1973 Gibson L-5S

[Grog]

While vacationing in Nashville last Monday, we stopped in at the new, (new to me) Gruhn's Guitar location. They happened to have a '73 L-5S with low impedance pickups. The gold hardware was rather worn, as most of them seem to be. It had also had a refret done. After trying to convince myself I didn't really need it, because it isn't a Les Paul........ I made them an offer & it was accepted. They shipped it yesterday so it should arrive Monday, just after I make it back. That's the last of the low impedance series for me........... Speaking of low impedance guitars, we stopped at the Antique Archeology location on Nashville, they had a Les Paul Professional on the wall for $4,200.00. Mike picked that from somewhere...... Photos to follow after I get back home...

[Dave W]

Excellent! Looking forward to pics.

[Highlander]

Not half...!

[Granny Gremlin]

That's the last of the low impedance series for me.

I keep forgetting that you're the only person I know of who actually has a Les Paul Jumbo.

Congrats on completing the set. 

[Grog]

If I hadn't picked up the Les Paul Jumbo last year, the L-5S would still be at Gruhn's.....

[Dave W]

I can understand the urge to have the whole set.

[Grog]

I guess there must be crazier things to collect.... The guitar beat me to Minnesota...... It was in Eagan yesterday morning, I'm leaving Cape Girardeau, MO. Home tomorrow night. I wonder if Uwe found any acquisitions visiting the Deep South ...lol

[Dave W]

Uwe hasn't been on the forum since 4/1. He and his son must be taking their time exploring Mississippi blues territory.

[Highlander]

Travelling wayyyyy back in time to the days before electric amplification, let alone the world-wide-wormhole...

As for collecting, we've discussed way more unusual collecting habits here... at least yours come with strings-attached...

[Grog]

Back Home........... Here is the one photo I took with my iPhone before I left Gruhn's.......



I guess there was one in the camera also.....





Also, here is the Les Paul Professional I noticed at Antique Archeology, (American Pickers) I don't think he really wants to sell it any time soon!





As long as I'm home to sign for it when UPS delivers it, I'll have the L-5S sometime tomorrow. 

[Dave W]

Looks to be in fine shape.

[Grog]

Official Leg Lamp pics.............





It arrived in good shape. It's a far cry from mint, but it's growing on me. It's the most I'd ever paid for a guitar, so I was a bit nervous. I never really understood why it is wired to only play high impedance, what's the point of having low impedance pickups if you can't use them in low impedance??? The output seems a bit weaker than my guitars with regular humbuckers, crank the amp up & it screams pretty nicely. Nice curly maple that looks a bit different from different angles. The last owner had it re-fretted with normal frets. Either he didn't like the fretless wonder frets, or they were worn. Only 197 of these were shipped in 1973 and a few were shipped in 1974 before they switched to regular humbuckers, don't know how many. The most readable pot is 1377315.

[Highlander]

Beautiful... simple as that...

[Pilgrim]

That is reel purdy...!

[Dave W]

Was that the standard factory wiring? doesn't make sense.

Good to see that the leg lamp is still unbroken. You know how fra-gi-le they are.