Hey Terence, out of curiosity, why the Filtertron? Was it a customer request?

I think the reason for the lack of plans for an L-5 are that the 17" archtop is way more popular, and the variation in the L-5 from year to year. You really need to be specific if you'd want to "copy" a certain era, which for Gibson, "era" can be as little as any given 2-year span.

I've have a body tracing, as well as graduation specs for a Loar-era K-5(same body as an L-5, but with an 8 string neck, making it a mandocello), and they match-up well with a friend's '53 Gibson tenor archtop(again, same body as the L-5; just another different neck), but by '53 they appear to have added some width to the ribs(making the body deeper). The body's outline, is, I believe, also shared with the J-200 flat tops, so if pressed for an outline, try to find one of those to trace, or plans(I believe they do exist for a J-200) for one.

I'm designing and building a 16" archie as we speak, and though I have both Loar-era tracing and graduation specs, as well as my friend's '53 at my disposal, I'm just taking "clues" from each one and doing my own thing for the rest. I suggest that you could do much the same; follow the general arching and graduation guidelines and rules, and brace it with tone bars or an X brace, or any other way you think might be cool, and call it good. I suspect you can't fail. An archtop instrument relies on the structure afforded by the carving of the plates themselves, and very little upon the bracing, so they are very unlike flat top guitars, which rely mostly upon their bracing for structure. In other words, where we don't have too much freedom to stray from the general bracing guidelines in the bracing of flat top instruments, archtop instruments allow a LOT of leeway.

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I don't underestimate the challenge of taking this instrument on, though. And whatever wisdom/experience others have to this end is most appreciated.

One thing about the 9/16" top thickness comment - while this is an acoustic electric, and some may argue which of more, I'm unconvinced that he goal is to make it as acoustic as possible. These guitars have a signature sound of sorts. I believe the 175, for example, has a more acoustic sound ... or so some believe that to be the case. I realize at the end of the day each instrument is unique ... somewhere, someone doing archtops and has done some of these in the L5 electric style probably has some wisdom to share.

Cheers,

Filippo