Gibson Custom L-5 CES Review

Gibson Custom L-5 CES options:

Vintage Sunburst Natural

Good To Know

Guitarists who reviewed L-5 CES play these music styles: Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal.

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Gibson Custom L-5 CES has been rated by 147 musicians.

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Overall Rating 1.29

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Features 1.52

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Quality 0.79

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Reliability / Value 1.53

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What's your experience with Gibson Custom L-5 CES?

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Gibson Custom L-5 CES Specs

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  • Body Shape: L5S  
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  • Number of Strings: 6  
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  • Body Type: Hollowbody  
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  • Scale Length: 25-1/2"  
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  • Body Construction: Semi acoustic  
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  • Body Construction: Single cutaway  
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  • Body Wood: Maple  
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  • Body Top Wood: Spruce  
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  • Finish: Lacquer  
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  • Binding: Multi-ply  
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  • Carved Top: Yes  
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  • Pickguard: Yes  
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  • Neck Construction: 5-piece neck  
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  • Neck Shape: Standard  
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  • Neck Joint: Set neck  
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  • Neck Wood: Maple  
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  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony  
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  • Fingerboard Inlays: Abalone Blocks  
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  • Number of Frets: 20  
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  • Nut Width: 1.6875" (1-11/16")  
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  • String Nut: Corian  
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  • Bridge: Tune-O-Matic  
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  • Hardware: Gold  
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  • Fret Size: Jumbo  
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  • Number of Pickups: 2  
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  • Pickup Switch Type: 3-way Pickup Selector  
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  • Bridge Pickup Type: Humbucker  
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  • Neck Pickup Type: Humbucker  
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  • Controls: Tone  
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  • Controls: Volume  
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• Custom Features close
  • Pickups: Two '57 Classic humbuckers.

Following review text is verbal representation of numerical rating information:

Not a very good choice, Gibson Custom didn't hit the target with L-5 CES. A lots of features missing or not done the way most musicians would like, and the price is not attracting people to buy this guitar either.

A lot of people would like to see more features in Gibson Custom's L-5 CES as is on a lower level features-wise, when compared to other guitars. Some musicians are disappointed with features that L-5 CES provides, but not everybody feels that way. Overall feeling is that Gibson Custom could have thrown in a bit more in this guitar and made it more versatile.

It seems that Gibson Custom didn't put in too much effort into producing a guitar like L-5 CES. Finish feels a bit cheap if you look closely, and the instrument did not look very promising while held and played. As with any other guitar, you have to take some time to get used to it, and it may seem that that period of getting yourself comfortable with new instrument is a bit longer with L-5 CES.

Good for practicing, L-5 CES might not be the best solution for live playing. You should be aware of L-5 CES's capabilities and always be careful, as you don't want it to bail out on you in the middle of the show. Gibson Custom's L-5 CES should be considered a good guitar, but also be aware of its price and quality range.