1940
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
From 1939 the L-5 was offered – as the L-5P (Premier) – with a single rounded ‘Venetian’ style cutaway. Examples with a cutaway and Natural finish were designated L-5PN
If an instrument appears in one of our picture galleries this is noted beneath the serial number
Guitars
Serial Number 96009
Year shipped: 1940
FON: appears to be 753F
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. 25.5 inch scale length
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and side and large bound f-holes. ‘1 ¼’ is written by hand on the inside label
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. Has original bound pearloid pickguard
This guitar is one of 27 Natural finished (see Notes above) Advanced L-5s shipped in 1940
Source: That Rhythm Man Guitars
Serial Number: 96137
Year shipped: 1940
FON 332 F1 (the 1 at the end is written in red)
(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 with Natural finish and large bound f-holes. Parallel top bracing
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Kluson Sealfast tuners and Varitone tailpiece
Notes: The pickguard is a replacement and the guitar has been fitted with a strap button on the heel. Has original hardshell case
This guitar is one of 38 Natural finished Advanced L-5s shipped in 1940
Source: Eddie Reed
Serial Number: 96143
Year Shipped: 1940
FON: 1281F
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, large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and individual Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons
Notes: This L-5 was owned by Al Valenti who was John D’Angelico’s first and longest standing endorsee. The guitar was bought by the current owner from Valenti’s family in 2017 and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Valenti’s nephew.
This L -5 – along with several other guitars – was stolen from Valenti in 2001 and subsequently returned to him in 2005 (see the Tampa Bay news report below for details of their return)
The guitar has been re-fretted and a DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100 has been added with a corresponding endpin jack. A strap button has also been installed at the neck heel. The pickguard and its bracket are reproductions. Comes with original hardshell case
Source: That Rhythm Man Guitars
Serial Number: 96202
Year shipped: 1940
FON: 684F-4
(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, Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners. Long bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: The four-piece back suggests that the guitar may have started life with a sunburst finish, the dark outer areas of which would have hidden the additional sections of maple at the body’s edge
Source: musurgia.com
Serial Number 96204
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
(See 17-inch Premier 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, Venetian cutaway, Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. Has original bound pearloid pickguard
Notes: This guitar has been refretted by Norio Imai. Has original case
Source: Buzzy Levine, Larkstreet Music (larkstreetmusic.com) and Laurence Wexer (wexerguitars.com)
Serial Number: 96179
Year shipped: 1940
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
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides with Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts
Notes: The tailpiece and pickguard are replacements and the guitar has been fitted with a DeArmond pickup
Source: Imperial Vintage
Serial Number: 96345
Year Shipped: 1940
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 Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. Long bound pickguard
Notes: At some point an under-saddle pickup was fitted with corresponding controls – the latter requiring holes to be drilled through the pickguard
Source: The Music Gallery
Serial Number: 96358
Year shipped: 1940
FON: 945 F
(See 17-inch Premier 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, Venetian cutaway and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons
Notes: Replacement pickguard
Source: Rudy’s Music
Serial number: 96515
Year shipped: 1940
FON: 1343F-6
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: Laminated maple neck, 20-fret ebony fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret
Body: 17-inch cutaway body with carved maple back, maple sides and carved spruce top with large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons
Electronics: Bar-magnet ‘Charlie Christian’ pickup (see Notes below)
Notes: Gibson never catalogued a carved, cutaway electric model prior to WWII and only a handful were built.
L-5P serial number 96515 was originally intended for guitarist Charlie Christian. After Christian’s death in 1942, it was shipped to Gibson endorser, Tony Mottola, who used it for much of his career.
The guitar first appears in Gibson’s shipping ledgers on June 28th 1941 alongside an EH-185 amplifier designated for “Chas. Christian (NY Band)” – the New York Band Instrument Company was Gibson’s primary distributor at the time.
On April 21st 1942, it was shipped a second time to NY Band with an EH-185 amp for Tony Mottola. It was notated as “L-5P 96515 ES-250 Pick Up” confirming that it was built with the single bar magnet pickup in the neck position.
According to Tony Mottola Jr., the guitar was returned to Gibson at least twice for upgrades; in the 1940s a second bar magnet pickup was installed in the bridge position and in the 1960s this was replaced with a gold-plated patent number humbucker, the mounting screw holes from the earlier pickup filled with pearl dots. At some point a thin black plastic ring was added around the original neck pickup.
The guitar currently has a single switch on the cutaway bout plus individual tone and volume controls for each pickup. The pickguard has been cut to accommodate the bridge pickup.
