Gibson LG-2 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1946-7)
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Item # 11352
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Gibson LG-2 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1946-7), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst top, dark stained back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a good playing just post-WWII example of Gibson's most popular smaller body flat-top guitar model from the 1940s and '50s, the LG-2. It shows some wear and repair but is still a good player's example of this well-loved model.
The LG-2 was the middle model of a three-instrument line of smaller bodied Gibson flat tops in the 1940s and beyond. The externally identical but ladder-braced LG-1 was priced below it and the natural-finish LG-3 positioned above. Exact production figures from this period are lost, but in 1948-50 the LG-2 sold roughly 1000 instruments a year, with more than double that amount of LG-1's shipped. These first post-war ones like this are somewhat scarcer than later examples, suggesting they were built in smaller numbers as Gibson was just getting back up to speed after doing mostly war work for 4 years.
For some reason lost in Gibson history these 1946-48 flat tops have no serial or factory order numbers, so can only be dated by the features. This one appears to be a fairly early example bearing the old gold script logo that disappeared by 1948. Other typical features include a fairly dark sunburst top finish, dark mahogany back and sides, small tortoise celluloid pickguard, small rectangle bridge and single-bound top and back.
The headstock is tapered in depth, still with WWII pattern riveted-gear Kluson tuners fitted. The truss-rod equipped neck has a lovely round-backed "C" profile, substantial feeling but slimmer than the thick wartime "baseball bat" style and quite comfortable. This is a smooth sounding and versatile guitar; generally well preserved and a fine example of Gibson's early post-war flat-top period.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a nice player's example overall, showing some wear and repair but really not too bad for having been in use since before the Korean War! The original lacquer has some typical checking and a nice patina overall. There is notable wear to the lower soundhole rim through the lacquer well into the wood, and more strum wear forward of the pickguard. This area has some light touch up evident. The rest of the instrument shows random scratches, dings, scuffs, and other minor marks. The back of the neck has some old wear and an old clear overspray over much of its length. The headstock edges show some typical wear and dings.
There are some solid but visible repairs; The top has several grain splits of varying lengths running back from the bridge, with the top center seam having been resealed along the entire length. There is a very long repaired side crack running through the endpin up along both lower bouts to the waists that has been solidly sealed with some touch up. The area around the perimeter of the bridge shows some touch up, and there are filled holes above the endpin indicating a tailpiece was once fitted.
The neck has been reset; the bridge is a slightly oversized replacement as is the maple bridgeplate, made to the original pattern but a bit thicker. The originals are preserved in the case pocket. The original tuners have been neatly re-buttoned. There has never been a strap button added. The original frets have been crowned down but not enough to affect playability. Despite the wear and repair this is an excellent playing and sounding instrument, quite powerful sounding for a smaller-bodied guitar and still better preserved than some from the 1940s. Very Good + Condition.
This is a good playing just post-WWII example of Gibson's most popular smaller body flat-top guitar model from the 1940s and '50s, the LG-2. It shows some wear and repair but is still a good player's example of this well-loved model.
The LG-2 was the middle model of a three-instrument line of smaller bodied Gibson flat tops in the 1940s and beyond. The externally identical but ladder-braced LG-1 was priced below it and the natural-finish LG-3 positioned above. Exact production figures from this period are lost, but in 1948-50 the LG-2 sold roughly 1000 instruments a year, with more than double that amount of LG-1's shipped. These first post-war ones like this are somewhat scarcer than later examples, suggesting they were built in smaller numbers as Gibson was just getting back up to speed after doing mostly war work for 4 years.
For some reason lost in Gibson history these 1946-48 flat tops have no serial or factory order numbers, so can only be dated by the features. This one appears to be a fairly early example bearing the old gold script logo that disappeared by 1948. Other typical features include a fairly dark sunburst top finish, dark mahogany back and sides, small tortoise celluloid pickguard, small rectangle bridge and single-bound top and back.
The headstock is tapered in depth, still with WWII pattern riveted-gear Kluson tuners fitted. The truss-rod equipped neck has a lovely round-backed "C" profile, substantial feeling but slimmer than the thick wartime "baseball bat" style and quite comfortable. This is a smooth sounding and versatile guitar; generally well preserved and a fine example of Gibson's early post-war flat-top period.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a nice player's example overall, showing some wear and repair but really not too bad for having been in use since before the Korean War! The original lacquer has some typical checking and a nice patina overall. There is notable wear to the lower soundhole rim through the lacquer well into the wood, and more strum wear forward of the pickguard. This area has some light touch up evident. The rest of the instrument shows random scratches, dings, scuffs, and other minor marks. The back of the neck has some old wear and an old clear overspray over much of its length. The headstock edges show some typical wear and dings.
There are some solid but visible repairs; The top has several grain splits of varying lengths running back from the bridge, with the top center seam having been resealed along the entire length. There is a very long repaired side crack running through the endpin up along both lower bouts to the waists that has been solidly sealed with some touch up. The area around the perimeter of the bridge shows some touch up, and there are filled holes above the endpin indicating a tailpiece was once fitted.
The neck has been reset; the bridge is a slightly oversized replacement as is the maple bridgeplate, made to the original pattern but a bit thicker. The originals are preserved in the case pocket. The original tuners have been neatly re-buttoned. There has never been a strap button added. The original frets have been crowned down but not enough to affect playability. Despite the wear and repair this is an excellent playing and sounding instrument, quite powerful sounding for a smaller-bodied guitar and still better preserved than some from the 1940s. Very Good + Condition.