Gibson L4 Vs. Gibson L5 | Which Archtop Sounds Better? | Jazz Guitar Comparison
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- čas přidán 18. 01. 2022
- In this video, I compare two iconic jazz guitars. I go head to head with my Gibson L4 and my Gibson L5. Both of them obviously sound excellent but it is fun to hear the subtle differences between the two since they are two of the most expensive guitars that Gibson makes. I hope you like the sound of both, but you can only pick one! Leave me a comment and thanks for watching!!
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Rich is a guitar genius. I love his nonchalant way of playing gentle rifts on all his magnificent instruments. He makes the most difficult tunes seem almost simple. It takes a master to do that.
Good contrast and comparison. With guitars, less is not more. The L-5 has the best tone.
Thanks for weighing in, Louie!
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The L5 sounds mellower & richer imo. Very fancy also 😊.
Prolly a bit too big for me though.
Back in the 90’s, I had bought a custom L-4 that was all Mahogany (back, sides & top). A beauty to behold. When I got it home and as good it looked & sounded, I couldn’t justify keeping it. Felt I did not deserve such a wonderful guitar. The next day I returned it & replaced it with an ‘85 sunburst ES-335, that I still have.
Very 7:30 nice playing there… 👍
Yes, the L5 is a very special model but it's still an L5. I'm in violent agreement that it sounds more mellow and richer over the L4. The L4 is closer in sound to an ES-175. It likely has to do with the 16" overall width in the L4 vs. the 17" width in the L5. I'm shopping for a new archtop just for giggles and I'd love an L5. However the price tag is a bit hard to swallow these days.
I never thought there would be that much difference between the l4 and l5, I heard a difference for sure.
Thanks for checking out my video, Justin! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
So the guitars are very different from each other, but Rich sounds great on both (as usual).
Thanks, Chris! I appreciate the kind comment! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
Great chordal comping! Would love to see some lessons or concepts on chordal comping like that!
In this case, I like the L-4 better. I’m sure there would be instances I would prefer an L-5 if you did this with completely different guitars. Each one is unique.
Wes that's great editing!!!
Both guitars sound great. I really like the L4 CES tones better on your April 16, 2022 video comparing the L4 to the 175. Would be nice to hear the L5 and L4 together with the same set up you used for that video.
The L4 does it for me by a smidge but they're both to die for really.
Thanks for the demo Rich. I always enjoy these!
Thanks for watching and commenting, Joe!
They are both to live for too. Smidge agreed.
Great video. Also great musicianship
Interesting Rich, that You compaired the guitar models and that I stumbled this video as my mentor Al Defino played an L 4 which Since his passing I am holding for safekeeping for his daughter , I have a 76 Gibson L5 and play both guitars...to me they are both great guitars..the L4 best action and superb for chord melody and overall giging and comping the L5 bolder stronger for trio or quartet play , single lines , octaves and versatility of sounds.
Las guitarras como las personas son individuos, no hay dos iguales...
Tu L5 suena excepcionalmente espectacular, por otro lado he escuchado guitarras L4 ces con un sonido sublime..
De cualquier manera, eres tu el que las haces sonar de una forma extraordinaria !
Felicidades!
Both sound great. Nice "At Last," Rich!
Thanks for listening, Tom! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
Hi Rich, nice review of the l4/5 - how are you recording your l4? I can’t get mine to sound that rich.
That L5 is spectacular.. the fanciest one I've ever seen, and tone, well what could be better? The L4 is very nice too, a bit brighter ( more lively perhaps?) I sure wouldn't turn down either one. Excellent playing too BTW.. 👏
Both are quality machines.
I think the edge goes to the L5 sound - the bling is not my thing.😉
Hi looks like you used different pickup settings between the L4/5 - beautiful sounds nevertheless, love your videos 👍🏼
Rich I wish I could donate you my hands you deserve them more than I do and you would do so much better than I have. Your L4 has more focus and sounds better. L5 is great but just muddier. And less comfortable! I think I’ve read 98 was the year they went back to solids for the sides and back. And I think there was another year they chose maple rather than mahogany for the sides? Or the back? That info is out there. Keep doing what you do sir. God bless you and keep sounding.
I went to buy a jazzbox a few months ago. Tried an ES-175, an L-4 and an L-5. The L-4 felt like a compromise between the other two. I would have taken the L-5 for trio or solo concerts but mostly I play a blend of jazz-funk-blues with my band and I took the ES-175 because both its "smaller" sound and less feedback issues fit better in there. The L-4 seemed neither fish nor fowl somehow.
That is some very interesting insight! I am surprised the L4 fell so flat but just off my initial reaction to your story I would guess the ES-175 would be the best choice given your variety and the need to save some money! Thanks for the comment, Martin. Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
Thank you for a very nice video. I think that the L5 is much the better of these Gibson jazz guitars. To me, both the L-4 and the ES 175 sound dull; the L5 has much more resonance, definition, melodic quality and gravitas. There must be a reason that Wes, Russell Malone Tuck Andress and many other top jazz guys use the L5: it has set the tonal standard for what a jazz guitar should sound like. (The Johnny Smith is a hair thinner and has its pickup mounted on the pickguard, but the timbre is very similar.) There are a few players, like Pat Metheny, that don't bother with the carved top (he, George Benson and Ben Monder have played laminate-top instruments), but most people would go for one if they could afford it.
Hi Rich, can you tell me the name of the first song that you played on L4? great playing!
I believe the one you’re asking about is Bloomdido by Charlie Parker
That is quite a wicked looking L5, was it a custom order?
I always believe that you get faster response with 16", like it suits bebop or fast single note style ala Pat Martino better.
