1963 Gibson L-5CES Custom Electric Guitar (PAF pickups) with Florentine Cutaway

1963 Gibson L-5CES Custom Electric Guitar (PAF pickups) with Florentine Cutaway

Arguably one of the most iconic Gibson electric guitars of the 20th century, the Gibson L-5CES Custom (cutaway electric Spanish) electric guitar, is as stunning visually as it sounds. This guitar is a 1963 CES custom version with all original hardware, which includes the PAF (patent applied for) humbucker pickups in the neck and bridge, and 1961 pots (Mepco/CentraLab, Inc. / 48th week of 1961). The guitar’s serial number is 61634 (places the guitar in 1963 from Kalamazoo, MI).

This guitar epitomizes the classic electric guitar from the period. It has a Florentine Cutaway, which was only present on L-5 models between 1960 and 1969. In 1969, Gibson reverted back to the more traditional rounded tip on the cutaway. It is finished with all of the best hardware and custom finishes. The guitar has a beautiful sunburst design on front and back, which really showcases the wood tones. The sides are also dressed in a sunburst finish as well, where the blonde wood shows through elegantly in various points.

How does it sound?

Well… amazing of course! There is a reason why these guitars have been copied and idolized for decades. It has the most classic, warm, rich and clear sound. The 60-year old pickups are at their prime right now. The solid construction of this hollow-body guitar gives it incredible resonance and sustain. It feels incredible to hold and play, and that’s not because it’s a valuable classic, it is because it is made so well.

The neck action is outstanding and the neck size makes it super playable. See “specifications” below.

The hardware, such as the bridge, tailpiece and tuners are finished in a gold-tone finish. The tailpiece has the “L5” etched into the base of it. The pickguard, as well as the hardware holding it, are in great condition. The tone and volume knobs are in great condition.

Included with this guitar is the original pink-lined case. The case is in excellent overall condition and it has the original “Gibson” metal label near the handle. The handle has been wrapped in tape.

This guitars history:

The guitar was purchased new in 1963 in the North Shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and was owned by a jazz musician for the rest of his life until his passing in the mid 2000s. His daughter inherited the guitar and stored it under the bed for the next years until it was purchased by a gentleman in Providence, Rhode Island in 2018. The new owner had his luthier work on the electronics and make minor neck adjustments, and then it sat in his storage for 5 years. The luthier replaced the original pots (originals included with the guitar) with newer ones, which are now installed. The three-way switch was also replaced as well as the input jack. The original switch, input jack and pots with dust covers are wired and included with the guitar.

What’s included:

– The 1963 Gibson L-5CES Custom with Florentine Cutaway serial number is 61634.
– The original 1961 pots (Mepco/CentraLab, Inc. / 48th week of 1961) wired to the Switchcraft input jack and Switchcraft three-way switch and dust covers.
– The original case.

Condition:

The guitar is in very good condition overall with all original hardware. I am providing the best detailed condition I can in the following list. All of the items below are minor.
– Original finish on the guitar.
– All hardware is original including: tuners, bridge, tailpiece, pickguard, pickguard hardware, tone/volume knobs, pickups, pickup covers, pickup surrounds/rings.
– The volume and tone pots are swapped out with newer ones but all four original Mepco/CentraLab pots dated to 1961 are included.
– The input jack was swapped with a newer one, and the original Switchcraft jack is included and is wired to the harness with the pots.
– The three-way switch was swapped with a newer one, and the original Switchcraft three-way switch is included and is wired to the harness with the pots and jack.
– There is minor tarnish on the pickup covers, tailpiece and bridge as seen in pictures.
– There are scratches on the surface of the top of the guitar as seen in pictures.
– The back of the guitar has very minor wear.
– The bottom side has some scratches as see in pictures.
– The frets are in very good condition (I am not sure if any were replaced over the years or not).
– The neck is straight with no bends at all.
– The label is inside the body of the guitar and is in excellent condition.
– There are several small drops of glue inside the body where it appears glue may have been inserted into a seam near the bottom board and neck block.
– There are minor marks/scratches on the headstock.
– Several screws are replaced in both pickup rings.
– The pickguard screw hole (the one closest to the neck) was partially filled with a putty to help the screw stay secure (not visible in pictures).
– There is a minor hum in the guitar when you are not touching a metal part like the strings or bridge. As soon as you ground yourself to the guitar, it is mostly gone. (See video).

Specifications:

– Scale (nut to bridge length): 25 1/4″

– Overall length: 42 18″

– Body width: 16 7/8″

– Body depth: 4” to 4 1/2″

– Action at 12th fret (low E string): 1.1mm

– Action at 6th fret (low E string): 0.55mm

– Nut width: 43mm

Please feel free to ask for more pictures or any more information. Free shipping in the domestic United States. For international shipping, please contact me.

