Gibson Custom L-4 CES Archtop Electric Guitar (with Case)

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Gibson Custom L-4 CES Archtop Electric Guitar (with Case), Wine Red Gibson Custom L-4 CES Archtop Electric Guitar (with Case), Vintage Sunburst
zZounds Gear Experts Say...
The Gibson Custom L-4 CES is a faithful recreation of the famed L-4C with one major change: the L-4 CES is a great-sounding electric archtop.

Even though Gibson had orginally created the laminated top ES-175 in 1948 to fill the need for an electric version of the acoustic, carved top L-4C, the demand still existed for an electric L-4 with a fully carved top. In the late 1950's Gibson answered this call by releasing small runs of variously configured L-4CES guitars: some with Charlie Christian pickups, some with Alnico pickups, and some with humbuckers. For today's player, the Custom Collection offers the L-4CES in its final incarnation.

Body:

Top wood: Carved, solid spruce

Back wood: Mahogany

Dimensions: 16 1/4 in.(W) X 20 1/4 in.(L) X 3 3/8 in.(D)

Binding: Multi-ply white/black on top; single-ply white on back

Neck:

Neck construction: 1-piece mahogany

Fingerboard wood: 20 fret ebony

Inlays: Pearl split parallelogram

Binding: Single-ply white

Profile: ES rounded

Scale length/Nut width: 24 3/4 in.; 1 11/16 in.

Strings: L-5 Electric .012-.056

Electronics & Hardware:

Pickups: '57 Classic humbuckers

Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch

Hardware color: Gold

Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR-1/L-4

Tuner style: Vintage tulip

Included accessories:

Custom Shop case, and Certificate of Authenticity.

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-444-2766
Email: service@gibson.com
Web: https://www.gibson.com/pages/contact-support

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (43 ratings)
Submitted January 4, 2012 by a customer from aol.com

"Excellent product!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I expect to wear this guitar out, then step up to a L-5 CES, if there is a great difference in sound and playability between the two. Yes I would replace it if it were lost or stolen.
Sound
very warm and mellow sound, just what I was looking for in a Jazz guitar!
Features
I feel the materials, parts and components are top notch, excellend
Quality
Very well made. No setup was required...It was perfectly set up at the custom shop. No fret buzz, and action was perfect, not too high, not to low, just right.
Value
I would say yes. However, I can't figure out why the L-5 CES is $4,000 more. It appears to be almost like the L-4, except that the toggle switch is on the bottom of the guitar instead of the top like the L-4 and the L-4 is a florintine cutaway as opposed to a rounded cut like on the L-5.
Manufacturer Support
Very friendly, helpful and easy to reach.
The Wow Factor
The appeal is the beauty, sound, and playability of the guitar

Musical Background:

off and on for 15 years

Musical Style:

jass, classical
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