1931
The shipping dates listed below relate to the instrument’s serial number and are based on information provided in Spann’s Guide To Gibson by Joseph E. Spann
Note that the serial number indicates the date at which the instrument was shipped rather than its date of manufacture
All examples have maple back and sides unless otherwise indicated
If an instrument appears in one of our picture galleries this is noted beneath the serial number
Serial Number: 86811
Year shipped: 1930
FON: 9771
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo, trussrod cover engraved with the name ‘Joseph Martori’
Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end, wide pearloid block inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides, repaired top crack
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece. Long bound pickguard
Notes: The tuners and bridge have been replaced
Source: Tim Fees
Serial Number: 86842
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9842
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Source: Mandolin Brothers
Serial Number: 86843
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9842
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Source: Laurence Wexer
Serial Number: 86873
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece. Long bound pickguard
Notes: This L-5 originally belonged to guitarist Les Paul
Source: Julien’s Auctions
Serial Number: 86885
(Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9879
See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including short wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard and ebony bridge
Notes: This unusual L-5 has a 12-fret neck and was likely a special custom order item (label marked “SPC L-5)
Source: Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey Auctions
Serial Number: 86939
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9879
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson‘ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret
Body:
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, three-on-a-strip tuners with pearl buttons, wrap-over trapeze tailpiece and short pickguard
Source: Ultimate Vintage
Serial Number: 86940
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Script ‘Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: Replacement fingerboard
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece. Long bound pickguard and replacement tuners
Notes: An area on the back where the original stain was worn has been touched in
Source: Schoenberg Guitars (om28.com)
Serial Number: 86949
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with pointed end and wide block inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Long bound pickguard
Notes: This L-5 belonged to guitarist Bob Bain whose name is engraved on a ‘Mono-Plak’ metal truss rod cover (this is not a Gibson part and was a present from Tiny Timbrell)
Source: scottymoore.net
Serial Number: 86950
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: Replacement fingerboard
Body: Maple back and sides. Refinished
Hardware: The tuners, the tailpiece and the bridge are not original
Notes: Though this L-5 now has a block inlaid fingerboard, its other features suggest that it left the Gibson factory with a dot inlaid fingerboard. We have listed it as a Type Two L-5 accordingly.
Source: Gruhn Guitars (guitars.com)
Serial Number: 86959
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: Unusual one-piece maple neck with 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Ebony bridge, reproduction pickguard
Source: Tony Marcus
Serial Number: 86981
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9771
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo.
Neck/fingerboard: One-piece neck, 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Source: Gryphon Stringed Instruments
Serial Number: 86987
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20-fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece. Short bound pickguard and replacement tuners
Notes:
Source: Schoenberg Guitars
Serial Number: 87060
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo. The back of the headstock is stamped ‘Made in the U.S.A.’, indicating that the guitar was originally sold for export outside of the United States
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides. Has solid carved top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners with engraved baseplate and pearl buttons, mounted so that the cog is positioned below the worm gear. Has its original short pickguard and ebony bridge
Notes: There are two repaired top cracks; one beneath the bass side of the tailpiece and the other at the waist on the bass side. There is some light over-spray, the fingerboard has been re-fretted and the upper section of the bridge has been replaced. Has original hard shell case
Source: Retrofret
Serial Number: 87064
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
Neck/fingerboard: Dot inlaid fingerboard
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 87080
Year shipped: 1931
(See Type Two Gallery)
FON: 9879
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: The tuners, tailpiece and pickguard and not original to the guitar
Notes: The guitar’s owner tells us: “I replaced the non-original tuners and made a pickguard. The bridge saddle might be original, but the base probably is not. Unfortunately, the neck was over-sprayed at some point.”
This L-5 is listed on www.mandolinarchive.com with a block inlaid fingerboard, however since 87083 comes from the same batch (it has the same FON) and has an original dot-inlaid fingerboard, it seems likely that the Mandolin Archive listing is incorrect
Source: Dave Osborne
Serial Number: 87083
Year FON: 9879
Year shipped: 1931
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece. Non original tuners, replacement bridge made by John Monteleone and replacement pickguard made by Mirabella
Notes: This L-5 was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s ‘Guitar Heroes’ show in 2011
Source: Alan Haddad
Serial Number: 87092
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 8932
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo, metal ‘Mono-Plak’ truss rod cover engraved ‘Bob Gibbons’
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the fifth fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: The hardware (three-on-a-strip tuners and wrap over trapeze tailpiece) have been replaced with vintage parts while the pickguard is a repro by Cumberland Acoustics.
