The GAS is over.....Tal's last guitar...GIBSON L5CES
I konw...
I have been accused here lately of having more GAS than anybody on this forum. That has finally come to an end..
.
I've collected a few axes in the last 1 and 1/2 years, since I took up playing again as you guys probably know..
My present collection consists of the following guitars...
Ramirez R1 Classical
Epiphone Joe Pass
Fender FR50CE electric Resonator guitar.
Fender American Standard Telecaster
Fender American Standard Stratocaster
Gibson Blues Hawk
68 vintage Gibson Les Paul (Gold top)
57 reissue Gibson Les Paul (Gold top)
Gibson ES175 (Natural)..
I will probably be selling the Joe Pass, the Fender Resonator, and the Blues Hawk in the future. They are wonderful guitars but they are starting to see some serious case time due to me more recent aquisitions. Great guitars but they deserve to be played. Not sit in a case..
Which brings me to the title of this thread..
Back when I played Pro I lusted after the Gibson L5CES..
Always out of my reach price wise.
I played a tone of em' and just drooled over that sweet sound..
When I started playing again, I had this guitar in the back of my mind. Even during my 25 year abscense from playing, I'd see a cat on TV with one and just go WOW.. What a sweet, sweet guitar. 8)
When I started playing again last year, the first guitar I bought was the Epi Joe Pass, which is basically a L5 copy.. Played the Joe Pass for a few months but still lusted for that rich Gibson arch top tone.
Looked at L5's and said \"Just too much money..Maybe next year\"...
Bought the ES175 instead. I have played that guitar almost everyday and I love it.. 8)
But today was the day....
Checking around the net on some of my old haunts where I go to drool and look at L5's and saw one that just floored me. :shock:
Not new. In fact it's a 97 model.. But in pristine condition.
Yep... It was still expensive but not nearly as expensive as a new one..
Talked it over with my wife and she told me, that she knew how much I wanted one and that I deserved it..Then she said go for it!!! If anybody has wanted one as long as you go ahead and get it.. Hell...What else are we working for..
So after years, make that decades, of drooling...
TAL OWNS A GIBSON L5CES!!!!!
This is the link for the EXACT guitar I bought... http://www.archtop.com/ac_97L5CES.html
Will be in my hands by Friday..
Gentlemen..I'm still in shock..Years of Years of Maybe Next Year..
.
My dream guitar..
Yep I'm through buying new guitars..
.
Yep it was expensive... but not as expensive as a new one from Musicians Friend..Heres the link for a new one. :shock: .
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-Shop-L5-CES-Guitar?sku=517483
If any of yall ever want a fine Arch Top guitar from a regular dealer....
www.archtop.com is super...The owner, Joe Vinikow, is a true gentlemen, and has been around a long time. All he says is archtops pretty much though. 8) .
I'm really kind of choked up..The years I have dreamed of this axe, and this Friday, when I open the box, I don't know what my reaction is going to be. I may just sit and look at for a while, while I wipe the tears of happiness from my eyes..
I'm still stunned.. :shock:
See Ya,
Tal... 8)
P.S.
If you don't hear from me for awhile, it's because I'll be locked up in my room, playing my L5CES through my Roland Jazz Chorus..Man...It just don't get no better than that.. 8) 8) 8)
I have been accused here lately of having more GAS than anybody on this forum. That has finally come to an end..

I've collected a few axes in the last 1 and 1/2 years, since I took up playing again as you guys probably know..
My present collection consists of the following guitars...
Ramirez R1 Classical
Epiphone Joe Pass
Fender FR50CE electric Resonator guitar.
Fender American Standard Telecaster
Fender American Standard Stratocaster
Gibson Blues Hawk
68 vintage Gibson Les Paul (Gold top)
57 reissue Gibson Les Paul (Gold top)
Gibson ES175 (Natural)..
I will probably be selling the Joe Pass, the Fender Resonator, and the Blues Hawk in the future. They are wonderful guitars but they are starting to see some serious case time due to me more recent aquisitions. Great guitars but they deserve to be played. Not sit in a case..

Which brings me to the title of this thread..
Back when I played Pro I lusted after the Gibson L5CES..
Always out of my reach price wise.

I played a tone of em' and just drooled over that sweet sound..

