Gibson Advanced L-5

1938

An exceptional guitar with a well-established history and provenance, this L-5 weighs just 2.7 kg, with a 17-inch wide body and a 3 3/8-inch depth! This is the model that greatly contributed to creating the Gibson legend in the world of pre-war archtops. It features a carved spruce top (X-bracing), flamed maple back and sides, and a flamed maple neck with a mahogany center stripe, featuring a very thick profile. The ebony fingerboard is adorned with mother-of-pearl inlays and 20 original jumbo frets. The body features elegant five-ply binding on the top, three-ply binding on the back, and single-ply binding around the sound holes. The headstock features the mother-of-pearl “Gibson” logo and the L-5 floral inlay. The guitar is equipped with Grover Imperial tuners, a rosewood bridge and base, and a hinged L-5 tailpiece engraved with the name “Buddy Raye.” Inside, the original white Gibson label bears the serial number “95570.” As you can see, the condition of the instrument is quite impressive. It has two small, discreet cracks: one under the tailpiece, the other on the binding in the waist of the bass side. Nothing too serious or that would distract from the beauty of this instrument. The playability is optimal, the neck angle is perfect, and the intonation is spot on. This is a great instrument, perfectly suited to the most demanding players. Acquired new by Buddy Raye, whose name is engraved on the tailpiece, in 1938, this L-5 accompanied him until his untimely death at the age of 27. An accomplished guitarist and fiddler, he played with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and made film appearances (Strictly in the Groove, 1942). A rare guitar in splendid condition, supplied in its original Lifton case.