Gibson unveils Custom Shop 1957 L-5 CES Reissue

Gibson unveiled the Custom Shop 1957 L-5 CES Reissue on 7 October 2026 and added it to the Historic Reissue range. The VOS model is available in Antique Natural and Vintage Sunburst finishes.

A forensic recreation of Gibson’s flagship archtop

Gibson developed the reissue from detailed measurements and 3D scans of original late 1950s instruments. It is the first Gibson Custom Shop guitar built with a dovetail neck joint. The fully carved body pairs an AAA spruce top with a bookmatched AAA curly maple back and solid AAA curly maple sides. Its 25.5 inch maple neck has a walnut center strip and a period correct profile. The bound ebony fretboard carries 20 medium jumbo frets and mother of pearl block inlays. Appointments include a tortoiseshell pickguard, gold hardware, an L-5 tailpiece, a Corian nut, and an ABR-1 bridge on a rosewood base. Two unpotted Alnico III Custombucker humbuckers have individual volume and tone controls, plus a three way selector on the lower horn. Gibson supplies the guitar with .012 to .052 flatwound strings and a Custom Shop hardshell case. Antique Natural costs $11,999 or £9,699, while Vintage Sunburst costs $10,999 or £8,799.

Why the 1957 L-5 CES still matters to guitar players

The reissue reflects more than a century of L-5 development, beginning with the original design in the early 1920s. Gibson electrified the model in 1951, then added Patent Applied For humbuckers in 1957. Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Pat Metheny are closely associated with the L-5, while players have used it across jazz, country, blues, and rockabilly. Its large hollow body can suit different musical settings, but players must control volume and gain to manage possible feedback. That balance remains central when using an L-5 style electric beyond traditional jazz settings.

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