1938
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: 95120
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body
Notes: L-5 Ledger entry indicates ‘Long Scale’ and ‘N.Y. Band’
Source: Gibson Ledgers (Paul Fox)
Serial Number: 95122
Year shipped: 1938
FON: 672 C-2
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo. Has the initial ‘A R’ engraved on the truss rod cover
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, Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds that is engraved with Allan Reuss’ name and individual Grover Imperial tuners. Long bound pickguard
Notes: This L-5 belonged to guitarist Allan Reuss, whose initials appear on both the truss rod cover and endpin. Gibson ledger entry indicates ‘Long Scale’
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial number: 95133
Year shipped: 1938
FON
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo with no dot on the ‘i’
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony 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 bound f-holes. Parallel top bracing
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. Rosewood bridge
Notes: Tight short hairline crack in back and missing pickguard
Source: Intermountain Guitar and Banjo
Serial Number: 95160
Year shipped: 1938
FON: 672 C-2
(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 bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including individual Kluson tuners with metal buttons, Varitone tailpiece. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: Label dated ‘3-7-40’ – this appears to have been written through the f-hole and ,ay have been written by an early owner. Has original hardshell case
Source: National Music Museum
Serial Number: 95253
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Rosewood bridge
Notes: The long bound pearloid pickguard has been cut and drilled to accommodate a pickup and volume control. Original owner Tony Giambroni purchased this guitar from the New York Band Instrument. Has original hardshell case
Source: Jeff Kelly
Serial Number: 95284
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial number: 95314
Year shipped: 1938
FON: 857D (hard to read) followed by ‘9’ in red pencil
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: See Notes below
Neck/fingerboard: See Notes below
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large bound f-holes. Parallel top bracing
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: This guitar was re-necked at the Gibson factory at some point. The pickguard is missing
Source: Phil Sylvester
Serial number: 95311
Year shipped: 1938
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 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: The Vintage Guitar Gallery
Serial Number: 95342
Year shipped: 1938
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 small bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds and Grover Imperial tuners. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Source: Jean Louis Bouyssou
Serial Number: 95402
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 95423
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body
31/05/38 Shipped to Music Mart – not described as electric
23/03/39 Shipped to Les Paul – not described as electric
24/01/41 Shipped to New York salesman L. Neal – described as ‘L-5 Electric Special’
‘L-5 Electric’ shipped 09/07/43 with EH-185 Amp serial number 14545
Notes: Initially shipped to Music Mart in May 1938, this guitar reappeared in the ledgers for the following March when it was sent to guitarist Les Paul. The instrument was shipped a third time in 1941 to L Neal. It was not listed as an electric guitar in the first two ledger entries and may have been converted from an acoustic L-5 at the request of Les Paul.
Serial Number: 95439
FON:
Year shipped: 1938
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 95454
Year shipped: 1938
FON: 832
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo (no 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 bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. Rosewood bridge
Notes: Replacement pickguard by Gruhn Guitars
Source: Gruhn Guitars
Serial Number: 95498
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script 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. Long bound pickguard
Notes: Replacement tuners, repaired cracks and jack socket hole in top, back centre seam repair and complete refinish. Although eight 16-inch L-5s were shipped in 1938, the featured guitar’s dot inlays suggest that the fingerboard was replaced at some point
Source: Lowell Levinger and www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 95509
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
Body: 17-inch body
Notes: L-5 electric’ delivered to Roy Smeck in September 1938, this guitar was subsequently shipped to Les Paul on 03/11/42
Source: May 2013 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine
Serial Number: 95567
Year shipped: 1938
FON: 46 D-1
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 ‘Advanced’ body with X braced top and small bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece (which appears to have been re-plated) and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. The pickguard appears original but has been repositioned to accomodate the DeArmond pickup. Controls for the pickup and mini-jack are mounted to the back edge of the pickguard, with small holes drilled for the mini-pots
Notes: First shipped October 10th 1938 to New York Band instrument. Returned to Gibson the following year to be refinished in Natural, shipped to Frank Victor on September 13th 1939. Returned to Gibson in 1940 for an unspecified repair.
Long grain crack on treble side of the back that runs the entire length of the instrument. This is solidly sealed but visible. There are also strap-button holes in different locations around the neck heel. The heel and back of the neck have an old clear lacquer overspray and the centre seam on the back of the neck shows some finish flaking but is not open. The guitar has been re-fretted at some point with wire that is larger than the original. It is currently fitted with a circa 1960 DeArmond Model 1000 Rhythm Chief pickup with the controls mounted to the pickguard.
The guitar still has its original black hard shell case.
L-5 serial number 95567 appears to have belonged to guitarist Frank Victor.
