My Guitars – Gibson L6-S
May 18, 2008 12:21 amTweet
I was 16 when I got my first guitar – a used mid-’70s Gibson L6-S. I didn’t know anything about guitars, so I didn’t know what a strange specimen it was… the L6-S has the smallest neck of any Gibson ever made (or any other guitar I’ve seen), and some of the strangest tones as well, via the 6-way chicken-head switch that can put the pickups in series, out of phase etc. And I especially didn’t know that the paint job on this particular L6 made it even more rare – a black sunburst, which seems to slim down the b
ody shape and give it a smoky old-school vibe. All I knew was that this guitar, to me, embodied rock & roll, in a circa-1973 Keith Richards sort of way. It simply couldn’t have been any cooler. (In fact… that’s Keith playing an L6-S! —->)
I never had another guitar for the longest time. It was my constant companion through my 6-month stint in Mexico at age 17, on my first gigs, my first recording sessions, and writing my first songs. People identified me with the L6 because you just didn’t see these guitars around, and if you did, they sure weren’t in a black burst. As my guitar obsessions started to zone in on Jimmy Page and Carlos Santana, the L6 seemed made to nail Page’s clucky, somewhat filtered tones… and as for Carlos, I was confirmed to find out that he actually played and endorsed the L6-S during his white-suit Devadip period.
Fast forward to when I was 23, when I moved to Los Angeles and my beloved guitar was stolen the first day, right out of my living room while I was out for a hamburger (everyone I tell this story invariably blurts out ‘Welcome to L.A!”). I sat there on the couch, staring at the broken glass and the brick in the middle of the floor. I knew I would never see my guitar again, and I had the feeling that since it was really the only material thing in the world I cared about, I was supposed to detach, let it go, move on. But it cut pretty deep anyway, and I can’t say I ever truly got over it.
I searched pretty hard for an identical black burst L6-S for years. Never found one. It became something of an obsession for my brother, who treated it as though I had lost a limb. We even thought about buying a ‘natural’ finish L6 and having it repainted. But after 15 years, a casual search on Ebay yielded the impossible: an exact copy of my old guitar, in killer shape, only a few serial numbers off… and here’s the kicker: the seller was in my hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Of course, it was destined to be mine. After a nervous day of struggling with my attachment to the outcome – okay, after a manic day of Smeagol-like hand-wringing and conniving about ways to interrupt the bidding – I won the auction at less than a grand. Truth be told, the guy could have taken me to the cleaners. I was so paranoid something might go awry, I had my cousin Blake physically drive over (with cash) and pick it up in person. But anyway!
When I got the guitar, it was like seeing myself walk into the room, but as a teenager. A little creepy. We got re-acquainted pretty quickly: I used the guitar a lot on the Lonnie Jordan record, whenever some nasal chicken funk was called for (which was often, especially on the song ‘Get That Feeling’). I currently have the L6 set up to play slide, as an incentive to practice. The strings are a bit close together for slide, but the tones are definitely rootsy. Check out this diagram for the switch:
So… the Gibson L6-S. One of the ’70s ‘Lost Period’ Gibsons, when the company was in the midst of an identity crisis, managed and owned by a third party that was out of touch with its illustrious history, trying to compete in the market place with Fender and others by ‘modernizing’ its lineup. Most of the new models, which strayed too far from the Les Paul/ES-335 mold that had created the Gibson legend, were commercial flops and didn’t see the end of the decade. But here’s the thing: in their desperation to sound like Fenders without actually copying any of the Fender technology to get there, Gibson inadvertently created a bunch of funky, individualistic instruments that sounded neither Gibson nor Fender, and because of my early association with the L6, I will always have a soft spot for these guitars.
I find that in many of them, there are elements that are just a bit off, not as harmonious and perfectly balanced as the Les Paul and its siblings. Bill Lawrence, the pickup guru who conceived most of these instruments, was never truly happy with the results because of budgeting constraints and a bureaucratic decision-making process within the company at that time. But, true to the mod-it-yourself spirit of the ’70s when every guitar had a few extra switches and replacement parts, I find that if you spend some time dialing these guitars in to your own specifications, the results are very rewarding. I mean, they’re still Gibsons, right?
(Also, I have a hunch that Santana has a closet full of them, so one day I may try to talk him into parting with one or two…)
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July 11th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I just bought a gibson L6 s from the local music store. None of the electronics are original, neither are the tuners, but despite being 30+ years old, it is one of the best playing guitars I’ve tried. I could understand how getting it stolen could leave you broken hearted.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I have always loved to PLAY my L6-S, but could never get the sound I really wanted, which turned out to be Tele-Strat. I’ve changed pickups and wiring a couple times so I have in/out phase and more standard switching, with coil taps. I liked the guitar but the band really didn’t and handed me a tele. Also, the 6-way switch often left me in between stops, with no sound, when I was trying to change pickups during a song. But it still has a great neck (refretted a little smaller) and very comfortable Schaller-type bridge. I can play some things on this guitar that I can’t on my others. But no twang.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:12 am
dude, i just read your blog. CRAZY STORY!!
my fist electric was the natural 6s
1978- I traded it in 1980 to by a les paul custom. When I started looking to repurchase this same 6s, they were no place to be found.
On 9-4-08 I was in evanston Illinois stopped into Flyns Music on chance , you always need to visit local ma pa shops when traveling, there she was hanging their perfect condition. I bought her, she is back with papa. Gibson and the history books dont recognize these gems but the will be worth gold in 25 years. I paid $1,200.00 my original I paid $300.00. Dont let the japs buy yours.