Notes: The body and neck have been refinished and the guitar has been refretted
Source: Ken Waltham
Serial Number: 8709X
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and wide block inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Notes: Tight finish crack on the bass side. Separation of the lower centre seam can be felt on the back of the guitar. Original hardshell case
Source: Heritage Auctions
Serial Number: 87093
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: Replacement fingerboard by Schoenberg Guitars (according to Schoenberg Guitars, the original fingerboard was in the same style). The truss-rod cover is engraved with the original owner’s name; ‘Izzy Brown’
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners with engraved base plate and pearl buttons, mounted so that the cog is positioned below the worm gear. Short bound pickguard
Serial Number: 87095
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: Replacement fingerboard by Schoenberg Guitars (according to Schoenberg Guitars, the original fingerboard was in the same style). The truss-rod cover is engraved with the original owner’s name; ‘Izzy Brown’
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Notes: The neck has been reset
Source: Schoenberg Guitars
Serial Number: 87155
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9952
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Ebony bridge
Notes: Replacement endpin, missing pickguard. A hairline crack at the neck heel and a few grain-line cracks at the soundholes have been resealed There is some light overspray and a strap pin has been removed from the back of the headstock and the hole filled. The trapeze tailpiece has a newly machined crossbar (the original is stored in the case). Has original hardshell case
Source: Dexter Johnson, Carmel Music Co. (carmelmusic.com) and Joe Vinikow (archtop.com)
Serial Number: 87167
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 87215
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9952
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides, solid carved braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrapover tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners
Notes: There is a hairline crack under the tailpiece and the pickguard is missing.
Source: wexerguitars.com
Serial Number: 87216
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9958 (9952 see ‘notes’ below)
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20-fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Notes: Joe Spann tells us: “The FON indicates production in February of the year 1931, while the serial number indicates original shipping in March of the same year. I believe however that the FON is actually 9952.” The FON 9952 is quoted in the Mandolin Archive ( www.mandolinarchive.com)
Source: Schoenberg Guitars and The Mandolin Archive
Serial Number: 87230
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Regular tailpiece, three-on-a-strip tuners and short bound pickguard with holes drilled in it
Notes: The body has been refinished. This L-5 originally belonged to guitarist Les Paul
Source: Julien’s Auctions
Serial number: 87259
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9952
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo,
Neck/fingerboard: See ‘Notes’ below
Body: Maple back and sides. Solid top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated hardware including regular trapeze tailpiece. The tuners are modern replacements and the pickguard is missing
Notes: Has two labels (one over the other) both with the same serial number. The guitar has a factory refinish and has been fitted with a later ‘Advanced’ style, 20-fret fingerboard with a pointed end and narrow blocks inlays from the first fret. Although we have included this guitar in the Type Two Gallery there is no way to know for sure whether it started life with block or dot inlays
Source: Tony Marcus
Serial Number: 87380
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo. Pearl truss rod cover
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dots from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides with Black finish
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners with engraved baseplate and pearl buttons, mounted so that the cog is positioned below the worm gear
Notes: Though it’s hard to say whether the Black finish is original, there are other L-5s from this period with a Black finish, notably an example played by Nick Lucas
The pickguard and a section of the fingerboard binding are missing. Has white oval ‘Guaranteed’ label and original hardshell case
Source: Michael Thompson
Serial Number: 87464
FON: 99xx
Year shipped: 1931
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 87479
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9965
(See Type Two Gallery *)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: Replacement fingerboard
Body: Maple back with maple sides. Solid top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Notes: Has original hardshell case. Though we have listed this guitar in our Type Two Gallery, there is no way of knowing for sure whether it left the factory with dot or block fingerboard markers
Source: Musurgia
Serial Number: 87506
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9966 (last digit appears to be 6 but may not be)
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo. Truss rod cover engraved with the initials ‘R R’
Neck/fingerboard: See Notes
Body: Maple back and sides. Solid top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Long bound pickguard
Notes: Some repaired back cracks, with the varnish finish touched up by Frank Ford. This guitar has been fitted with a new 20 fret fingerboard with a pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret. The new fingerboard was installed by CA repair person Dimitri Tenev (it previously had a block inlaid fingerboard, which may not have been original)
Source: Tony Marcus
Serial Number: 87557
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: See Notes:
Body: Maple back and sides, solid tone bars
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard
Notes: This guitar has been fitted with a replacement ebony fingerboard with a pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret. The work was done by Nashville luthier Hugh Hansen (it previously had a 19-fret rosewood fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret)
Source: Kennard Machol and The Guitar Broker
Serial Number: 87558
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 87562
