Pre-War Gibson Archtops

09/10/2025

Did you know that a small number of Gibson L-4 archtops were shipped with an OVAL soundhole and an L-5 style neck with 14 frets clear of the body? This version was never catalogued and to our knowledge is not mentioned in any contemporary reference books.

Click this link to read more: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/2021/10/27/gibsons-14-fret-oval-hole-l-4s/

06/10/2025

Click the link below to read about guitarist Perry Botkin who, besides composing several songs for ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ TV show, appeared with Benny Goodman, Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/perry-botkin/

05/10/2025

This photo shows Charles Scarborough, originally from Harriman, Tennessee, and West Carrollton Ohio, playing his mid 1930s Gibson L-7

03/10/2025

Shipped in 1938, L-5 # 95567 has a 17-inch ‘Advanced’ body with an X braced top. It was returned to Gibson the following year to be refinished from Sunburst to Natural and was shipped out to Frank Victor on September 13th 1939, notated as ‘L-5 Natural’ (this is documented in the company’s shipping records). Lots more on this guitar here: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/serial-number-95567

27/09/2025

The fingerboard of L-5PN serial number FA 5172 is virtually identical to that fitted by John D’Angelico to his New Yorker model archtop, the only difference being that the Gibson has a three-piece pearl inlay at the 17th fret while the New Yorker has a solid pearl block. More pix and info here: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/serial-number-fa-5172

21/09/2025

This 1932 Epiphone Zenith archtop has a 13 ½ inch wide body with maple back and sides, a carved spruce top, laminated mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. 1932-34 Epiphone catalogues price the Zenith at $50, without case. The pictured guitar is currently offered for sale a Retrofret. More prewar Epiphones here: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/epiphone/

11/09/2025

NEW: Visit our 'Roy Smeck's Players Page' here: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/roy-smeck/

02/09/2025

When were the earliest block neck Gibson L-5s shipped?
Go here to read our feature on the subject: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/2023/12/09/when-were-the-earliest-block-neck-gibson-l-5s-shipped/

29/08/2025

Shipped in 1933 this unusual L-5 was built to meet the needs of guitarist Carl Kress. Non-standard features include a 'flared’ headstock inlaid with the motif found on the 1924 Gibson TB-5 trapdoor banjo and a 19-fret fingerboard with an inlay pattern that is the same as that seen on some 1930s Mastertone banjos. Lots more on this guitar here: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/serial-number-89849-carl-kress/

26/08/2025

These Kluson Tuners are fitted to L-5 serial number 97940, which was shipped in 1944. Production of Kluson tuners ceased in 1942 so it appears that Gibson had previously stockpiled tuners, which were then used to complete guitars just prior to shipping in1944. More in-depth details of Gibson L-5 construction and hardware here: https://prewargibsonl-5.com/the-l-5-in-detail/

23/08/2025

Darryl Wolfe and Paul Alcantara take a look at the evolution of Gibson’s iconic ‘flowerpot’ headstock inlay. Click here to read the full feature:https://prewargibsonl-5.com/2022/06/10/the-story-of-the-gibson-flowerpot-by-paul-alcantara-and-darryl-wolfe/

20/08/2025

What does the ‘L’ in L-5 stand for? We look into the origin of Gibson's letter designations. Go here to read full feature:

By Paul Alcantara A question that we are often asked is: “Does the ‘L’ in L-5 stand for Loar”? That’s an easy one to answer. Gibson was using the ‘L’ prefi…