Gibson Custom unveils the 1957 L-5 CES Reissue

Meticulously recreated from 3D scans of 1950s originals, the fully carved 1957 L-5 CES returns with the legendary tone, feel, and elegance that cemented its place in archtop history

Gibson has announced the release of the Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES Reissue, marking the return of one of the most revered and influential hollowbody archtop guitars in music history. Handcrafted in Nashville and offered in Vintage Sunburst and Antique Natural, this exceptional reissue brings the look, feel, and voice of the Golden-Era L-5 CES back to the Gibson Custom core lineup. The new 1957 L-5 CES Reissue from Gibson Custom is available worldwide now at authorized Gibson dealers, Gibson Garage locations, and right here on Gibson.com.

"Few instruments have shaped the history of the archtop guitar like the Gibson L-5," says Mat Koehler, Senior Vice President of Product at Gibson. "Its influence spans more than a century, across jazz, country, blues, rockabilly, and beyond. The 1957 L-5 CES represents a defining moment in that story, combining fully carved Gibson craftsmanship with the warmth, clarity, and versatility of humbucking pickups. This reissue honors the instrument's enduring legacy while ensuring it continues to inspire generations of players."

The L-5's heritage goes back to Orville Gibson's early carved archtop guitars-an approach to guitar design that he invented. Lloyd Loar refined those ideas, introduced f-holes and other innovations, and in the process, invented the modern archtop guitar as we know it today. An electrified version of the L-5 appeared in 1951, and the original P-90 and Staple pickups were replaced by the new Patent Applied For humbuckers™ in the latter half of 1957, resulting in what many players feel is the ultimate version of this legendary model.

The 1957 L-5 CES Reissue features a carved AAA spruce top, paired with a carved, bookmatched AAA curly maple back and solid AAA curly maple sides. Whether played acoustically or amplified, the solid, carved top and back deliver a richer, more resonant tone than laminated-body archtops. The 1957 L-5 CES Reissue responds perfectly to every nuance of the player's touch, and the elegant Venetian cutaway eases access to the higher frets. The top is framed with seven-ply binding, while the back is three-ply. The amount of time and highly skilled effort involved in the construction of the 1957 L-5 CES Reissue is considerable, with many hours of sanding required for smoothing the various contours and binding.

The three-piece, 25.5-inch scale neck attaches to the body with a dovetail joint and takes hours to fit to the body compared to the 20 minutes it takes to fit the neck on a Les Paul™. Constructed from two pieces of curly maple with a walnut center strip, it features an Authentic 1957 L-5 neck profile based on 3D scans of vintage originals. Solid and substantial in the hand, it delivers an authentic vintage feel and playing experience.

The four-ply bound ebony fretboard is equipped with 20 medium jumbo frets and features beautiful fretboard purfling, along with a bird's beak at the end of the fretboard. It also features mother-of-pearl block inlays, which further add to its elegant appearance. The headstock is outlined with five-ply binding and features a mother-of-pearl flowerpot inlay and Gibson logo. A Corian™ nut works in conjunction with the gold Kluson® Sealfast® tuners to keep the tuning nice and stable. The headstock also features a stinger on the rear.

The Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES Reissue is no ordinary guitar. It's a statement piece that says, after countless hours of practice and hard work, you're ready for the best. The 1957 L-5 CES Reissue was crafted for players who are unwilling to compromise; it's the guitar you want when only the finest archtop ever built is worthy of your music and attention. Beautiful, elegant, with a rich, refined, and responsive tone, vintage-correct specifications, exceptional playability, and impeccable, heirloom-quality craftsmanship, the 1957 L-5 CES Reissue is the pinnacle of Gibson archtop design, and a guitar that will inspire and delight you for a lifetime.

Find out more about the Gibson Custom 1957 L-5 CES Reissue and shop now.