Gibson Custom 1957 L-5CES Reissue Hollow Body Electric Guitar in Vintage Sunburst

The Gibson Custom 1957 L-5CES Reissue in Vintage Sunburst is a breathtaking recreation of one of the most important archtops in guitar history. Built using detailed scans of late 1950s originals, it captures the look, feel and sound of a golden-era L-5, with a fully carved spruce and maple body, long 25.5 inch scale neck and a pair of Custombucker Alnico 3 humbuckers. From smoky jazz and blues to country, rockabilly and beyond, this is a true statement instrument for players who demand the very best.

Every element of the 1957 L-5CES Reissue is crafted to respond to your touch. The carved AAA spruce top and carved, bookmatched AAA curly maple back and sides give you the depth, projection and sensitivity that only a fully carved hollow body can deliver. Whether you are playing acoustically at home or plugged into your favourite valve amp, the guitar feels alive under your hands, rewarding subtle dynamics and phrasing with rich, complex tone.

The long-scale, three-piece maple and walnut neck is shaped to an authentic 1957 L-5 profile, offering a substantial, vintage-correct feel that invites you to dig in. A beautifully bound ebony fingerboard with big block inlays and medium jumbo frets provides a smooth, precise playing surface for intricate chord work, fast single-note lines and expressive bends. The Venetian cutaway ensures comfortable access to the upper register, making it easy to explore the full range of the instrument.

Visually, the 1957 L-5CES Reissue is every bit as refined as its sound. Multi-ply binding, a five-ply bound headstock with flowerpot inlay, tortoiseshell pickguard and gold hardware all contribute to a timeless aesthetic that has graced stages and studios for decades. Under the hood, a pair of unpotted Custombucker pickups with Alnico 3 magnets deliver articulate, vintage-voiced tones with warmth, clarity and touch sensitivity, controlled via traditional two volume, two tone and a three-way toggle layout.

Historic L-5 Heritage

Tracing its lineage back to Orville Gibson and refined during the Lloyd Loar era, the L-5 has been the benchmark carved archtop for generations of jazz, country, blues and rockabilly players. The 1957 L-5CES Reissue taps directly into that legacy, recreating what many consider the model’s pinnacle form. Owning one connects you to a century of guitar history and gives you a professional instrument that has already proven itself on countless classic recordings.

Fully Carved AAA Tonewoods

The carved AAA spruce top, carved bookmatched AAA curly maple back and solid AAA curly maple sides provide far greater resonance and depth than a laminated archtop. This fully carved construction responds instantly to your picking dynamics, offering a wide tonal palette from warm, woody acoustic character to singing, amplified sustain. It is ideal for players who rely on nuance and expression in their playing.

Authentic 1957 Neck Feel

The three-piece maple and walnut neck with a chunky 1950s profile and 25.5 inch scale length delivers a substantial, period-correct feel that many players find inspiring. Combined with the ebony fingerboard, medium jumbo frets and 12 inch radius, it offers excellent note definition, smooth bending and comfortable chord work across the entire neck. The Venetian cutaway further enhances playability by giving you effortless access to higher frets.

Vintage-Voiced Custombucker Electronics

A matched pair of Custombucker Alnico 3 humbuckers provides the rich, articulate and open sound associated with late 1950s Gibson electrics. Unpotted for extra air and complexity, they capture every detail of your touch, from mellow, rolled-back jazz tones to more assertive, singing leads. Traditional two volume, two tone controls and a three-way toggle switch give you intuitive control over your sound on stage or in the studio.

• Fully Carved Spruce and Maple Body - A carved spruce top paired with carved, bookmatched figured maple back and solid maple sides delivers exceptional resonance, projection and tonal depth. This construction gives you a more responsive and expressive instrument than a laminated hollow body, ideal for dynamic jazz, blues and roots styles.
• Authentic 1957 Long-Scale Neck - The 25.5 inch scale, three-piece maple and walnut neck with a chunky 1950s profile provides a solid, confident feel under the hand. It enhances string tension and clarity, giving you piano-like definition on the low strings and singing sustain on the high strings, perfect for complex chords and articulate single-note work.
• Custombucker Alnico 3 Pickups - A pair of unpotted Custombucker humbuckers with Alnico 3 magnets recreates the warmth, clarity and dynamic response of late 1950s PAF-style pickups. They offer a wide tonal range from smooth, rounded jazz tones to more biting, expressive voices, all while remaining touch sensitive and musical.
• Elegant Vintage Detailing - Multi-ply body binding, bound ebony fingerboard, flowerpot headstock inlay, gold hardware and a vintage-style L-5 tailpiece create a visually stunning instrument that looks as prestigious as it sounds. These details not only honour the original 1957 design but also make the guitar a centrepiece on any stage.

Body

• Body Shape: L-5
• Body Style: Hollow body
• Top Material: Carved spruce
• Back Material: Figured maple
• Sides Material: Figured maple
• Binding: Multi-ply top and back
• Finish: VOS nitrocellulose lacquer
• Colour: Vintage Sunburst

Neck

• Neck Material: 3-piece maple and walnut
• Neck Profile: Chunky 1950s Chunky D
• Scale Length: 25.5 inch
• Fingerboard Material: Ebony
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inch
• Frets: Reissue medium jumbo
• Inlays: Big block
• Nut Material: Corian
• Neck Joint: L-5
• Fingerboard Binding: 4-ply

Hardware

• Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
• Tailpiece: Trapeze
• Tuning Machines: Kluson Sealfast
• Hardware Finish: Gold
• Control Knobs: Gold Top Hat
• Plastics: Black
• Pickup Covers: Gold

Electronics

• Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3
• Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3
• Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone
• Pickup Selector: 3-way toggle

Case

• Case: Reissue hardshell