The One-Off Prototype L-5CT  - The George Gobel For George Gobel.

The Very First Gibson Guitar in Cherry Red!

This is it, the “one-off” custom-built especially for Gobel by Gibson, with Serial Number 27318, which the Gibson archive dates to March 20, 1958 and hand-notes “Lonesome George Gobel Spec.” The Gibson label inside this guitar notes the serial number and “L5 C- Special” as model. The guitar is slightly thicker (2 5/8 in.) than the production model and has a standard L-5  25 1/2 inch scale to the production model’s 24 3/4 inches. This instrument is identified and pictured on page sixty-six of Adrian Ingram’s The Gibson L.5, which provides the entire history of this guitar. This L-5C "Special" has a 17 inch wide body, weighs just 4.90 lbs and has a nut width of 1 11/16 inches. Carved spruce top, highly figured curly maple back and sides, three-piece curly maple neck, and bound ebony fretboard with 20 jumbo frets and inlaid pearl block position markers. Individual Kluson Sealfast tuners with bell-shaped metal buttons. Tortoiseshell pickguard with five-ply binding. Rosewood bridge with pre-set compensating saddle on rosewood base and L-5 trapeze tailpiece. The oval orange label visible through the bass 'f' hole has the model designation as "L5  - C - Special" written in black ink and the serial number "A 27318" (March 1958) stamped in black. Inside the treble 'f' hole is the FON (factory order number) "T 3885 1" stamped in black. All hardware gold-plated. This guitar is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. The unique "Lonesome George's wear marks, due to his style of playing, are on the top - if you watch the Youtube video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uXIhC9JcpM you can clearly see how these 'wear' marks occured. Housed in the original Gibson five-latch brown hardshell case with pink plush lining (9.00).