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: 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: 96927
Year shipped: 1940
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 bird’s eye 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
Notes: The pickguard is a reproduction. Has original hardshell case
This guitar is one of 38 Natural finished Advanced L-5s shipped in 1940
Source: Dave Goessling
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-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: 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