When I started playing again, I had this guitar in the back of my mind. Even during my 25 year abscense from playing, I'd see a cat on TV with one and just go WOW.. What a sweet, sweet guitar. 8)
When I started playing again last year, the first guitar I bought was the Epi Joe Pass, which is basically a L5 copy.. Played the Joe Pass for a few months but still lusted for that rich Gibson arch top tone.

Looked at L5's and said \"Just too much money..Maybe next year\"...
Bought the ES175 instead. I have played that guitar almost everyday and I love it.. 8)
But today was the day....
Checking around the net on some of my old haunts where I go to drool and look at L5's and saw one that just floored me. :shock:
Not new. In fact it's a 97 model.. But in pristine condition.
Yep... It was still expensive but not nearly as expensive as a new one..
Talked it over with my wife and she told me, that she knew how much I wanted one and that I deserved it..Then she said go for it!!! If anybody has wanted one as long as you go ahead and get it.. Hell...What else are we working for..
So after years, make that decades, of drooling...
TAL OWNS A GIBSON L5CES!!!!!
This is the link for the EXACT guitar I bought... http://www.archtop.com/ac_97L5CES.html
Will be in my hands by Friday..
Gentlemen..I'm still in shock..Years of Years of Maybe Next Year..

My dream guitar..
Yep I'm through buying new guitars..

Yep it was expensive... but not as expensive as a new one from Musicians Friend..Heres the link for a new one. :shock: .
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-Shop-L5-CES-Guitar?sku=517483
If any of yall ever want a fine Arch Top guitar from a regular dealer....
www.archtop.com is super...The owner, Joe Vinikow, is a true gentlemen, and has been around a long time. All he says is archtops pretty much though. 8) .
I'm really kind of choked up..The years I have dreamed of this axe, and this Friday, when I open the box, I don't know what my reaction is going to be. I may just sit and look at for a while, while I wipe the tears of happiness from my eyes..

I'm still stunned.. :shock:
See Ya,
Tal... 8)
P.S.
If you don't hear from me for awhile, it's because I'll be locked up in my room, playing my L5CES through my Roland Jazz Chorus..Man...It just don't get no better than that.. 8) 8) 8)
Comments
Can't wait to hear the silky smooth tone of your new L5.
Keep Rock'in P.G.
God Bless Tal!!!
Partch
That is a very cool guitar. I remember in the 70's when I got my first Gibson, an ES-175D, it was touted as a poor man's L5. The L5 has been the gold standard for a jazz box as long as I can remember. That is just awesome!
Congrats! And, BTW, your wife is right - what else do you work for. I just had a very close friend, 54 years old, got sick one weekend and was dead by the following Wednesday. It brought me to question a lot about waiting to do things. But I'm not trying to bring anyone down here. This is a moment for celebration for Tal, and I'm sure Tal will find a way to indulge Mrs. Tal, too.
Phil
Nice Guitar my friend!! very Nice!
What GAS????
Bottom Row...
Left to Right...
Gibson ES175 (Natural)
Gibson L5CES
Ramirez R1 (Classical)
Epiphone Joe Pass
Top Row
Left to Right
Fender FR50CE Resonator
68 Vintage Gibson Les Paul (Poorly refinished and butchered)
57 Gibson Les Paul Reissue
Gibson Blues Hawk
Fender American Standard Telecaster
Fender American Standard Stratocaster..
Couldn't sqeeze the amps in for the group shot...
I'll get some good outside pics of the L5 when it quits raining here in Houston... 8)
I repeat....
GAS?????
WHAT GAS????
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I can't wait to hear your next post
and yes that thing looks to be in PRISTEEN condition
good job on picking up that one
I was only kidding that you had the most gas and I if I were you I'd keep em all. I'm tired of looking back and wishing that I never let loose of the guitars I had. man the blues hawk-- I love that blueshawk.
Glad you finally got a L5 8)
man o man what a nice collection
ooooo :shock: I think I'm getting GAS
God Bless You!!
Partch
It's about the most versatile axe I've got..
It's just a great little guitar. 8)
With the varitron you can dial in tones that range from a tele type sound to a big fat hollow body sound..
Great sound samples and a heck of a lot of info on Blues Hawks can be found here...
http://www.blueshawk.info/intro.htm
Just a real shame Gibson quit making them in April..
Still find them used on Ebay from time to time though...
And the P90 P/U's are just so nice... 8)