Gibson LG-3 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1949), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
A nice early example of Gibson's premier small body flat-top guitar model from the late '40's and '50's. The LG-3 is the same instrument as the LG-2 with a "finer selection" of woods and a natural top finish. Typical features include a small tortoise celluloid pickguard, small rectangle bridge, triple bound top and single bound back. The postwar block Gibson logo is the earliest version with the "joined" dot, on a headstock still showing the prewar tapering sides. Tuners are the old-style openback strip Klusons with plastic buttons. Super comfortable round-backed neck, slimmer than the wartime "baseball bat" but with a bit more depth than a typical 1950's style. Overall a superb instrument, one of the nicest of this model we have seen recently.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.). A really fine example, not a lot of wear for an instrument of this vintage and only some minor repairs. There is a small sealed side crack on the treble lower bout that is solid but a bit sloppily done, and a grain split on the lower back that's so well sealed it's practically invisible. Other than these there is only light finish wear overall, mostly some dings to the top. With a recent super-clean neck set this guitar plays exceptionally well, with a huge ringing sound. All original down to the bridge pins, a wonderful just-post WWII Gibson flattop, complete with a newer HSC. Excellent - Condition.
