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 # 752-28 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a played-in but still very attractive example of the celebrated "Banner" Gibson LG-2, so-called for its headstock decoration reading "Only A Gibson is Good Enough". This model represents an early 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 model lasted into the 1960s when it morphed into the B-25, still essentially the same guitar.
The LG-2 was Gibson's most popular smaller body flat-top guitar model through the 1940s and '50s. It was the middle model of a three-instrument line of 14 1/4" flat tops; the externally identical but ladder-braced LG-1 was priced below it and the natural-finish LG-3 positioned above. The sunburst LG-2 offered the best combination of sound and value, with the strong selling point of Gibson's always classy trademark shaded top finish.
Many variations of Gibson "Banner" flat top guitars can be found, usually dictated by wartime material shortages. The specs of this LG-2 are the "correct" standard for the model; the sunburst finished spruce top and natural mahogany back are single bound, the soundhole ring is a simple 3-ply. WWII-era LG-2's are known for their chunky round-backed neck profiles; this one is substantial-feeling but slimmer than some and unlike many it WAS built with the adjustable truss rod, often deleted due to wartime metal restrictions. The tuners are the original strip Klusons, built with riveted shafts and slim gears for the same reason. The guitar appears to have been used but not abused over the last 80 years, a splendid survivor of this period's very fine Gibson flat tops.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 5/16 in. (36.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/16 in. (11.3 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-2 is nicely original overall, showing some typical checking and play wear. There are dings, scratches and chips to the finish overall, most heavily to the top. The bottom edge of the soundhole rim is slightly worn to the wood and there is some lateral pick wear around the strings, otherwise the top is mostly free of the common pick scratches. There is a deep ding into the wood on the upper treble bout, and a few other smaller deeper dings. The back of the neck is mostly clean with a noticeable scrape through the finish behind the 8-9th frets. There is a fair amount of finish chatter along the edges of the fingerboard.
This guitar has a couple of very small grain inconspicuous splits to the sides but no other such repairs; the top and back are entirely crack free. The bridge looks to have been lowered slightly long ago but still has decent height, with a newer saddle. Internally it appears undisturbed, with the original small maple bridgeplate in excellent condition. The neck has been reset nicely, with some discreet touch-up around the heel. The small-wire frets appear original and show some light wear in the lower positions but still play fine. This is a really nice playing and great sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model, housed in a decent if not top-line later HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a played-in but still very attractive example of the celebrated "Banner" Gibson LG-2, so-called for its headstock decoration reading "Only A Gibson is Good Enough". This model represents an early 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 model lasted into the 1960s when it morphed into the B-25, still essentially the same guitar.
The LG-2 was Gibson's most popular smaller body flat-top guitar model through the 1940s and '50s. It was the middle model of a three-instrument line of 14 1/4" flat tops; the externally identical but ladder-braced LG-1 was priced below it and the natural-finish LG-3 positioned above. The sunburst LG-2 offered the best combination of sound and value, with the strong selling point of Gibson's always classy trademark shaded top finish.
Many variations of Gibson "Banner" flat top guitars can be found, usually dictated by wartime material shortages. The specs of this LG-2 are the "correct" standard for the model; the sunburst finished spruce top and natural mahogany back are single bound, the soundhole ring is a simple 3-ply. WWII-era LG-2's are known for their chunky round-backed neck profiles; this one is substantial-feeling but slimmer than some and unlike many it WAS built with the adjustable truss rod, often deleted due to wartime metal restrictions. The tuners are the original strip Klusons, built with riveted shafts and slim gears for the same reason. The guitar appears to have been used but not abused over the last 80 years, a splendid survivor of this period's very fine Gibson flat tops.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 5/16 in. (36.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/16 in. (11.3 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-2 is nicely original overall, showing some typical checking and play wear. There are dings, scratches and chips to the finish overall, most heavily to the top. The bottom edge of the soundhole rim is slightly worn to the wood and there is some lateral pick wear around the strings, otherwise the top is mostly free of the common pick scratches. There is a deep ding into the wood on the upper treble bout, and a few other smaller deeper dings. The back of the neck is mostly clean with a noticeable scrape through the finish behind the 8-9th frets. There is a fair amount of finish chatter along the edges of the fingerboard.
This guitar has a couple of very small grain inconspicuous splits to the sides but no other such repairs; the top and back are entirely crack free. The bridge looks to have been lowered slightly long ago but still has decent height, with a newer saddle. Internally it appears undisturbed, with the original small maple bridgeplate in excellent condition. The neck has been reset nicely, with some discreet touch-up around the heel. The small-wire frets appear original and show some light wear in the lower positions but still play fine. This is a really nice playing and great sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model, housed in a decent if not top-line later HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.