This guitar is one of 146 Sunburst finish Advanced L-5s shipped in 1938 (see above for details of the instrument’s Natural refinish)
Source: Retrofret
Serial Number: 95570
Year shipped: 1938
FON: U 98 D followed by 3 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, 25 ½ inch scale length and 1 11/16-inch nut width
Body: 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with X braced top and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, Grover Imperial tuners, hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds, the cross-bar of which is engraved with the name ‘Buddy Raye’. Bound pickguard and rosewood bridge. Small cracks on bass side waist and top, beneath the tailpiece
Notes: Has original ‘tweed’ linen covered Lifton case
Source: Fretted Americana
Serial Number: 95575
Year shipped: 1938
FON: 2544 (hand-written in the red pencil)
Headstock: Large ‘flared’ headstock with horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo. The name ‘Bill Ashley’ is engraved on the truss rod cover. Bone nut
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow bock inlays from the first fret (see Notes below). Wide neck heel and 24 ¾-inch scale length
Body: Maple back and sides with smallbound f-holes. Has five-ply top binding and triple-bound back. The top bracing is kerfed
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and Grover Imperial tuners. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge ((see Notes on tuners and pickguard below)
Notes: This guitar was first shipped on April 7th 1939, to Hunleth Music in St. Louis, a major Gibson dealer. It was returned to the factory for repair, then shipped a second time on September 5th 1941, to an individual named Tom Christian
Serial Number: 95602
Year shipped: 1938
FON: 57 D
(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 and long scale length
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large unbound f-holes
Hardware: See Notes
Notes: The tuners, tailpiece, pickguard and trussrod cover are replacements. The fingerboard binding has been cut through when the guitar was refretted and some of the binding has come loose. There are several cracks and a number of holes have been drilled into the side of the fingerboard to accommodate a pickup. There is also a plugged hole in the lower bout where a jack socket was fitted. A strap button has been installed on the heel cap
Source: Richard Heeres
Serial number: 95666
Year shipped: 1938
FON: D-1 (hard to read: the D is ink stamped and the 1 is handwritten)
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo. Has the name ‘S.C. Ronsley’ engraved on the truss rod cover
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 bound f-holes. Parallel braced top
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Grover Imperial tuners. Rosewood bridge
Notes: The nut and frets have been replaced, loose binding on the body reattached, the fingerboard re-bound and a separated centre seam repaired. A strap button has been installed on the heel cap. Has a reproduction tailpiece and reproduction pickguard by Paul Fox (fox-guitars.com)
Source: Mark Anagnostopulos
Serial Number: 95674
Year shipped: 1938
FON: none
(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 and long 26-inch scale length (see Notes)
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, Natural finish 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
Notes: According to its current owner, this L-5 serial number 95674 has an unusual 26-inch scale length
Source: Toby Grosz
Serial Number: 95720
Year Shipped: 1938
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 bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons and Varitone tailpiece. Pickguard shows some signs of deterioration
Notes: Replaced nut and strap button added on heel
Source: Christian Leger
Serial Number: 95721
Year Shipped: 1938
FON: Not visible
(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 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: Reproduction pickguard, overspray on top and back (possibly Gibson factory work), repaired side crack near end block
Source: Gruhn Guitar (guitars.com)
Serial Number: 95735
Year shipped: 1938
FON: n/a
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo with no dot on the ‘i’. The name ‘Frank Remley’ is engraved on the truss rod cover
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, Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons.
Notes: This L-5 belonged to entertainer Frankie Remley and was originally a left-handed model. The long bound pickguard has been repaired and since this guitar was built as a left handed model, the pickguard bridge saddle and nut are probably replacements. Has been refretted
Source: John Stewart
Serial Number: 95739
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
(See 17-inch Advanced Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo with no dot on the ’i’
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. 25 3/8-inch scale length and wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, Natural finish, parallel braced top and large 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 and long bound pickguard
Notes: Refretted. Repro tailpiece bracket. Has original tweed covered Geib hardshell case
Source: John Stewart and Nino Fazio (www.realvintage.it)
Serial number: 95747
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo with no dot on the ’i’
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. Natural finish and large bound f-holes, parallel-braced top
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds. Rosewood bridge and long bound pickguard
Notes: Replacement Grover Imperial tuners. Has original original Lifton hard case with orange racing stripes This guitar is one of 13 Natural finish Advanced L-5s shipped in 1938
Source: Carter Vintage
Serial number: 95751
Year shipped: 1938
FON:
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
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. Natural finish and large 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: There is a small crack on the upper part of the neck, near the nut along the left side. The pickguard is missing. Has original hardshell case
This guitar is one of 13 Natural finish Advanced L-5s shipped in 1938
Source: Heritage Auctions