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L5 tailpiece question


Chordguy

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The engraving on the L-5 tailpiece has varied greatly through the years, and in some eras almost from instrument to instrument.

 

There was also a period when the "L5" was on the insert, not the tailpiece itself. Yours could be one of those that was changed over to the "Wes" insert.

 

I might be able to give your more info with a couple of good photos. Please include the back of the tailpiece if possible.

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My Wes Monts don't have the L5 engraved either.. these tailpieces are used for other Gibson Guitars.. so I would guess inserts are cheaper to add name designations too..( e.g.;L4) Tal Farlow.( Gold Plated on request ) . , as so on..

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The engraving on yours is similar to my 1990. As you can see in this photo of mine, the "L5" is on the insert, with MOP inlayed into a piece of ebony. There is no "L5" engraved on the tailpiece itself.

 

2956909899_965d356920_o.jpg

 

As I said above, there are so many variations of the engraving on the L5 tailpiece through the years, and as there is a "normal", or "standard" configuration, there are MANY variations. Do a google image search of "Gibson L5 Tailpiece", and you won't believe how many different variants come up.

 

When I bought mine, I was a little disappointed it did not have the "standard" tailpiece configuration with the silver insert, but the guitar was way too nice to pass up for that reason alone. I came to find out that around 1990, for whatever reason, Jim Hutchins at the Custom Shop did a batch of L-5CES with the ebony/MOP inserts instead of the traditional silver.

 

It IS one of those things that does KINDA bother me...... so last fall I commissioned a silversmith to craft me a silver engraved art-deco insert. I've only seen sketches to this point, but I hope to see the silver work shortly.

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