Serial Number: 87993

Year shipped: 1931

FON: 9952

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 wrap-over tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Short bound pickguard

This L-5 was produced in June of 1931 and shipped in August of 1931. There were at least 10 guitars in the same batch, most of which were returned to the factory in the later 1930’s for repairs.  In the repair lists they are designated as “Old style L-5”. Gibson was fighting for its life in 1931 and it is highly likely that they produced a batch of L-5’s using up existing older parts. With thanks to Joe Spann for this information.

Images courtesy of John G Stewart Fine Guitars