extreme carving of both the top and back. It had elaborate appointments including inlay borrowed from the L5 arch top, wide multiple layer body and neck binding and highly figured maple. Gibson added an ebony fretboard and gold hardware. The model sold in small numbers and went through a few iterations before production was stopped in the early 80's. Notable L5-S players include Pat Martino, Carlos Santana and Mark Farner. The guitar I purchased had been heavily played and irreversibly modified. I decided to enlist the help of Murkat and Stike to turn this badly abused wreck into a very different version of it's original concept. Jay got it first for a complete rebuild and repair including replacing broken, stained and missing fingerboard inlays, a re-fret, filling and re-routing pickup cavities and drilling new bridge and tailpiece holes. Once that was done, it went to Stike for a complete re-finish. Both Jay and Ben did amazing work as you can see in the photos. I'll add before, during and after shots. Installment 1 - Headstock
specialk Posted May 3, 2020 Posted May 3, 2020 Can't wait to see the shots of this one! A friend had an L-5 back in the 70s and loved it.
killerteddybear Posted May 3, 2020 Posted May 3, 2020 2 hours ago, BadgerDave said: Chrome hardware looks great with the tuxedo theme you (obviously) went with. Overall looks kickass so far!
Travis Posted May 3, 2020 Posted May 3, 2020 Oh man, this is looking killer so far. Can’t wait to see the full picture.
Toadroller Posted May 3, 2020 Posted May 3, 2020 3 hours ago, BadgerDave said: Veddy, veddy nice. Byootiful.
ArnieZ Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 So Cool!! i really love the base of the L5 neck-and the inlays are really rich, Love it beautiful maple neck arniez
ARM OF HAMER Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 WOW!, I REALLY like what I see so far! I had a Gibson L-5S and sold it to acquire my 2'd 1979 Hamer Sunburst.If I could have kept it and still got the Hamer I would have. I bought it from a pretty well known guitar shop in TEXAS.it was beautifully care worn with TONS of playing,frets were still original and low but it played really nice all over,whoever did the level and dress knew what they were doing. Mine needed nothing, everything worked and looked original [ Maybe the rear pickup ring was changed but I never took it apart to look] and it came in a high end gig bag.I loved the look of it,its the 2'd one of these I owned, I had one [CSB] back in the 1980s also.This one was a TSB with a 2 piece top and back which is unusual.The store shipped it to me quick and well packed but...................when I opened the box boy was I in for a surprise, the box, case, and guitar REEKED of cigarette smoke! But that is what gave it it's unique look.You have 2 of the best working on your guitar so it is going to come out better than it came from Gibson.
ARM OF HAMER Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 Don't know the condition yours was in when you got it but here was the one I spoke about and owned.It WAS played and I was never able to find out who the famous player was that had it before he passed.But even the ebony fingerboard had divots on it so it was used a lot! Good luck with yours can't wait to see the completed guitar!
ARM OF HAMER Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 BTW what pickups WERE in the guitar when you bought it from GC?......................from the little bit of the pickup area shown in your photo that L-5S looks like it originally had those "Low Impedance" Pickups. my TSB pictured had the original "TAR BACK Super Humbuckers".
BadgerDave Posted May 4, 2020 Author Posted May 4, 2020 1 hour ago, ARM OF HAMER said: BTW what pickups WERE in the guitar when you bought it form GC?......................from the little bit of the pickup area shown in your photo that L-5S looks like it originally had those "Low Impedance" Pickups. my TSB pictured had the original "TAR BACK Super Humbuckers". Mine had the gold painted plastic low impedance pickups originally. A previous owner removed them and routed the body for p-90 size pickups. It had DiMarzio soapbox sized humbuckers installed when I got it. I'll be getting photos of the top up soon. I just need to make a couple of adjustments. Here's a shot of Murkat's restoration:
ARM OF HAMER Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 1 hour ago, BadgerDave said: Mine had the gold painted plastic low impedance pickups originally. A previous owner removed them and routed the body for p-90 size pickups. It had DiMarzio soapbox sized humbuckers installed when I got it. I'll be getting photos of the top up soon. I just need to make a couple of adjustments. Here's a shot of Murkat's restoration: Hey that is looking great! VERY nice Jay IS the Man! What a great and unusual project guitar.
BadgerDave Posted May 5, 2020 Author Posted May 5, 2020 Installment 4a: the top This is what I gave Jay to work with.
BadgerDave Posted May 5, 2020 Author Posted May 5, 2020 Unfortunately, the extensive modifications to the top eliminated any possibility of preserving the figured maple with a transparent finish. I knew going in that a ROWYCO sparkle top was the solution, but what color? We discussed options and I decided I wanted something like a Les Paul Custom black beauty. I was thinking gold hardware, but I switched to nickel as soon as I saw the incredible finished top. Stike can correct me if I gt this wrong, but I think he calls this black with charcoal sparkle:
Willie G. Moseley Posted May 5, 2020 Posted May 5, 2020 Methinks Mark Farner would approve. Off the top of my head he's the only dude I recall who played one of these back in the day. Wasn't into Pat Martino, however, and Ronnie Wood's one-pickup custom order don't count.
ARM OF HAMER Posted May 5, 2020 Posted May 5, 2020 1 hour ago, BadgerDave said: Wow! That IS pretty! What a great job these guys did on the guitar,Congrats!
The Shark Posted May 5, 2020 Posted May 5, 2020 I seem to remember contemplating purchasing this guitar. The improvements are fantastic...
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