Gibson LG-2 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1944)
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Gibson LG-2 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1944), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 692-10, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; laminated maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a very attractive, fine playing and great sounding example of the celebrated "Banner" Gibson LG-2, so-called for its headstock decoration reading "Only A Gibson is Good Enough". This model represents the first appearance of the long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops, which replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments as the war went on.
The features of this guitar are the "correct" standard for the model; numerous variations are found on Gibson "Banner" flat tops but this one hues to the catalog specs. The sunburst finished, X-braced spruce top and natural mahogany back are single bound, the soundhole ring is a simple 3-ply. A tortoise celluloid pickguard and small rectangular rosewood bridge complete the top fittings.
WWII-era LG-2's are known for their chunky round-backed neck profiles; the one-piece mahogany neck on this one is an exception with a noticeably slimmer profile feeling more like a 1950s Gibson than the typical mid-40s "baseball bat". Unlike many it WAS built with the adjustable truss rod, often missing due to wartime restrictions on metal. These features combine to make for a more comfortable guitar for the average player than many LG's from this period. The tuners are the original wartime strip Klusons, the headstock is adorned with a gold Gibson script logo and that famous banner.
The guitar has been used but not abused over the last nearly years, a splendid survivor of this period's very fine Gibson flat tops. It has a bright, powerful but never strident sound and is an excellent player all around.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This LG is fairly clean and original overall with some checking, typical repair and general play wear. The top has some moderate checking with dings, scratches and chips to the finish, and mostly shallow pick wear to the areas around the pickguard. The lower soundhole rim has some strum wear down to the wood.
The back and sides have similar wear, more heavily to the sides with finish checking on the back but hardly any buckle marks. The back of the neck is surprisingly clean, the finish is clean and largely intact with only a few small dings. The headstock has some dings and dents but again no heavy wear.
This guitar has two repaired grain splits on the back, both neatly sealed with no overfinish. The treble side has a more noticeable crack repair on the turn of the lower bout, well sealed with some finish work but not overly conspicuous.
The neck has been neatly reset and the rosewood bridge is a reproduction of the original. Internally the bracing remains undisturbed, with the original small maple bridgeplate in excellent condition. The bridge bolts were not re-installed. This is a really nice playing and great sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model, resting in a modern HSC Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a very attractive, fine playing and great sounding example of the celebrated "Banner" Gibson LG-2, so-called for its headstock decoration reading "Only A Gibson is Good Enough". This model represents the first appearance of the long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops, which replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments as the war went on.
The features of this guitar are the "correct" standard for the model; numerous variations are found on Gibson "Banner" flat tops but this one hues to the catalog specs. The sunburst finished, X-braced spruce top and natural mahogany back are single bound, the soundhole ring is a simple 3-ply. A tortoise celluloid pickguard and small rectangular rosewood bridge complete the top fittings.
WWII-era LG-2's are known for their chunky round-backed neck profiles; the one-piece mahogany neck on this one is an exception with a noticeably slimmer profile feeling more like a 1950s Gibson than the typical mid-40s "baseball bat". Unlike many it WAS built with the adjustable truss rod, often missing due to wartime restrictions on metal. These features combine to make for a more comfortable guitar for the average player than many LG's from this period. The tuners are the original wartime strip Klusons, the headstock is adorned with a gold Gibson script logo and that famous banner.
The guitar has been used but not abused over the last nearly years, a splendid survivor of this period's very fine Gibson flat tops. It has a bright, powerful but never strident sound and is an excellent player all around.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This LG is fairly clean and original overall with some checking, typical repair and general play wear. The top has some moderate checking with dings, scratches and chips to the finish, and mostly shallow pick wear to the areas around the pickguard. The lower soundhole rim has some strum wear down to the wood.
The back and sides have similar wear, more heavily to the sides with finish checking on the back but hardly any buckle marks. The back of the neck is surprisingly clean, the finish is clean and largely intact with only a few small dings. The headstock has some dings and dents but again no heavy wear.
This guitar has two repaired grain splits on the back, both neatly sealed with no overfinish. The treble side has a more noticeable crack repair on the turn of the lower bout, well sealed with some finish work but not overly conspicuous.
The neck has been neatly reset and the rosewood bridge is a reproduction of the original. Internally the bracing remains undisturbed, with the original small maple bridgeplate in excellent condition. The bridge bolts were not re-installed. This is a really nice playing and great sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model, resting in a modern HSC Overall Very Good + Condition.