Inspired by the construction methods used in building violins, Orville Gibson developed innovative fretted instruments with carved tops and backs that brought his company great success in the early 1900s. By the early 1920s, Gibson’s acoustic engineer, Lloyd Loar, and his team took the violin inspiration a step further by designing a family of high-quality fretted instruments with f-holes. This family included the legendary L-5 guitar and F-5 mandolin.
From the time of its introduction in 1922 until today, the L-5 has been considered one of the finest jazz guitars. Jazz greats Eddie Lang, Allan Reuss, and Wes Montgomery played versions of this classic archtop. It evolved from its original 16" width to its current 17" width in 1934. By 1939, the L-5 gained a cutaway, and in 1951 it became electrified.
The L-5 guitar spotlighted this month is a non-cutaway acoustic version dating to 1952. While cutaway acoustic and electric versions were available that year, Gibson still provided a guitar for players specializing in rhythm-only jazz playing. The interest in these noncutaway acoustics gradually dwindled throughout the ’50s. In 1952, 27 non-cutaway L-5s were produced, whereas in 1958 only five were made. The noncutaway L-5 was discontinued at the end of that year and was not seen again until the 16" version was reissued in the ’90s.
The 1952 L-5 pictured here has all the characteristics common to that year, including the well-known mother-of-pearl flower pot/torch headstock inlay and modern-style Gibson logo (replacing the script logo in 1949). Other noteworthy features are its gold Kluson Sealfast tuners with plastic buttons, a two-piece curly maple neck with a mahogany center strip and a bound ebony fretboard, a 17"- wide body with solid maple back and sides, a carved spruce top, and the classic art-deco tailpiece.
To learn more about Gibson L-5s, check out The Gibson L5: Its History and Its Players by Adrian Ingram, The Gibson Super 400: Art of the Fine Guitar by Thomas A. Van Hoose, and Gibson Shipment Totals: 1937-1979 by Larry Meiners.
Dave ’s Guitar Shop
Dave Rogers’ collection is tended by Laun Braithwaite and Tim Mullally and is on display at:
Dave’s Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
davesguitar.com
Photos by Mullally and text by Braithwaite.
Every limited-edition pack also gives players a chance to win a Martin 000-EC 30th Anniversary guitar--a beautifully crafted instrument with a retail value of $4,999, inspired by the Martin guitars Eric played during his legendary MTV Unplugged performance. The guitar will be awarded to one lucky winner who finds a special ticket inside a pack of strings.
Fans can also enter a second-chance giveaway online for more opportunities to win exclusive prizes, including a Martin guitar strap, poster, collectible lanyard with three custom patches, or even a year's supply of strings.This contest is open to U.S. residents only and ends March 31, 2026. No purchase necessary.
Enter now and learn more at martinguitar.com/eric-clapton-giveaway.
The anniversary release also coincides with the upcoming arrival of Unplugged: Enhanced Edition on vinyl and CD, available May 9. The iconic installment of the MTV Unplugged series--and the greatest-selling live album of all time--returns over 30 years later in an all-new extended, remixed, and remastered version. Featuring never-before-heard commentary from Eric recorded just before the original 1992 performance, the release offers fresh insight into the inspiration behind the songs and includes tracks not featured in the original MTV airing.
Crafted from 92/8 phosphor bronze, Clapton’s Choice Signature Strings are known for their warm, rich tone, smooth feel, and long-lasting performance. They're the same strings Eric uses in the studio and on stage--including during his current eight-night residency at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo--and he calls them "the sound that I demand."
Whether you're chasing Eric's iconic tone or simply looking for strings that deliver great sound and playability, now is the perfect time to pick up a pack--available in a music store near you or online at
martinguitar.com--and celebrate two decades of signature sound.
