DJR

Here is another Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman with "L-5" neck. The dimensions of the neck are like those of the original CG, however the binding, the head stock, the flower pot, mother of pearl layout on the fret board and head stock are some of the custom features. Also, the inside of the guitar as viewed from the f-holes was painted black. It sounds like a dream.

"Players have commented that this instrument is one of the finest guitars that Gibson has ever produced and that its tone has more of a midrange character than ES 335". In 2005, the last production year of the Country Gentleman it retailed for $4702, versus the ES-335 which retailed for $3683, and L-5 was $10,913. Also, it usually had a retail price greater than that of the L-4 (in 1990 the L-4 retailed for $1875 whicle the CG retailed for $1995). I am trying to collect more historical retail prices as well. Here is custom 1987 (first year production) which was built by Jim Hutchins with many custom features, including an L-5 neck (i saw at least two more so called Gibson Chet Atkins CG/L5). I can only say that it sounds and plays like a dream. The frequency response is rich full of beautiful harmonics and dynamic range, the simplest chord played sounds like a whole orchestra (via a Fender tube amp Princeton Reverb with a Celestion 12" Cream alnico speaker). Ideal for recording studio quality (jazz, country, blues, limited rock (due to thicker strings not sound, and longer neck 25.5" more difficult to bend that 24.75" neck tension with thinner strings. For that I use the Les Paul). I love this guitar so much that I wont part of it for even $7000 (just saying to place a monetary value on it. I'm not selling it).

1987 Gibson CG / L5 early production years. Plays and sounds like a dream ! Custom built at the Gibson factory by Jim Hutchins. There seems to be a size limit to 105 KB so I am having to reduce the resolution of the images to be able to upload them here.