The L6-S was one of Norlin-era Gibson's more successful models, with quite significant numbers shipped from 1973 and into the early 1980s. As with most models, production tended to continue somewhat after the model's official withdrawal. Gibson L6-S shipping statistics are available from 1973-1979, with the final inclusion in a Gibson US price list in September 1979.
The L6-S was launched at the 1973 NAMM show, with the greatest proportion of production occurring in the following year. As can be seen, the numbers shipped diminished to single figures by 1979. Although the majority of production data is split by finish, Sunburst and Cherry Sunburst guitars from 1973 certainly exist. Whether these are included in the data below or accidentally omitted is unclear.
Although this table encompasses the majority of production, the L6-S Custom and Deluxe were still being shipped into 1980 and 1981 (and possibly later?), and the Midnight Special into 1982, seemingly in similarly small numbers. Many of these were in Gibson's new Silverburst finish, not seen in the data available below.
Model \ Year | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | total |
L6-S Custom | 3 | 1 | 793 | 797 | ||||
L6-S Custom - Cherry | 16 | 16 | ||||||
L6-S Custom - Ebony | 2 | 1589 | 963 | 636 | 319 | 495 | 3 | 4007 |
L6-S Custom - Natural Maple Gloss | 179 | 3455 | 976 | 1613 | 715 | 20 | 6 | 6964 |
L6-S Custom - Tobacco Sunburst | 151 | 262 | 83 | 155 | 651 | |||
L6-S Custom - Wine Red | 6 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 25 | |||
L6-S Deluxe - Ebony | 97 | 122 | 2 | 221 | ||||
L6-S Deluxe - Natural Satin | 911 | 645 | 471 | 133 | 1 | 2161 | ||
L6-S Deluxe - Tobacco Sunburst | 8 | 23 | 99 | 34 | 164 | |||
L6-S Deluxe - Wine Red | 320 | 296 | 297 | 24 | 937 | |||
Midnight Special | 30 | 5 | 3 | 38 | ||||
Midnight Special - Ebony | 248 | 1 | 249 | |||||
Midnight Special - Natural Maple Gloss | 496 | 396 | 76 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 982 | |
Midnight Special - White | 136 | 12 | 13 | 161 | ||||
Midnight Special - Wine Red | 405 | 201 | 41 | 647 | ||||
Total L6-S Custom | 181 | 5044 | 2115 | 2516 | 1131 | 1463 | 10 | 12297 |
Total L6-S Deluxe | 1239 | 964 | 964 | 313 | 3 | 3483 | ||
Total Midnight Special | 1149 | 763 | 129 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 2077 |
Base prices are listed below with options listed as follows TSB - Tobacco Sunburst, WR - Wine Red, MPLE - maple, LH - left handed. The Midnight special was never listed in any Gibson price list.
All prices are zone 1 in $US
L6-S Custom |
L6-S Deluxe |
|
June 1973 |
$495 |
|
Last price list appearances are 7/1/80 for the Custom and 1/6/79 for the Duluxe
Comparison of prices from the January 1975 Gibson price list | |||
L-5S |
$899 |
L6-S (Custom) |
$499 |
$995
$1199
$1365
$1699
$1995
$2400
$2600
$2895
£1750
$1800
AU $4995