Topic: Gibson LG-1?

[Rivers]

There's one for sale near me. Played it, liked it a lot, the ladder bracing gives it a characteristic I like, low end holds together real well as a backdrop to those nice Gibsony highs. All seems copesetic mechanically though I reckon the BRW bridge is a replacement.

They want way too much for it, it not being a banner model. It was one of Gibson's student level guitars. Whatever, I like it! Before I go into bat to get the price down does anyone have any experiences / thoughts / info to share on this model? It's from the mid-Sixties.

[frankie]

I had a 60-something LG-1 years ago.  It was a good guitar - I liked it better than the x-braced LG-2 (the LG-1 is ladder-braced) I could have bought at the same time.  In the end I sold it, just because I never really boded with it, I guess.

With the money, I got a 20s or 30s Supertone - all birch with a hawaiian scene stencil & pearloid fingerboard (just screams 'deluxe', doesn't it?) and a 30s Kalamazoo KG-14 (the one that people say looks like a mini-dreadnought, but I think it has the same overall physical characteristics as a 12-fret L-00, but with the upper bout squared off).  I still have both of those guitars.

[Rivers]

Thanks Frank, and many happy returns for last Friday.

I need to survey the vintage guitar stores here to get some perspective before pulling the trigger on anything Gibson / 60s era. Perspective is always a good thing when eyeing up a guitar. Kalamazoos, good Stellas and Gibsons are not exactly growing on trees around here though unfortunately.

[GhostRider]

Hey Rivers:

An LG-1 on eBay would go for $550 to $800 (mint).

Alex

[waxwing]

Hey Riv,

I played a very nice sounding LG-1 at Real Guitars in SF last week. It was a fairly early model and had a nut width I could live with. Good to better condition, a very bluesy sound and nice action/set up (i.e. no major work needed). It was going for $1500, pretty steep, but Benny sells to a high end clientelle, being close to the tourist area. He would certainly consider offers.

All in all, for that money I would look for an OS Stella, even if I had to hold some back for repairs. Heck fixin' 'em up, whether on your own or thru a luthier who enjoys the old guitars, is half the fun.

If you are looking at something a bit below a grand, tho', with no major issues, (as I now see, Alex has just posted) I would be tempted.

Big help, hunh?-G-

All for now.
John C.

[Rivers]

An LG-1 on eBay would go for $550 to $800 (mint).

Yep, that's what I thought. The Gibson vintage site sez banner models are more sought after so you'd pay a premium on top of that. These guys have it stickered at 1500+ which for mid 60s non-banner in 'just OK' condish is way high.

I played a very nice sounding LG-1 at Real Guitars in SF last week. It was a fairly early model and had a nut width I could live with. Good to better condition, a very bluesy sound and nice action/set up (i.e. no major work needed). It was going for $1500, pretty steep, but Benny sells to a high end clientelle, being close to the tourist area. He would certainly consider offers.

If it has the banner logo it's probably a realistic price especially if it's a player in good nick.

All in all, for that money I would look for an OS Stella, even if I had to hold some back for repairs. Heck fixin' 'em up, whether on your own or thru a luthier who enjoys the old guitars, is half the fun.

Yes, I look forward to seeing some of these Todd C restos I've heard so much about on here.

Anyway I went out yesterday seeking more old Gibbys and related guitars. Played another LG-1, twas dead as a doornail. Also played a 60s B-25 like Furrey Lewis's which had a really neat sound and feel but had a very skinny neck.

Tried some old dreads, a J-50, and 45, just so-so. Some modern guitars also, two Montana AJ reissues were particularly nice, and a D-45 Heart of Texas one of ten made specially for HoT Music here. Lovely, very new and tight, lot of abalone.

The AJ model has currently got my attention, I'd swap my HD-28V for one in a heartbeat. The AJ is a great fingerpicking dreadnought IMO, feels like it's very light construction and I love the sunburst and dot markers.

[rpg51]

I don't know a lot about the LG-1 but I can report that John Greven is launching a new line of guitars that are intended to replicate as closely as possible in looks and tone the Gibson AJ, the L-OO and the Nick Lucas.  They are getting rave reviews.  Not cheap mind you, but not nearly so bad as his normal line.  The L-00 is priced at $2800 to $3200 depending on tuner selection, case selection and lumber for the bridge and fretboard. The Acoustic Player Forum seems to be down this aftenoon for some reason but you can read about these guitars at a thread over there called "Greven sighting" or something like that. Most of the L-00 repros I have played did not replicate the tone of an old pre war gibson - the ones I have played sounded a lot more modern to me.  I'm told that these Grevens really hit the nail on the head.  In the thread John shares quite a bit about the construction characteristics that he believes are needed to truly replicate the old vintage tone.  Apparantly he had a couple of outstanding vintage L-00s in for repair and he really gave them the once over.  I think one was Mary Flower's guitar.  Anyway, I thought maybe some of you folks might be interested in these guitars even if they are a bit pricey.

