1951 GIBSON L-5N

Magnificent Gibson L-5N that left the Kalamazoo factory in 1951, in exceptional original condition and perfectly set up for playing.

This is a very rare model in Natural finish, as it is one of only 11 identical guitars produced for that same year! This queen of swing arrives at the crossroads of two eras: the post-war period when large acoustic archtop guitars still dominated the rhythm sections of jazz ensembles, and a pivotal year for the L-5 model, as for the first time since its introduction in 1924, Gibson also offered an electric version, the L-5CES, equipped with the new P-90 pickup, which would redefine the very notion of what a jazz guitar was in the 1950s. Thus, acoustic archtops would gradually be eclipsed throughout the decade by their amplified counterparts in dance bands, where the required volume was constantly increasing. However, these large acoustics remained popular with the most illustrious musicians and entertainers of the period for many years to come. The acceptance of amplified music wasn’t immediate, and many artists initially kept their traditional instruments, sometimes adding a floating pickup such as the models offered by DeArmond, which could be easily fitted to Gibson archtops. Acoustic models remained quite relevant until the 1960s, after which their production was gradually discontinued. Nevertheless, they were prominently featured, notably in the 1960 catalog, where a full-page section entitled “In the Gibson Galaxy of Stars” showcased illustrations of the greatest musicians of the era, many of whom were photographed playing an acoustic L-5!

As for the instrument presented here, there’s no doubt: we are indeed in the presence of the most elegant and high-end guitar Gibson could offer. It’s constructed with choice woods—a solid spruce top; highly figured maple back, sides, and neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge… as is often the case with Natural finish guitars, Gibson selected the most flattering woods to highlight the maple’s flamed pattern on the back – they are simply stunning. Also featured are the new “script” logo and the flowerpot motif inlaid on the headstock, the typical L-5 Art Deco tailpiece, and the beautiful gold Kluson Sealfast tuners… The original pickguard is unfortunately missing, as is often the case, having suffered from the natural degradation of the cellulose acetate from which it is made.

We meticulously restored this L-5 to top playing condition, including a complete refret with frets matching the original type; the crafting of a new bone nut fitted to the string gauge; the readjustment of the rosewood bridge to match the fingerboard radius; and a complete action and intonation setup. It is now a real treat to play, and at almost 75 years old, it’s been given a new lease on life in our workshop – ready to go for decades to come!

Sold in its original Lifton case.