1958 Gibson L-5CES Sunburst

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This guitar has completely blown us away with its rarity, beauty and playability.

Only 21 L-5CES guitars were build in 1958, the lowest annual level produced with PAF pickups.

After playing and falling in love, we took our time verifying details about the instrument. A full inspection revealed:

It is a late 1958 build, December of 1958
The neck pickup is an original PAF.
The bridge pickup is an early 60's Patent Number unit with narrower pole piece spacing. It has the L impression on the legs and the two-wire braid shield like the PAFs from the early 60s. Pickup rings, screws and springs all appear to be original.
Three pots appear to be original, enshrouded in shielding cans that appear to be undisturbed. One is a 1965 replacement
The Varitone circuit is an addition. It was said to us that it was added at the factory in the 60's, which does appear to make sense as there is a Gibson envelope and Varitone instruction sheet in the case.
The guitar is stereo and includes a cable that splits the TRS 1/4" output to two 1/4" mono male connectors. The output jack is thus changed but the nut appears to be original.
The knobs are changed, and all are from the early 60s with one having a deeper pot shaft well than the other three. The shallow shaft well knobs are from 1960 to 61, and the deeper shaft well knob would be from 1962 or later. Pot pointers and nuts appear to be original.
The tailpiece is the desirable Vari Tune original.
The bridge is the original, gold ABR-1 "no wire", but the saddles are changed.
The switch is original, but the tip is changed.
Frets were replaced, a professional job
The tuners are original
The pickguard bracket is original. I am not certain that the pickguard itself is, though the faux tortoiseshell is very nice
The case is an original brown chipboard case, a rarity, and despite the fact that it is very clean like the guitar some of the stitching has come undone. The guitar will ship in a contemporary hardshell case and the chip case will be shipped separately.

Specs:

Color: Sunburst
Weight: 7lbs 15.7ozs
Top: Spruce
Body: Flamed Maple
Neck: Flamed Maple
Neck Profile: "C"
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlays: Mother Of Pearl Blocks
Frets: Replaced
Fret count: 20
Nut material: Bone
Nut width: 1 5/8"
Scale: 25 1/2"
Radius: 9.5"
Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.87"
Neck thickness at 12th fret: 1.1"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: .039"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: .059"
Total length: 41 1/2"
Lower bout: 17"
Waist: 10 1/4"
Upper bout: 12 1/2"
Body depth/thickness: 3 3/8"
String gauge: .010-.046"
Hardware Color: Gold
Bridge Pickup Brand: Gibson Pat num.
Bridge Pickup Reading: 7.47k
Pickup Original?: No
Neck Pickup Brand: Gibson PAF
Neck Pickup Reading: 7.57k
Pickup Original?: Yes
Pickguard: Original?
Bridge: Original No Wire ABR-1 with changed saddles
Tuners: Original
Switch: Original, switch tip appears to be changed.
Pots/Codes: One pot is from 1965, CTS. Others appear original, enclosed in shielding cans.
Case: 60s Gibson w/ a reproduction handle. Original case also included.
Notes: 1 of the volume knobs out of the 4 control knobs appears to be a transitional period piece note the deeper shaft area in pictures versus the 3 other knobs. Includes a vintage stereo cable and a Gibson envelope with the Varitone instructions that appear to be original from the early 60s.