Thanks for watching and commenting, wckoek! I believe this L5 was specially made for the NAMM show in the mid-2000s. And I understand what you mean about the 16". Its a little tighter.
What size frets do you prefer?
Spectacular!
Thanks for watching and commenting, Gabriel!
Both sound so sweet - perhaps the L5 has a bit more... Smooth punch? whereas the L4 sounds but marginally more raw/acoustic, but i can't hear a huge difference. L5s got that extra razzle dazzle though.
Thanks for watching and commenting, Ben. Razzle-Dazzle is a great way to describe it!
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L5, big smooth sound!!!
Thanks for contributing with your comment, Paolo!
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@@RichSeversonGuitar thanks Rick, very honored !!! I always do it
hey Rich what gauge strings are you using on them same things for both guitars?
Yes, same strings. I use a custom set 48, 38, 28, 20, 15, 13. D'addario Chrome Bright Flat wounds.
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Better,or not,worse,or not, they are two diferent guitars.Verry quality guitars in my opinion. For my self, cheaper is better.Thank you.
They are very different, you are right! I appreciate you watching and commenting! Some of the cheaper guitars on the market today sound very close to these Gibsons. Clearly, cheaper does not always mean that they sound worse. Thanks for your support!!
I THINK THE L4 HAS BETTER DEFINITION WHILE THE L5 HAS A SOFTER ATTACK. BOTH ARE GREAT. I PLAY AN IBANEZ ARTIST WHICH LOOKS LIKE A COPY OF THE L4.
Trenier Jazz Special and L4 models are both 16 people
The Gibson L5 model is 17 inches, but I'm a Korean who is 179 inches tall and weighs 80 kilograms, is there a big difference between 16 inches and 17 inches in terms of performance? And are you familiar with Trenear products?
This sounds great ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
Can’t beat the L 5 but it’s huge and in a band setting I doubt you would hear much difference then there is the price difference.
L5 is mellow. L4 more sharp. Both great. I personally would prefer l5
Seems no matter what you play and doodle around with it alsways sounds awesome. Could you make some tablets of your best noodling on your webshop_
i reckon the bling on that l5 has altered the sound - ha ha ha
Are those flat wounds & what gauge? You never mentioned it.
Flats custom set 13-15-20-28-38-48
Hello Rich!
Hey Louie! Nice to hear from you!
The L5 seems 'tighter' what doesn that mean, I dunno. The differences are so subltle to me. What is your favorite?
Sorry Rich, you are a great player! But this " wich sounds better" is more timeful.
It is a personal feeling and hard to find a general verdict!?
Many regards from Germany
Very goooooood
I had an L5C and sold it. For me it was just an uncomfortable guitar to play and I could not bond with it...it had a great sound but not comfortable at all. Again my personal experience.
Agreed. the Heritage Eagle are easier on your bank
I had a 2001 CE L4 CES - not great at all. Sold it and bought a 1977 L5 CES - 100 light years better!
Whoa!!! That is quite an upgrade! Awesome to hear. I would love to hear that L5! Thanks for the comment, David
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Spectacular L5 you have got, but some of the other guitars you have got, starting with the Schaefer and the heritage as well as a 175 you played recently, they are equally good if not better…
Thanks for watching! And I appreciate your feedback! I am lucky to have some great guitars and it is really hard for me to decide which is best. Guitars have personality and each one is different! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
Really can t tell which sounds better.
Beautiful guitars and great playing.
In think I will go for an Eastman, DAngelico or Ibanez next time to safe some money.
Thanks for weighing in! It is hard to tell the subtleties. All of the choices you listed would be great options to save some cash! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
Super L 5 ! 👍
Thanks, Borsana! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
Sides and back are ply I believe
on the L4
Some L4s Have sides and backs of Maple ply and some have solid mahogany sides and back
L4✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
The L-5 has the best tone.
Thanks for the comment, Mark! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
L5 is much more musical sounding nicer mids mid bass and some air inside the notes
That's great insight! Thanks for checking out the video, polkzoo!
You selling L5? Can you leave some meat on the bone for me on the price? Did not remember buying 175 from you.
Wish I could have kept it 175.... but family, kids, bills had to let it go.
No plans to sell that just yet
@@RichSeversonGuitar I understand...... thanks for letting me know Rich.
Still remember a cassette tape you gave me of you playing nylon string....it had a lot of heart
and spiritual energy.
Steve Zook
@@polkzoo Hey Steve my brother in law Chris actually sold the 62 175 to you. He lived in North Hollywood or Valley village upstairs in an apartment. Maybe that might jog your memory
its 95 percent in the pickup i reckon - the great sound is your fingers mate
sound different but L5 is better. L4 easier to play.
Thanks for weighing in! Make sure to join us for our live stream today at 11am PST!
Back and sides is laminate wood .... not carved solid wood Rich .....
Steve Zook
Hi Steve I always thought L4s were laminate sides and back but I read some L4s had solid side and back. Have you ever heard that?
@@RichSeversonGuitar Never heard that and I know a lot about archtops as it is my field of expertise.
They are great guitars however but never heard of ones made with solid backs.......unless someone was just trying to sell it so making it up. Hell of an L5 brother.
@@polkzoo Ok good to know. Do you remember buying my 62 175 about 30 years ago?
@@RichSeversonGuitar That was you?
@@RichSeversonGuitar The L4 ones with mahogany back and rims are entirely built with solid woods. example: czcams.com/video/RoNb4kXfHwY/video.html
Which guitar sounds better ..?
Any guitar in Rich's hands is the answer
You are too kind, Patrick! Thank you!
L5 much better here.
I prefere the sound of Gibson L5 ...più vivo