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
Notes: Neck replaced in 1932
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 87568
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo (positioned unusually close to the top of the headstock). A sticker from the Oahu Publishing Company is attached to the back of the headstock
Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide pearloid block inlays from the third fret (see notes below)
Body: Maple back and sides. Solid carved top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Original long bound pickguard and compensated ebony bridge with matching serial number appearing on its foot
Notes: When the instrument was re-fretted, the original inlays were stored in the case and replaced with a matching set fabricated from vintage correct aged amber pearloid. There is a short hairline crack near the bass f-hole. Has original hardshell case
Source: Archtop.com
Serial Number: 87707
Year shipped: 1931
FON: Illegible
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo, pearloid truss rod cover
Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides. Solid top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys
Notes. Has been refretted and fitted with a reproduction pickguard
Source: John Stewart (myjazzhome.com)
Serial Number: 87708
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Pearloid headstock facing with engraved horizontal Gibson logo and floral motif (no flowerpot). Pearloid truss rod cover
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret pearloid fingerboard with pointed end and offset dot position markers at frets 17 and 19
Body: Maple back and sides. There are a number of top cracks and two small screw holes at the end of the fingerboard
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. The pickguard, associated mounting hardware and one tuner button are missing
Notes: Has original hardshell case. According to Joe Spann, this guitar was shipped in July of 1931
Source: Mass Street Music
Serial Number: 87723
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9965
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners
Notes: Missing pickguard, replacement bridge
Source: John G. Stewart Fine Guitars (myjazzhome.com)
Serial Number: 87725
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9965
Neck/fingerboard: Block inlaid fingerboard
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 87726
Year shipped: 1931
FON: x965 (the first digit is indistinguishable)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides, solid carved braces
Hardware: Gold-plated hardware including wrap over trapeze tailpiece, three-on-a-strip tuners with pearl buttons
Notes: Replaced pickguard and repaired separated back seam
Source: Killer Vintage
Serial Number: 87729
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20-fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret. There is a pearl block at the 15th fret, which is probably a later addition and it’s possible that the entire fingerboard may be a replacement
Body: Maple back and sides, solid top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners
Notes: This guitar has been refinished and the pickguard has been replaced. Has original hardshell case
Source: Musurgia
Serial Number: 87887
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dots from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Pearl nut, ebony bridge (the serial number is inscribed on the underside of the bridge foot) and short bound pickguard
Notes: A few grainline cracks near the soundholes have been repaired and some overspray applied to the top. White oval ‘Guaranteed’ label and original hardshell case
Source: Joe Vinikow, archtop.com
Serial Number: 87990
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 8955
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the first fret
Body: Maple back and sides. Solid tone bars
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece. Long bound pickguard
Notes: Has been refretted and has non-original tuners Three small back cracks at the bass lower bout area have been repaired and the pickguard has a tight crack near the end of the neck. Has original case
See Notes on L-5 serial number 87506, which has a similar fingerboard with a block inlay at the first fret
Source: Mass Street Music
Serial Number: 87991
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9965
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and block inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners.
Notes: The pickguard has deteriorated
Source: Gothic City Guitars
Serial Number: 87992
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece. Short bound pickguard
Notes: Non original Waverly tuners and replaced bridge. This L-5 appears to have been factory refinished Cherry red in the early 1960s
Source: Tony Marcus
Serial Number: 87993
Year shipped: 1931
FON: Illegible
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Short bound pickguard
Source: John Stewart
Serial Number: 87997
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the third fret. Pearl nut
Body: Maple back and sides, white oval ‘Guaranteed’ label
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Short bound pickguard and ebony bridge
Notes: A few tight grainline cracks near the soundholes have been resealed and a bit of light overspray has been applied to the top only. Has original black hardshell case
Source: Joe Vinikow
Serial Number: 87998
Year shipped: 1931
FON: 9965
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides, varnish finish and solid carved top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece with replacement crossbar. Ebony bridge
Notes: Replacement tuners and repro pickguard. The original mounting holes confirm that this guitar was factory fitted with a longer pickguard. There are no apparent cracks or repairs
Source: Archtop.com
Serial number: 88003
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard
Notes: restored by Bryant Trenier
Source: Rudy Pensa (rudysmusic.com)
Serial number: 88219
Year shipped: 1931
FON: FON: 9991
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: One-piece neck
Body: Maple back and sides. Solid top braces
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece. Ebony bridge and long bound pickguard
Notes: Replacement dot inlaid fingerboard, non original tuners. Original finish with some overspray on the top. One possible top crack off of the bass f-hole. We have listed this L-5 as Type 3 but it is possible that the original fingerboard had dots
Source: Tony Marcus