1937
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
The first L-5s with a 17-inch wide ‘Advanced’ body were shipped in 1935 and the list below includes examples with both the new 17-inch body and the old-style 16-inch body
If an instrument appears in one of our picture galleries this is noted beneath the serial number
Although the Natural finish option wasn’t officially available until 1939, 21 L-5s were shipped with a Natural finish in 1937 and 1938 (this number includes one of the last 16-inch models, which was delivered with a Natural finish in May 1938)
Serial Number 94044
Year Shipped 1937
FON
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel. 24 ¾-inch scale length
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend and and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Statite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
This guitar is one of 212 Sunburst Advanced L-5s shipped in 1937
Source: Dayton Vintage Guitars
Serial Number: 94094
Year shipped: 1937
FON: 314-3
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and small unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys
Notes: The pickguard is missing
Source: Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey Auctions
Serial Number 94095
Year Shipped 1937
FON
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and small unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard and rosewoodbridge
Notes: The tailpiece has been replaced and the guitar has been fitted with a DeArmond floating pickup
This guitar was signed out of the Gibson factory on 22nd of January 1937 by salesman Wallace Caldwell as a sample. It is one of 7 Natural finished Advanced L-5s shipped in 1937
Source: James
Serial Number: 94133
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
(See Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. 24 ¾ inch scale length and wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, X-braced top and small unbound f-holes. The label has 1 1/8″ on its lower left-hand side
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: This guitar belonged to Marty Grosz. It has its original tweed case. The first five digits of the FON are extremely difficult to read so that the number quoted above may not be correct
Source: Nino Fazio
Serial number: 94138
Year shipped: 1937
FON: 1198 C
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo (lacks a dot over the letter ‘i’)
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and small unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend. and rosewood bridge
Notes: The original tuners have been replaced, a replica pickguard has been fitted and the guitar has been re-fretted with period-correct fretwire. Still has its original Geib case
“I have been the proud owner L-5 serial number 94138 since 1969,” says the guitar’s owner, Dan Burm. “I bought it from a well-known talent agent, Sammy Tucker, who in turn had bought it from Herb Ellis in the 1950’s. It is the virtual twin to L-5 serial number 94139 (LINK)This guitar is one of 212 Sunburst Advanced L-5s shipped in 1937
Source: Dan Burm
Serial number: 94139
Year shipped: 1937
FON
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo (lacks a dot over the letter ‘i’)
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: This guitar has been buffed but retains the original finish with possibly some overspray in a couple of spots. 94139 is a serial number that also appears on an L-7 T tenor guitar
Source: Charlie Cushman
Serial Number: 94179
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 94225
Year shipped: 1937
FON: 12040
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial number: 94267
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: Has been refinished (factory?). Has original hardshell case
Source: Heritage Auctions
Serial number: 94329
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo (lacks a dot over the letter ‘i’)
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and small unbound f-holes, X-braced top.
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend. Original rosewood bridge
Notes: The nut, pickguard and tuners) have been replaced (original tuners stored in case, two strap buttons in the heel have been removed with finish touch-up, cracks in the side of the body and heel have been repaired with overspray on heel. The fingerboard has been re-fretted and the neck has been re-set
This guitar is one of 212 Sunburst Advanced L-5s shipped in 1937
Source: Carter Vintage
Serial Number: 94348
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 94352
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Large, ‘flared’ headstock with horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first to the seventeenth frets. Wide neck heel
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: The large neck heel, ‘Advanced’ style fingerboard and ‘flared’ headstock are features more usually found on 17-Inch L-5s suggesting that the neck was replaced in the late 30s.
Source: Kennard Machol
Serial Number: 94xxx
Year shipped: Almost certainly shipped in 1937
FON:
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret, wide neck heel. 25 ½-inch scale length
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds ‘and individual Grover Imperial tuners (‘G’ string tuner replaced Kluson). Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: Strap button added at heel. Has original hardshell case
Source: Champagne Auctions
Serial Number: 94390
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret, 25 1/2 inch scale length and wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, parallel braced top and small bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Grover Imperial tuners. Rosewood bridge
Notes: The pickguard is missing
Source: Buzzy Levine, Lark Street Music (larkstreetmusic.com)
Serial Number: 94470
Year shipped: 1937
FON: 89
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. 24 ¾-inch scale length and wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and small bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds and Grover Imperial tuners. Rosewood bridge
Notes A floating pickup and side mounted jack socket were installed at some point. The pickup has been removed but the finish remains slightly discoloured at its former location. A passive sensor has since been fitted placed beneath the bridge. Reproduction pickguard and re-fret by luthier Bob Jones of Brooklyn NY. Two of the tuner buttons have been replaced
This guitar is one of 212 Sunburst Advanced L-5s shipped in 1937
Source: Andy Schwartz
Serial Number: 94579
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret, 25 1/2 inch scale length and wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, parallel braced top and small bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with ‘L-5’ legend and Grover Imperial tuners. Long bound pickguard and ebony bridge
Notes: Both the neck and body and been refinished to Natural and a deep Florentine cutaway has been added. The pickguard is a reproduction and a floating pickup has been installed. The neck heel has been repaired
Source: archtop.com
Serial Number: 94666
Year shipped: 1937
FON: 9.3 0-2
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Large, ‘flared’ headstock with horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first to the seventeenth frets. 25½ inch scale length. Wide neck heel
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamond and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard
Notes: The wide neck heel, ‘Advanced’ style fingerboard, ‘flared’ headstock and long bound pickguard are features more usually found on 17-Inch L-5s suggesting that the neck was replaced in the late 1930s.
Source: Sun Valley Guitars
Serial Number: 94679
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 94773
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes.Parallel top bracing
Hardware: See Notes
Notes: This guitar has been completely refinished and all of the hardware has been replaced. There are several unspecified repairs. A floating pickup has been installed and a strap button added at the heel
Source: Marek Rejhon
Serial Number: 94976
Year shipped: 1937
FON:
Notes: Refinished
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 94906 (possibly 91906)
FON
(See Type Three Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret. Truss rod cover of the type more usually seen on 17-Inch L-5s
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece. Long bound pickguard
Notes: Has been fitted with a humbucking pickup plus tone and volume controls, which will have necessitated cutting holes in the front of the guitar. The pickguard has been cut to accommodate the pickup and the tuners have been replaced. The serial number appears to be either 91906 or 94906, indicating that the guitar was shipped in 1935 or 1937
Source: David Tarkington
Serial Number: 94989
Year shipped: 1937
FON: 546C-3
Headstock: Horizontal Gibson script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes and a parallel braced top
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including flat tailpiece engraved with L-5 legend. Long bound pickguard
Notes: The top has two cleated cracks, the guitar has been refretted and the nut (original in case), tuners and bridge have been replaced. Has original hardshell case
Source: Chuck Nicholson
Serial Number: 95011
Year Shipped: 1937
FON: 546C followed by – 4 in red pencil
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: A strap button has been added on the heel
Source: Craig Jones Bay State Vintage Guitars (baystatevintageguitars.com)
Serial Number: 95022
FON:
Year shipped: 1937
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 95080
Year Shipped: 1937
FON:
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo. Has the name ‘Bobby Sherwood’ engraved on the truss rod cover
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds and individual Grover Imperial tuners. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Source: Stéphane Neidhardt