 

Description

Arguably one of the most iconic Gibson electric guitars of the 20th century, the Gibson L-5CES Custom (cutaway electric Spanish) electric guitar, is as stunning visually as it sounds. This guitar is a 1963 CES custom version with all original hardware, which includes the PAF (patent applied for) humbucker pickups in the neck and bridge, and 1961 pots (Mepco/CentraLab, Inc. / 48th week of 1961). The guitar’s serial number is 61634 (places the guitar in 1963 from Kalamazoo, MI).

This guitar epitomizes the classic electric guitar from the period. It has a Florentine Cutaway, which was only present on L-5 models between 1960 and 1969. In 1969, Gibson reverted back to the more traditional rounded tip on the cutaway. It is finished with all of the best hardware and custom finishes. The guitar has a beautiful sunburst design on front and back, which really showcases the wood tones. The sides are also dressed in a sunburst finish as well, where the blonde wood shows through elegantly in various points.

How does it sound?

Well… amazing of course! There is a reason why these guitars have been copied and idolized for decades. It has the most classic, warm, rich and clear sound. The 60-year old pickups are at their prime right now. The solid construction of this hollow-body guitar gives it incredible resonance and sustain. It feels incredible to hold and play, and that’s not because it’s a valuable classic, it is because it is made so well.

The neck action is outstanding and the neck size makes it super playable. See “specifications” below.

The hardware, such as the bridge, tailpiece and tuners are finished in a gold-tone finish. The tailpiece has the “L5” etched into the base of it. The pickguard, as well as the hardware holding it, are in great condition. The tone and volume knobs are in great condition.

Included with this guitar is the original pink-lined case. The case is in excellent overall condition and it has the original “Gibson” metal label near the handle. The handle has been wrapped in tape.

This guitars history:

The guitar was purchased new in 1963 in the North Shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and was owned by a jazz musician for the rest of his life until his passing in the mid 2000s. His daughter inherited the guitar and stored it under the bed for the next years until it was purchased by a gentleman in Providence, Rhode Island in 2018. The new owner had his luthier work on the electronics and make minor neck adjustments, and then it sat in his storage for 5 years. The luthier replaced the original pots (originals included with the guitar) with newer ones, which are now installed. The three-way switch was also replaced as well as the input jack. The original switch, input jack and pots with dust covers are wired and included with the guitar.

What’s included:

– The 1963 Gibson L-5CES Custom with Florentine Cutaway serial number is 61634.
– The original 1961 pots (Mepco/CentraLab, Inc. / 48th week of 1961) wired to the Switchcraft input jack and Switchcraft three-way switch and dust covers.
– The original case.

Condition:

The guitar is in very good condition overall with all original hardware. I am providing the best detailed condition I can in the following list. All of the items below are minor.
– Original finish on the guitar.
– All hardware is original including: tuners, bridge, tailpiece, pickguard, pickguard hardware, tone/volume knobs, pickups, pickup covers, pickup surrounds/rings.
– The volume and tone pots are swapped out with newer ones but all four original Mepco/CentraLab pots dated to 1961 are included.
– The input jack was swapped with a newer one, and the original Switchcraft jack is included and is wired to the harness with the pots.
– The three-way switch was swapped with a newer one, and the original Switchcraft three-way switch is included and is wired to the harness with the pots and jack.
– There is minor tarnish on the pickup covers, tailpiece and bridge as seen in pictures.
– There are scratches on the surface of the top of the guitar as seen in pictures.
– The back of the guitar has very minor wear.
– The bottom side has some scratches as see in pictures.
– The frets are in very good condition (I am not sure if any were replaced over the years or not).
– The neck is straight with no bends at all.
– The label is inside the body of the guitar and is in excellent condition.
– There are several small drops of glue inside the body where it appears glue may have been inserted into a seam near the bottom board and neck block.
– There are minor marks/scratches on the headstock.
– Several screws are replaced in both pickup rings.
– The pickguard screw hole (the one closest to the neck) was partially filled with a putty to help the screw stay secure (not visible in pictures).
– There is a minor hum in the guitar when you are not touching a metal part like the strings or bridge. As soon as you ground yourself to the guitar, it is mostly gone. (See video).

Specifications:

– Scale (nut to bridge length): 25 1/4″
– Overall length: 42 18″
– Body width: 16 7/8″
– Body depth: 4” to 4 1/2″
– Action at 12th fret (low E string): 1.1mm
– Action at 6th fret (low E string): 0.55mm
– Nut width: 43mm

Please feel free to ask for more pictures or any more information. Free shipping in the domestic United States. For international shipping, please contact me.

 

Additional information

Weight 20 lbs
Dimensions 50 × 18 × 8 in
Brand

Gibson

Model

L-5CES Custom

Year

1963