Gibson LG-1 Acoustic Sunburst 1957
Gibson LG-1, sunburst, made in USA 1957. This is a special one, truly. Gibson's LG series debuted in 1942, the same year USA finally showed up for WW2. This example dates to 1957, the same year the PAF humbucker was created under the very same roof. The body shape is similar to a Martin 00 or a Maton 808: bigger than a parlour, smaller than a dreadnought, super comfy. The neck is reasonably slim at the nut but with a fairly generous soft-V profile in the back. It's not a baseball bat, but it's on the chunky side. The truss rod is in good order, the neck is straight and the original frets are still playing great, which is a huge set of wins for a guitar of this age. The body has no cracks and the headstock has never broken; it's really in very good shape as long as you don't mind plenty of honest play wear. The sound is fantastic: dry, balanced, warm and gooey. These earlier LG models are 'ladder braced', rather than the X-bracing common on later models and other brands. That bracing pattern adds a certain focus and kick to the midrange, which translates to a lovely articulate fingerstyle tone with excellent note separation and sparkle. This is a loud and lively example of a ladder braced guitar; it's got plenty of attack and volume. The pickup is a simple LR Baggs system, but it translates nicely and sounds great. The old tort guard, well worn sunburst finish, aged pearl dots, white button tuners and gorgeous super dark Brazilian rosewood fretboard all tie together to a stunning looking instrument. If you're after a proper vintage Gibson for a very reasonable dime, this is surely a tip-top option.
Model: Gibson LG-1
Made: USA, 1957, Kalamazoo MI factory
Serial: U339103 (factory order number, stamped inside on neck heel
Finish: sunburst, gloss nitro
Body: solid sitka spruce top, solid Central American mahogany back and sides, smaller folk size body, 364mm across, 110mm deep
Neck: Central American mahogany, Brazilian rosewood fretboard, 42mm nut, 628mm scale, soft V shape, 25mm deep at 1st, 28mm deep at 12th
Weight: 1.910kg
Mods: nut, saddle and bridge pins replaced, pickup installed
Pickup: LR Baggs Element Active piezo + preamp system
Accessories: new hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs and minor chips on the end, scuffs on both edges, a scratch near the top in the middle and minor scuffs on the back and several minor dimples and scuffs on the front, as well as checking lines all over. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, the fretboard is in good order, the edges have rub wear, and the back has minor scratches behind the third and seventh frets approx as well as rub wear, checking and dimples. The back has a dent in themiddle of the body, minor dents and dimples in the elbow area, back edge and bottom corner, a circular scratch on the bottom shoulder and widespread light surface scratches, scuffs and checking lines.. The sides have a scratch on the top shoulder, dimples in the elbow area and near the jack, scuffs and dimples in the bottom corner, dimples on the bottom shoulder. The front has rub wear on the shoulders, balding around sound hole, dents on the top edge in the elbow area and behind the bridge, dimples along the back edge, a scratch in the finish only on the bottom edge at the widest section of the body and play wear on the guard and around the strings, as well as widespread minor scuffs and checking.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with 12/54 John Pearse strings.
Fret Life: 7/10, minor wear only and playing evenly, frets appear to be original