Serial Number: 94773
Year shipped: 1937
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 maple back and sides, large unbound f-holes and parallel top bracing
Hardware: see Notes
Notes: This guitar has been completely refinished and all of the hardware has been replaced. There are several unspecified repairs. A floating pickup has been installed and a strap button added at the heel
This guitar is one of 212 Sunburst Advanced L-5s shipped in 1937 (assuming it left the factory with a Sunburst finish)
Marek Rejhon restores L-5 Serial Number 94773
The L-5 pictured here belongs to Marek Rejhon. It was restored by Petr Prochazka and Petr Grotzbach of Petr Prochazka Custom Guitars (www.guitar-makers.com) where Marek works as a consultant. Marek – who builds guitars in his spare time – also contributed to the restoration, as did French polisher, Jaroslav Špilar.
Petr Prochazka Custom Guitars builds Gibson L-5 and Super 400 inspired guitars, as well as carrying out restoration work on vintage instruments.
Marek talks us through the restoration of this L-5:
“This L-5 is unusual in that the top and back plate are carved in exactly the same manner as the contemporary X-braced Advanced L-5s (with a flat centre arch ) but it left the factory with parallel top bracing.
“It was purchased without any hardware in UK and has had several repairs – some good, some terrible! Its restoration is almost complete and we decided to not try to hide previous signs of use and repairs. Traces of several older refinishes were apparent and as we were not sure about the original style of finish, we decided to do it Natural with a period correct white pearloid pick-guard.
“The finish was done with French polished amber shellac, which blends with the cracks and repairs better. “
Images courtesy of Marek Rejhon