Year: 1928
Serial Number: 85755
FON: 9418
Finish: Cremona Sunburst
Present Owner: Jack "MontereyJacques" Fields (www.djangology.net)
This guitar is a 1928 Gibson L-5 "Dot Neck" with a very rare Master Model label. Its serial number places it very early in 1928, but, per George Gruhn, it is possible that this guitar was actually started in 1927. Its 16 inch body is parallel braced. It has been oversprayed and the tuners have been replaced, everything else appears original. The tailpiece has a 1910 patent stamp on it. It has one repaired top crack on the treble side of the lower bout, near the binding, that does not appear to go all the way through. The guitar has a rounded contour C-profile neck, rather than V-shaped neck, which is consistent with the date of this instrument. It has the original "red stripe" case, with red velvet interior, which is scuffed, but structurally sound and still very serviceable. The accessory box inside the case has a red velvet diamond.
This guitar sounds HUGE. It is easily as loud as my Selmer-syle D-Hole Favino. It has a well rounded, warm sound, yet with very high sweet trebles. Perhaps a little more cut, tonally, that my X-braced 17 inch L-5. The neck is a little wider than modern L-5's, but the C-profile neck makes it very playable. It plays very balanced. With 3mm action at the 3rd fret, it plays like a Telecaster. The short scale and the 16 inch body make it a very comfortable guitar for long gigs and jams. This is a very versatile guitar, capable of sounding "authentic" for swing, hot jazz, country and folk. It even has a very convincing Gypsy "la pompe" sound.
This guitar was previously owned by Tony Marcus (Cheap Suit Serenader's & Cat's & Jammers), Andy Summers (The Police), and Norman "The Harris Machine" Harris.
