1931 Gibson L5
 

This 1931 Gibson L5 belongs to one of my students. Really love this guitar. Here's a little Jimmy Webb tune https://youtu.be/KJnvI46e5R8


http://ericskye.com/wp-content/uploa...38792704_n.jpg

Oh my. How did they acquire it? What is known about the tailpiece and bridge since both appear unoriginal?

Covet. A dot-neck L-5 is my ultimate - the apex guitar design, tonally, responsively and aesthetically. Thanks for sharing.

You sound amazing as always. How does it feel vs your sig flattop? The ergonomics of an archtop have been fascinating for me to explore - I like how they can take/prefer a heavy hand, and how the tone changes when picking/strumming up and down the neck - different dynamics vs a flattop.
If you could ever do your stunning renditions of So What or All Blues on that guitar, oy, would I want to hear that!!

I really enjoyed that. Huge note choices on one of my all time favorite songs. Really nice spaces and voicings. Well done, but I am certain you have been told that previously. I wonder how much influence the use of that instrument, played in the particular arrangement.

By the way, didn’t Gibson switch to block inlays in 1929? You sure that’s not a ‘28? So cool.

http://www.guitarhq.com/gibson2.html#l5 This collector’s website says yes, 1929.

Beautiful guitar and performance.

the bridge and tailpiece are original.
until the Joe Spann book came out and serial numbers/specs were reassesed it was thought that they went to block inlays in '29 but it's really around
'32 that they changed

I had a "jazz" guitar teacher who owned three guitars, and old Martin 0018 (ish) and a '30s Epiphone Emperor, and a 1934 L-5.

It did have blocks, and he wanted to sell the Gibson to help with house moving costs.
I was tempted, but bought a '34 L-4 from Archtop.com instead.
He compared the two and said he couldn't tell the difference. I think he was being kind!

Here is Piers playing that old Gibson.



and here he is with his Epi:



Here's my L-4 ('34 but a '35 model, so f-holes but still 16" )

NOTE: There is quite a number of "oddball" Gibsons archtops and flat tops around that aren't exactly as one would expect for any particular year. e.g my FON is definitely a '34, but theoretically all '34s were round holes.

Ah, thank you!

Does anyone have the Joe Spann book? is it just a history of Gibson or are there PICTURES??

I’ve flipped through it. It’s a reference book with pages of FON’s more than a coffee table book.