George Gobel famously quipped: “Did you ever get the feeling that the world’s a tuxedo and you’re a pair of brown shoes?” We have no idea how Gobel’s footwear stacked up but this guitar was and remains a high class, custom made set of threads. The L5CT was never officially named the George Gobel model, it just came to be as closely identified with him as Gobel’s original scratch marks are on this unique instrument. Only forty-five of these beauties were manufactured between 19, when the model was discontinued. This instrument is identified and pictured on page sixty-six of Adrian Ingram’s The Gibson L.5, which provides the entire history of this guitar. The guitar is slightly thicker (2 5/8 in.) than the production model and has a standard 25 1/2 inch scale to the production model’s 24 3/4 inches.
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This is it, the “one-off” custom-built especially for Gobel by Gibson, with Serial Number 27318, which the Gibson archive dates to Maand hand-notes “Lonesome George Gobel Spec.” The Gibson label inside this guitar notes the serial number and “L5 C- Special” as model. It showed very well indeed and popped like crazy on television when the legendary Tennessee Ernie Ford officially presented the guitar to Gobel on Ford’s hit T.V. The bright cherry finish was meant to allow the guitar to show well and “pop” on stage. In sum, a guitar that George could comfortably hold and play and not look like he was strumming a bass fiddle in his lap. And so, inspired by drink, the two dreamed up the L5CT – with shorter scale, thinner body, and cross bracing rather than the parallel bracing that Gibson preferred. He asked if Gibson had a guitar of equal quality but of smaller dimensions. One night after a club date at Chicago’s Palmer House, George hoisted a few with Gibson’s Andy Nelson. George needed a guitar that he could strum, not one that could strum him. For Gobel, the Super 400 was a row-boat with strings, perfect for use while fishing, not so much for playing. With the Super 400 in front, there wasn’t much George behind. But the Super 400 was a huge guitar for this short and stocky man it was like Tom Thumb married to a Valkyrie – them big women are great but a small man could get lost in their embrace. The Gibson Super 400 had been his guitar of choice, integrating it into his act and performing with it for many years. “Lonesome” George Gobel, the low-key, high profile, wildly popular nightclub comedian and television star of the mid-1950s-early 1960s was indeed lonesome. The unique "Lonesome George's wear marks, due to his style of playing, are on the top - if you watch the Youtube video of George Gobel and Dean Martin doing a duet… you can clearly see how these 'wear' marks occured. Housed in the original Gibson five-latch brown hardshell case with pink plush lining (9.00). This guitar is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. Inside the treble 'f' hole is the FON (factory order number) "T 3885 1" stamped in black. The oval orange label visible through the bass 'f' hole has the model designation as "L5 - C - Special" written in black ink and the serial number "A 27318" (March 1958) stamped in black.
Rosewood bridge with pre-set compensating saddle on rosewood base and L-5 trapeze tailpiece. Tortoiseshell pickguard with five-ply binding. Individual Kluson Sealfast tuners with bell-shaped metal buttons. The back of the headstock is laminated black.
Headstock with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl flowerpot inlay. The top of the guitar has nine-ply binding, the back of the guitar has five-ply binding, the f-holes are single-bound, the neck is triple-bound, the headstock has five-ply binding, and the fretboard has double sets of white lines going down it. Carved spruce top, highly figured curly maple back and sides, three-piece curly maple neck, and bound ebony fretboard with 20 jumbo frets and inlaid pearl block position markers. It weighs just 4.90 lbs and has a nut width of 1 11/16 inches inches and a standard L-5 Gibson scale length of 25 1/2 inches. This L-5C "Special" that was specially made for and presented to George Gobel has a 17 inch wide and 2 5/8 inches thick body. The Very First Gibson Guitar in Cherry Red!ġ958 Gibson L-5C "Special" George Gobel Prototype. The One-Off Prototype L-5CT - The George Gobel For George Gobel
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