January 4th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I got so curious about the L6 years ago that when one showed up for sale cheap locally I jumped on it. 1974 blackie w/ the ebony fingerboard. I’ve spent a few months restoring it, including rebuilding the rotary. I think the pickups are terrific, maple gives it high tone resonance, action better than my LP. But yeah, it’s a real ’tain’t guitar: not LP, not Fender. But isn’t the world filled w/ wannabes? It’s a steal.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
First saw the L6-S in the early seventies. I played it loved it but left thinking it was called a LG-S. So I never found one for myself. Now due to ebay I own three. I like them alot better than a Les Paul and they handle more like a really nice strat but better. Tone wise they are very diverse.
Rockon! oldfartrocker
February 28th, 2009 at 1:08 am
My first electric was a Kay guitar. Chunky, but fantastic for slide work.
My L6S was the second guitar. I bought it at a pawn shop for $450 Canadian in 1981. I played that thing all through my college years and into my marriage, where, due to never having enough money I foolishly sold it to a guitar student of mine. I miss that guitar. I think I’m going to try to buy it back from that guy, because he’s in his marriage, now, with never enough money. Maybe I’ll pay him less than what I sold it for.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:48 am
Excellent! Love this page! …love pretty much anything Gibson
May 28th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
This is like reading my own words. I bought a Gibson L6-S as my very first guitar as well, when I was 16. It was my guitar, and though I have owned many other since (Strats and Les Pauls and others), the L6-S was the thing that spoke to me. Mine was blond with blond neck, totally straight and was stolen from my home in 1996, right off the wall with my Yamaha bass and ’60 Les Paul Custom. I still have the case, just so that when I finally wind up with one again, it will have a home.
July 11th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Famous users of the L6-S Custom include Keith Richards, Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, Joe Walsh, Al Di Meola and Mike Oldfield – he also used the L6-S Deluxe. Mike said that the pickups weren’t very good, but his amps would make anything sound good. He used a Fender Twin for clean, a Fender Princeton for distortion and a Mesa Boogie for lead
August 25th, 2009 at 12:23 am
The L6S is probably one of the best tonality guitars,
and weight wise comfortable guitars to play.
The L6S is a religious experience.
Bravo to the pick up design, wiring, and body style.
I have one. Have owned 2.
Terry
October 27th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I lucked out and found my L6-S and at local store in Paris Texas. The neck is sweet. Yeah the chicken head is a bit unhandy but the lawrance humbuckers and 24 fret neck make up for it. I found out that you can successfully replace the chicken head dial with a three way toogle switch if you want to. Then just keep the varitone chicken head in a box in safe place and you can always put it back the way it was no harm done. I wouldn’t take any thing for my L6. When I bought it, it was missing the truss rod cover. Found one in England for a mere 85.00. Ouch! But had to buy it anyway. It only goes to show how rare these guitars are becoming. The expensive truss cover completes my vintage L6S and I will keep it forever.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:04 am
Hi, I am looking for an original case for a gibson L6-S. Does anyone have one to sell or have any leads on where I can get one for my sons guitar? Thanks in advance.
contact me at jarrodlindstrom@helpusell.com
January 29th, 2010 at 10:21 am
My first guitar was a L6-S purchased new in 1977 at a Stan’s music store on Long Island for $300.
Like many other struggling young musicians I couldnt afford more than one guitar at a time, so if I wanted a new one, I had to trade in the one I had. Hence around 1980 I traded my L6 for a new G&L F-100 ….I regretted that decision almost from the moment I made it….it was like I lost a good friend. So almost 30 years later I decided it was time to correct that mistake … after searching for a year or so, I came across a new ebay listing .. Natural maple, maple neck .. all original including the original case … this guitar almost looked like it just came out of the factory … starting bid $900, buy it now $1200 … needless to say I couldnt hit the buy it now button fast enough … wasnt letting this one get away….What a thrill when the guitar arrived …it was like I was 19 again … man what a unique guitar .. it feels and sounds like no other.
January 31st, 2010 at 6:59 pm
I’ve had my 1976 L6-S since I bought new at Manny’s in NYC. I was a huge Santana fan so after seeing him in an ad for one, I went and bought it. It is a most under rated and off the radar guitar. I played it hard in the 70′s and 80′s when I was gigging. A very versatile and comfortable ax.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Great page!!! I think anyway the guitar l6s its an incredible instrument for playing wherever also I got a pice ls6 and it have all that I was looking for sounds lovely wow just I’ll never sell…
April 4th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
I Love this Guitar! Imo, the L6S is one of the few gems that Gibson made, It produces a unique sound that I wanted. Too bad my L6S 6 tone switch is not working properly..
I’ll have it serviced soon.
September 15th, 2010 at 3:22 am
I’ve loved mine since 1981…..took off chicken-head, put on 3-way. Had a Kahler put on in 1984, during the divebombing 80′s. I’m sure the value has decreased, due to these modifications, but they can worry about that after I’m dead…..I have a Les, and an Explorer and a couple of others, but this is easily the most played…….
December 1st, 2010 at 2:28 pm
I have mine which is a 1976 blond L6-s Custom bought new. I replaced one of the pick ups everything else is stock. I got it when I was 14, my Dad did not want to spring for a Les Paul, he said it was too heavy for me. I also saw some footage of Junior Kimbrough playing one. I also had a 69 ES 330 which I stupidly traded for an Ibanez Les Paul copy. The L6 is a great guitar. Great article.