Those Missing Lang L5s

Nicolai Foss

Nick Alexander sends this:

Photos verify that Eddie did have two L-5 guitars; one was a dot inlay and the other was a block inlay. The following is unverified info: A story that I was told by a friend who spoke with Kitty Lang in the 1970’s was that Eddie took both L-5’s to a recording gig and left one of them in the car. The one in the car was subsequently stolen. At the time my friend spoke to her (1970’s) she was selling the L-5 along with a Gibson Banjo of his. I’ve also heard that currently that guitar is somewhere in Northern California.

The Gibson ES-775

Nicolai Foss

As the number suggests, the ES-775 is an upgraded version of the ES-175(e.g., gold hardware, split block inlays, pickup moved closer to the neck, ebony knobs, etc.) perhaps somewhat akin to the L4, but with a laminated maple top (whereas the L4 has a solid spruce top). It was produced either 1990-1992 or 1990-1994 (sources differ somewhat).

Archtop.com has a very pretty specimen on offer at the moment for the price of 4,115 USD. And here is a very different one; different headstock, different tailpiece, and, of course, sunburst rather than natural. The price is also very different: 2,400 USD. And here are the user reviews.

Ain’t She Sweet?

Nicolai Foss

Take a look at this 1955 ES-175. Simplicity and beauty combined!

Cromwell “ES-150″

Nicolai Foss

It is well-known that Gibson made numerous budget guitars for Sears, Montgomery Wards, etc. under non-Gibson brandnames. Among the best known of these names are arguably Kalamazoo and Cromwell. Here is the 1937 Cromwell equivalent to the ES-150 with what is clearly a variant of the Charlie Christian pickup, although placed in a way that is opposite to its normal positioning on the ES-150. This may be a very good buy if the pickup actually is a “normal” CC pickup with just a small variation.

Custom Shop ES-150

Nicolai Foss

I had no idea that the Gibson Custom Shop apparently still produces the occasional ES-150, but here it is. Nice low starting bid.

Gibson ES-175CC

Nicolai Foss

In 1978 and 1979, Gibson produced a batch of ES-175s equipped with the famous Charlie Christian blade pickup. I know that diehard purists (i.e., those who will only play a 1938 ES-150) dislike the ES-175CC, but from the examples of its sound I have heard it sounds great (the examples being the CDs in various licks books by Wolf Marshall, e.g., this one).

ES-175CCs are rather seldom offered for sale. This is only the second I have seen over the five years I have checked archtops on ebay.

Here is one more, offered at the rather reasonable price of 2,5k pounds sterling. And here is one that is even cheaper.

Does anyone out there know how many Gibson produced of these guitars?

Howard Roberts’ Guitars

Nicolai Foss

Howard Roberts’ name will forever be associated with the model he designed for Epiphone and Gibson, The Epiphone Howard Roberts Custom and Standard, and the Gibson Howard Roberts Artist. The model, sort of an updated L4 with Florentine cutaway, was copied by numerous Japanese companese (most famously by Ibanez) but also by German producer Hoyer. Here is a full list of the guitars Roberts designed and owned. The page is part of Mike Evans’ very well-researched Howard Roberts site.

Gibson Site/Blog

Nicolai Foss

Here is a very nicely done blog-format site on Vintage Gibson Guitars. It does not appear, but I am not quite sure, to be sponsored by the Gibson company. I have already learned a lot from this site/blog. For example, I had no idea that Gibson had produced an ES-100 model from 1939 to 1941 which was the precursor of the ES-125, and that production of the latter actually started as early as 1941. Highly recommended!

Black Gibson ES-150

Nicolai Foss

Stockholm-based Vintage Guitars offers a very interesting black Gibson ES-150 (the Charlie Christian model) for 49,000 Swedish kroner (appr. 6,940 USD). This is the first black ES-150 that I know of, but the owner insists that the finish is original.