Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES Reissue Hollowbody Electric Guitar - Vintage Sunburst

One of Gibson's most celebrated archtops returns in painstaking period-correct detail with the Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES Reissue, a fully carved hollowbody recreated from 3D scans of original late-'50s examples. A carved AAA spruce top joins a carved, bookmatched AAA curly maple back and solid AAA curly maple sides for a rich, responsive acoustic foundation, finished in a VOS nitrocellulose lacquer that allows the beauty of the premium tonewoods to shine through. The three-piece curly maple and walnut neck features an Authentic 1957 L-5 profile derived from vintage scans, paired with a bound ebony fingerboard for a smooth, responsive feel across its 25.5" scale. Unpotted Alnico 3 Custombuckers evoke the open, articulate character of late-'50s humbuckers, while a Historic Reissue ABR-1 bridge, engraved L-5 tailpiece and gold Kluson Sealfast tuners reinforce the period-correct specification. Ornate multi-ply binding, mother-of-pearl appointments and an included Custom Shop hardshell case complete this meticulous recreation of a landmark Gibson archtop.

Carved Spruce and Curly Maple Create a Rich, Responsive Voice

The 1957 L-5 CES Reissue stays true to the model's carved archtop tradition with a AAA spruce top, bookmatched AAA curly maple back and solid AAA curly maple sides. Unlike laminated archtop construction, the fully carved body provides a resonant acoustic foundation that responds dynamically to changes in attack whether played unplugged or amplified. The combination of spruce and curly maple brings together two tonewoods central to the L-5's traditional construction. A Venetian cutaway provides comfortable access to the upper register, while seven-ply top binding and three-ply back binding frame the carved body with the elaborate detailing long associated with the L-5.

Authentic 1957 Neck Profile Meets a Bound Ebony Fingerboard

A three-piece neck constructed from two sections of curly maple with a walnut center strip gives the 1957 L-5 CES Reissue a substantial foundation and unmistakably traditional feel. Its Authentic 1957 L-5 profile was developed from vintage scans to recreate the shape of original examples, paired with a 25.5" scale and traditional dovetail neck joint. An ebony fingerboard with a 12" radius and 20 medium-jumbo frets provides a smooth, precise playing feel, while four-ply binding, elegant purfling, a distinctive bird's-beak extension and large mother-of-pearl block inlays give the fingerboard the richly detailed look of the original 1957 design.

Unpotted Alnico 3 Custombuckers Capture Vintage Humbucker Character

A pair of unpotted Custombuckers with Alnico 3 magnets gives the 1957 L-5 CES Reissue an amplified voice inspired by the Patent Applied For humbucker-equipped L-5s that emerged in the late 1950s. Their articulate response complements the resonance of the fully carved body while preserving detail across changes in picking dynamics. Individual volume and tone controls for each pickup provide independent sound shaping, with a three-way toggle offering neck, bridge or combined settings.

Gold Hardware and Ornate Binding Offer Classic L-5 Elegance

Elaborate appointments reinforce the L-5's status as one of Gibson's most distinguished archtop designs. A gold Historic Reissue ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge rests on a traditional rosewood base, joined by a vintage-style gold tailpiece engraved with the L-5 name. Light-gauge .012–.052 flatwound strings provide a smooth feel and warm, rounded response, while True Historic gold top hat knobs with dial pointers add period-correct detail. Gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, a five-ply bound headstock with mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and flowerpot inlay, and a rear stinger continue the vintage treatment. A five-ply bound tortoiseshell pickguard and VOS nitrocellulose lacquer complete the presentation in Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst.

A Striking Recreation of a Celebrated Archtop Electric

For more than a century, the L-5 has stood among Gibson's most prestigious and influential archtop guitars, prized by generations of players for its fully carved construction, commanding voice and unmistakable elegance. The Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES Reissue captures the model at a particularly celebrated moment, recreating the look, feel and specification of late-'50s originals as the electric L-5 entered the humbucker era. Detailed 3D scans inform its Authentic 1957 neck profile and period-correct proportions, while fully carved AAA tonewoods, PAF-inspired Custombuckers and ornate vintage appointments bring the specification to life. Complete with a Custom Shop hardshell case, the Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES Reissue offers a remarkably detailed tribute to one of the defining instruments in Gibson's archtop legacy.