Gibson L5 Lee Ritenour Sunburst 2016

The Gibson L5 Lee Ritenour Signature brings the elegance and craftsmanship of Gibson's flagship archtop to a more compact and comfortable format. Designed in collaboration with acclaimed jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour, this Custom Shop model features a hand carved solid spruce top with hand carved figured maple back and sides, paired with a 5 piece maple neck. Its slightly reduced 15¾ inch body offers a more comfortable playing experience than a traditional L5 while retaining the rich acoustic voice, dynamic response and unmistakable character that have made the model a favourite among jazz players.

A floating mini humbucker preserves the resonance of the carved top, delivering warm, articulate amplified tones while allowing the guitar to remain exceptionally lively acoustically. The long 25.5 inch scale length, comfortable neck profile and refined Custom Shop craftsmanship make this an inspiring instrument whether played unplugged or through an amplifier.

This 2016 example remains in very good condition and shows honest signs of use. The neck pickup has been replaced with another floating mini humbucker, requiring two small mounting screws in the pickguard. Two professionally filled screw holes on the bass side of the neck indicate that a different pickup was fitted at some point in the past. The guitar further shows two scratches on the top where the player's arm rests, along with light playwear around the body and on the edge of the headstock.

This instrument has been carefully inspected for originality, condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.