Conference napalm::guitar

	The Gibson L6s was engineered by Bill Lawerance when he worked 
for Gibson. The top control (closest to the strings) is a master volume,
the next control down is a master tone control and the bottom control is
a midrange control to supplement the master tone. There is a six position
pickup switch which changes from series to parallel,in and out of phase,and
coil cutting etc.
	The L6s was Lawerance's attempt to eliminate the Gibson varitone
circuitry found in the semi-hollow body Gibson's,but still provide the 
several different tonal combinations. 
	My personal observation was that I found the fingerboard hard to
play in the L6s's I've tried,as it has a curved fingerboard which is usually
maple with low frets.
	Carlos Santana has been quoted that you can get many "similiar 
guitar"(Strat,Etc.) sounds out of the instrument. Send me mail if you
    are interested in seeing a simple schematic of the electronics. 



					Hope this Helps,

						Rick

  I thought I had the only L6-S!

  Aside from Carlos, the only person I've seen play an L6-S was in DEVO. Talk
about guitar heroes...

  The six position switch enables the pickups thusly -

	#1 - both pickups, series, in phase
	#2 - fingerboard pickup only
	#3 - both, parallel, in phase
	#4 - both, parallel, out of phase
	#5 - bridge only
	#6 - both, series, out of phase

  I believe the guitar was introduced in 1973. Does anyone know (or have a 
Gibson history stating) how long they were made?

- Tom

Darryl Stuermer used to use one when he was with Jean Luc Ponty.
He currently plays with both Genesis and Phil Collin's solo band.

    Neat.  I'm a big Genesis and related acts fan, and never knew Daryl
    played one.  His latest axe of choice seems to be Steinberger.
    
    Richard

    re;.2
    		Barry Goodreau used one for a few years with
    		Boston. It was also available in black or
    		sunburst with a rosewood fretboard. 
    		Gibson later issued a less expensive model
    		called an L6 Special.
    
    					Neal
    
    		

      
    
      BTW - the March 1991 Guitar Player has an article on both the 
    Gibson L5-S and L6-S. Among things that were mentioned were the fact
    that the L6-S is more popular and commanding more $. I'm fairly
    sure it mentions Al Dimeola as a previous user as well. 
    
    						-B()()M-
     

    If GP said that, they're wrong.An L-5S in nice shape gets
    $1,200-$1,500. I doubt that you could get $500 for an L-6S, if you can
    find a buyer.
    
    I saw the column, but haven't read it yet. I did notice that the
    pictures of the two are swapped--perhaps they confused their reply, too
    
    Danny W.

Wasn't the L6 the guitar with two humbnuckers and a rotary switch? Santanna
used to endorse them. Last one I saw was under $300

dbii

    re: .6
    
    What the GP article says is:
    
    "The L-5S is sought by collectors and players, due in part to its
    identification with Al DiMeola. The L-6S is not highly regarded by
    anyone that we know of..."
    
    The pictures are reversed.
    
    Thev L-5S has its own basenote somewhere.
    
    Danny W.

    
    	Anymore info on the L-6S?  I've got one too.
    
    						Rich