Serial number 96516

Year shipped: 1940 

FON: 1343F-9

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 plastic buttons. Bound pickguard and rosewood bridge

Notes: A.R. Duchossoir tells us: “This L-5P was first shipped to Lyon & Healy on 28th February 1942, which shows that at this point in time and history L-5s were not flying off the shelves as war was firmly on its way – especially after the Pearl Harbor disaster.

“The interesting point is that this L-5P is just one digit away from the number of the electric L-5P that Gibson specially made for Charlie Christian and delivered to him, regrettably a few days before he passed away (same batch as the CC L-5P and adjacent number – 515 vs 516).

“The guitar was then retrieved by Gibson via New York Band and given to Tony Mottola who used it extensively during his long career.”

This guitar is one of 20 Sunburst finished Advanced L-5s shipped in 1940

• 

• 

Images courtesy of Gian Russo