Gibson L-4 CES Custom Historic

The Gibson L-4 CES Custom Historic occupies a particularly interesting position in Gibson’s archtop family. The GIBSON L4 CES CUSTOM HISTORIC BY JAMES HUTCHINS is visually related to the celebrated ES-175, and the L-4 CES takes the formula considerably further with a carved solid spruce top, ebony fingerboard and more luxurious appointments.

This is a proper full-depth hollow-body Gibson, combining traditional archtop construction with the practicality of twin humbucking pickups.

Its carved spruce top is particularly important. Rather than the laminated top associated with the ES-175, the L-4 CES uses a carved solid top in the traditional archtop manner. Combined with the hollow body, this gives the L-4 CES its own identity within Gibson’s electric archtop range.

James “Hutch” Hutchins

Of particular interest on this example is its association with James W. “Hutch” Hutchins, one of the best-known figures connected with Gibson’s high-end archtop production.

Hutchins joined Gibson in the 1960s and spent decades working with the company, becoming closely associated with its prestigious carved-top and Custom Shop instruments.

This guitar carries a James Hutchins signed approval label, documenting its connection with that period of Gibson archtop production.

It is an important detail and one that distinguishes this L-4 CES from a standard production hollow-body guitar.

Classic Gibson Archtop Construction

The Gibson L-4 CES Custom Historic combines a carved solid spruce top with maple back and sides, a mahogany set neck and an ebony fingerboard.

Twin humbuckers provide the familiar two-pickup Gibson control layout, while the Florentine cutaway gives good access to the upper register.

Traditional gold hardware completes the presentation and suits the L-4 CES perfectly. It is an elegant instrument without wandering into the much larger dimensions of some of Gibson’s flagship archtops.

With its combination of carved-top construction, full hollow body and electric versatility, the L-4 CES has become one of the more distinctive Gibson archtops of the modern Custom Shop era.

A Special Gibson for the Archtop Player or Collector

For anyone looking beyond the more frequently encountered ES models, this Gibson L-4 CES Custom Historic offers something rather special.

The carved spruce top, ebony fingerboard, gold hardware and Custom Historic construction place it firmly among Gibson’s premium archtop instruments, while the James “Hutch” Hutchins signed approval adds another fascinating piece of Gibson history.

It is an exceptionally attractive specification and a model that does not appear on the market every day.

SPECIFICATION

Brand: Gibson
Model: L-4 CES Custom Historic
Country of manufacture: USA
Body type: Full hollow-body archtop
Cutaway: Florentine
Top: Carved solid spruce
Back and sides: Maple
Neck: Mahogany
Neck joint: Set neck
Fingerboard: Ebony
Scale: 24.75 inches
Pickups: Twin humbuckers
Controls: Two volume, two tone and three-way pickup selector
Hardware: Gold
James Hutchins label: Signed/approved by James W. “Hutch” Hutchins