The ebony bridge was hand carved by Jimmy D’Aquisto and signed by him on the underside. Tony Mottola wrote his name in pencil on the label and on the interior of the back beneath the bass side f-hole. The guitar has been re-fretted more than once.
There are two sealed grain splits to the top, one at the bottom of the treble side f-hole and the other off the bass side back edge. The rim around the tailpiece has several sealed splits running up to the jack area.
Source: Retrofret
Serial number FA-5015
Year shipped: 1940
FON: 706E
(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 Kluson Sealfast tuners with metal buttons ((two of which have been changed). Rosewood bridge
Notes: Reproduction tailpiece. The pickguard is missing. This guitar was delivered to guitarist Dave Barbour on April 2nd 1940
Source: François Charle (additional information André Duchossoir)
Serial Number: FA 5083
Year Shipped: 1940
FON:
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 Kluson Sealfast tuners with plastic buttons.
This guitar is one of 38 Natural finished Advanced L-5s shipped in 1940
Source: Peter Lovett
Serial Number: FA-5165
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
Body: 17-inch body
Notes: Model: Electric L-5N shipped to Les Paul in March 1941 and returned to Gibson shortly after
Source: July 2013 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine and Dec 2013 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine
Serial number FA-5166
Year shipped: 1940
FON: 844-2
(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 Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. Rosewood bridge and long bound pickguard
Notes: This L-5N was first shipped on 20th March 1940 to Lyon & Healy in Chicago
Source: Gian Russo
Serial Number: FA 5172
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
(See 17-inch Premier Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, Venetian cutaway, Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. Bound pickguard
Notes: Has a near mint tweed/pink plush lined ‘luggage’ case made by Geib of Chicago. Replacement D’Angelico New Yorker-style fingerboard
Source: Ultimate Vintage
Serial Number: FA-5173
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
Body: 17-inch body
Source: July 2013 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine
Serial Number: FA-5174 (on the label and stamped on the headstock)
Year Shipped: 1940
FON: The Factory order number is not clearly stamped but includes the ‘F’ suffix used that year
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end. 25-1/2 inch scale length. Wide neck heel. Like other L-5Ps from this period, the fingerboard is not elevated but resting directly on the guitar’s face
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, Natural finish, large bound f-holes and parallel top bracing
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons
Notes: Has original tweed ‘Aeroplane Cloth’ case. There is small grain split just above the tailpiece and the ‘Vari-tone’ adjustment has dug into the top wood to a degree. The lower back has a small grain split in the lower bout and some of the back edge seams have been resealed. There are also a couple tiny grain checks on the upper bout side where it meets the back. The guitar appears to have been re-fretted at some point with appropriate wire. The pickguard has been replaced (the original guard is in case pocket badly decomposed)
Source: Retrofret
Serial number: 96030
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
(Pictures withheld)
Headstock: Horizontal script ‘Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and block inlays from the first fret
Body: Maple back and sides, Natural finish
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Kluson Sealfast tuners with metal buttons and Varitone tailpiece. Long bound pickguard
Notes: the guitar has been refretted and there are two stable cracks in the top that have not been repaired.
Source: Withheld
Serial Number: 96267
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
17/11/41 ‘L-5 and Electric Pickup’
shipped to New York Band
Notes: This may be an acoustic L-5 that was shipped with a detachable pickup.
Serial Number: 96515
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
Body: 17-inch body
Notes: Sent to Charlie Christian in June 1941. Following Christian’s death in 1942, the guitar was returned to Gibson. It later belonged to Tony Mottola and in the 40s was fitted with a second bar pickup at the bridge, which Mottola later replaced with a humbucker.
Source: Dec 2013 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine
Serial number 96516
Year shipped: 1940
FON: 1343F-9
(See 17-inch Premier 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, Venetian cutaway and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with plastic buttons. Bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: This L-5P is just one digit away from the serial number of the electric L-5P that Gibson made for Charlie Christian
Source: Gian Russo
Serial Number: 96557
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
(See 17-inch Premier Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret ebony fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret, 25 3/8-inch scale length. Wide neck heel
Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides, Venetian cutaway, Natural finish and large bound f-holes
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Varitone tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners with Catalin buttons. Bound pickguard and rosewood bridge
Notes: Has original tweed case
Source: John Stewart and Nino Fazio (www.realvintage.it)
Serial Number: 96576
Year shipped: 1940
FON:
Body: 17-inch body with Venetian cutaway and Natural finish
Notes: Over-sprayed neck and repaired side crack
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com