DESCRIPTION:
Here we're looking at a Gibson LG-1 Steel String Acoustic Guitar, with an FON (Factory Order Number) starting with 'S', indicating construction during 1959 at Kalamazoo, Michigan. This example is in good condition with natural finish checking and some honest play wear. The frets appear to be original and wear is past moderate for the first fret, moving to light wear in subsequent frets.
The Gibson LG-1 was introduced in 1942 and, except for the duration of WW2, in production until 1968 though a few appeared as late as 1974. Except for the very earliest LG-1's with X-braces, all had ladder braced tops and sunburst finishes. Ladder bracing, a series of bars crossing the top, is simpler to build and provides a punchier, brighter, more percussive tone than the X bracing used on the LG-2 and LG-3.
The action is comfortable with a good amount of saddle above the bridge top. The pickguard is lifting slightly near the fingerboard tag. The tuners, strip-mounted Kluson single-line models with creme plastic buttons, are original and work well. Strap pins have been added to the tail block and heel.
Over the years two top cracks have been repaired and cleated, both at the ends of the pickguard. As was common practice with many builders of the time (for Martin, as late as 1985), the pickguards were glued to the bare top rather than to the finish, and this frequently caused a typical crack.
Sold with an Epiphone Masterbilt 'Lite' case. The original case for these models was typically a faux-gator finish fibre (cardboard), and these frequently did not survive.
The Gibson LG-1 was introduced during 1942 along with the LG-2 and LG-3 as entry level models. With the US entry into WW2, but after about 100 of each were built, both the LG-1 and LG-3 were discontinued for the duration of the war. While the LG-2 was built throughout WW2, the LG-1 and LG-3 were not built from 1943 to 1945. In 1958, the ladder- braced, sunburst Mahogany top LG-0 was introduced. The LG-0 and LG-1 were discontinued in 1974 and the LG-2 and LG-3 were replaced by the B-25 series in 1962.
These LG models, with a few wartime exceptions, featured Sitka Spruce tops paired with Mahogany for the sides, back, body blocks, linings and neck, with Rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge. For most of the production run Brazilian Rosewood was used for the fingerboard and bridge, shifting to Indian Rosewood after 1965. After 1961, the Rosewood bridge was replaced with plastic.
A small number of wartime models used Maple for the sides and back and the earliest LG-1 production had X-braced Mahogany tops. After production resumed in 1946, the Gibson LG-1 models were all given Ladder bracing and Spruce tops. To 1946, the Gibson logo was a white ‘Script’ design, and in 1947 the screen-printed gold block logo seen here was introduced and is still in use.
The relatively inexpensive Gibson LG-1, LG-2 and LG-3 guitars were very popular, one of Gibson's biggest sellers and were successfully targeted towards guitar students, folk musicians and amateur players.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: LG-1
- Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson
- Instrument year: 1959
- Instrument Finish: Sunburst Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Instrument Class: Steel String Guitars
- Instrument serial number: FON is S8502 17, dated to 1959 at Kalamazoo Michigan
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Playing Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- CITIES Documentation Required: Yes
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 4.048 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.84 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 24.6 in
- Scale Length Metric: 625 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.675 in
- Nut Width Metric: 42.55 mm
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: No
- Case Type: Epiphone Masterbilt 'Lite' HSC
- Items in Case: N/A
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190384
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |