Serial Number: 87992 Red Reffin
Year shipped: 1931
FON:
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 (note the large numbers stamped into the rear of headstock). According to Gibson researcher Joe Spann, the guitar was manufactured and shipped early in 1931 and returned to the factory for repairs in 1937, 1940 and 1941. It’s unlikely however that the refinish was done at any of these dates and since we don’t have access to Gibson ledgers beyond September of 1951, we are unable to confirm at what point it took place
Images Courtesy of Tony Marcus