[waxwing]

Oddly, I saw Mary, performing with Terry Robb at Biscuits and Blues in SF, right after she got the guitar back from John Greven and she was almost beside herself, when we talked in the dressing room, because the guitar was so changed she almost couldn't play it, a guitar that had been her #1 guitar for much of her career. I don't remember exactly what he had done to it, maybe a refret, but I'm sure they worked it out in the end. I'll see Mary (and maybe get to play at her Friday night gig next week that she is sharing with Steve Cheseborough) when Miller and I go up to Portland for the Festival, so I'll ask how the guitar is doing. Just goes to show, even with the best lothiers it sometimes takes a little back and forth to get things right.

But, geez, at the prices you've quoted, I'd try to find an old one and have the neck reset, a refret and whatever and still have a little left over.

All for now.
John C.

[rpg51]

I've thought about an old one but I haven't seen an L-00 for less than 3K and the good ones I have seen have been more than 3K.  Can you steer me to a source for a less expensive L-00?  If I could find one for numbers like you are describing I would indeed jump on it.  I just can't find one. Hence, I am on John's build list.

[waxwing]

Personally, I would look for an L-0 or an L-1 (I play 12 fretters). They don't have quite the (erroneous) Robert Johnson cache, yet after the L-00 came out they all had virtually identical construction. But I think even a nicely worn L-00 can be had for under $3K on ebay. What did you pay for yours, Alex? I know Ari Eisinger payed under $2K for his at a guitar show (which is a very good source for lower prices) but that was several years ago. Obviously the big dealers, both online and off, have the freedom to wait for the right buyer to come along. Ebay and guitar shows are where folks who want to make a quick sale are willing to sell for much less. And don't be afraid of a guitar needing repairs.

All for now.
John C.

[GhostRider]

BJ:

I paid $1800 for my black '33 L-00 and all I had done to it was replace 5 frets and reposition the bridge a fraction to correct the intonation.

Well worn L-00's can often be had on ebay for less than $2000. Sunbursts in good shape though go for high $2000's and over $3000 semi-mint.

My well worn one is structurally sound and sounds just fine.

Alex

[rpg51]

I'm going to have one of John Greven's L-00v guitars in my house for a few days later in the summer. If it is as good as I am told it is I am probably going to pick one up.  Those old L-00s are really lovely, I agree - and very cool, that is for sure.  Still, for me, a new Greven with authentic Gibson tone for $2800 is tough to turn away from. 

[waxwing]

I'm sure it will be a beautiful guitar, both sound-wise and looks-wise. And I'd love to play one, having never played a Greven. If it sounds like Mary's and looks like many of his guitars I have seen online it will certainly be worth it. What wood combo are you going with? Staying traditional with mahagony? Say, why don't you bring it by Port Townsend? (hint, hint)-G-

All for now.
John C.

[Parlor Picker]

And if you want to drool over some pictures of some seriously cool old Gibson guitars, don't forget to check out Willie Salomon's site: www.williesalomon.com.  Look in the "Instruments" section.  It's what Marshcat of this forum calls "guitar porn"!

[rpg51]

It will be as close to an exact replia of a 34 L-00 as he can do.  Mahogany body, spruce top (very special very old spruce I might add) rosewood board and bridge.  As I understand it John has decided to focus on replicating these old Gibsons as precisely as he can.  If you want he will build a more modern version, but this line will be almost exact - tonewise and looks wise.  He has gone through a few prototypes to figure out what needs to be done to replicate the tone.  Its not easy to do - most fail.  But, I am told that he has succeeded.  We shall see. One of the reasons his price is lower than normal is that the building process is much simpler. Braces are not inset into kerfing, no end wedge, braces are left rough and not sanded smooth, etc etc.  He believes his build time will be about 1/4 the normal build time for a fancier guitar like those he normally builds.  The only options he is offering are tuners, brazillian rosewood board and bridge and upgraded case.  Oh, you can choose a vintage style V neck or a modern neck profile and you can go with 1 3/4 or 1 13/16 neck width with no price change.    There is a small rather poor picture of one of the prototypes below.

Its interested but I understand that Mary Flowers is seriously considering one of these guitars.

Sorry for hijacking this thread.  I'll try to avoid that in the future.  I got carried away!