1941 Gibson L-5, Sunburst
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
At a Glance:
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 97397
FON: 53306 2
Finish: Sunburst, with evidence of old clear overspray to the top
Top: Carved, tight-grained spruce
Back & Sides: Birdseye maple back with beautifully figured maple sides
Neck: Flame maple
Scale Length: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Ebony with block marker inlays
Headstock: Gibson script logo, flowerpot inlay and 5-ply binding
Tuners: Grover enclosed tuners with stairstep buttons
Tailpiece: Correct worn gold L-5 tailpiece with silver/nickel centre section
Bridge: Reproduction rosewood bridge with functioning contact pickup fitted
Condition: Vintage wear throughout, noticeable neck wear, repaired binding and old clear overspray to the top
Case: Correct red plush-lined hard shell case with Excelsior latches
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
1941 Gibson L-5, Sunburst
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
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1941 Gibson L-5, Sunburst
Quantity selected exceeds current stock
Description
A wonderful 1941 Gibson L-5, serial number 97397, FON 53306 2, with the full 17” Advanced body, beautifully figured maple and classic pre-war Gibson archtop character.
The L-5 was Gibson’s flagship acoustic archtop and remains one of the most important jazz guitars ever made. By this period, the model had evolved into its larger 17” body format, giving it greater depth, projection and authority while retaining the elegance and refinement that made the L-5 such a benchmark instrument. This example has the 17” wide, 3.5” deep body and 25.5” scale length.
The guitar is finished in Sunburst and displays a wealth of vintage character. The top shows evidence of an old clear overspray, and the binding has undergone repairs over the years. Noticeable wear to the neck reflects decades of regular use, a testament to how well played and well loved this instrument has been over its 80-plus years.
The construction and quality of materials is superb, with a tight-grained spruce top, birdseye maple back, beautifully figured maple sides and a flame maple neck. The ebony fingerboard has block marker inlays, and the headstock features the Gibson script logo, flowerpot inlay and 5-ply binding.
Hardware includes gold plated Grover enclosed tuners with stairstep buttons and the correct worn gold L-5 tailpiece with its silver/nickel centre section. The bridge is a reproduction rosewood bridge currently fitted with a functioning contact pickup.
The guitar has been refretted, making it a more practical and enjoyable instrument in use while retaining its vintage feel and character. With its large body, long scale and carved archtop construction, it has all the ingredients that make these early L-5s so special: power, attack, depth, projection and a wonderfully cutting acoustic voice.
A hugely charismatic and highly desirable early ’40s Gibson L-5, with beautiful woods, classic Advanced-era proportions and plenty of honest vintage character. The guitar comes complete with its correct red plush-lined hard shell case with Excelsior latches. It also comes with a receipt from The Guitar Shoppe in California, dated 1997, adding a nice piece of more recent provenance.
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At a Glance:
Model: L-5
Serial Number: 97397
FON: 53306 2
Finish: Sunburst, with evidence of old clear overspray to the top
Top: Carved, tight-grained spruce
Back & Sides: Birdseye maple back with beautifully figured maple sides
Neck: Flame maple
Scale Length: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Ebony with block marker inlays
Headstock: Gibson script logo, flowerpot inlay and 5-ply binding
Tuners: Grover enclosed tuners with stairstep buttons
Tailpiece: Correct worn gold L-5 tailpiece with silver/nickel centre section
Bridge: Reproduction rosewood bridge with functioning contact pickup fitted
Condition: Vintage wear throughout, noticeable neck wear, repaired binding and old clear overspray to the top
Case: Correct red plush-lined hard shell case with Excelsior latches
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.