The King Is Back: Gibson Revives the L-5 With the 1957 L-5 Ces Reissue
Gibson has brought back the L-5 CES after it was discontinued in 2018, releasing a reissue modelled on the 1957 guitar. The return revives a landmark archtop design, first introduced in 1923, whose influence has spanned jazz, country, blues and rockabilly.
The reissue uses 3D scans and measurements from late-1950s examples to guide its construction and details. It has a carved spruce top, solid maple back and sides, a 25.5-inch scale, two unpotted Alnico III humbuckers and period-inspired gold hardware and inlays; its listed price is $11,999.
In short
- Gibson has revived its L-5 CES after an eight-year gap.
- The reissue recreates a 1957 model using 3D scans.
- It is priced at $11,999.