Gibson LG-2 Banner Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1944)
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Item # 10177
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Gibson LG-2 Banner Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1944), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 2131-14 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
This is a super example of the celebrated "Banner" Gibson LG-2, built during WWII and so-called for its headstock decal reading "Only A Gibson is Good Enough". This one has an additional period decoration, the period "Bubble Girl" decal on the top that seems to occasionally appear on old guitars, primarily Gibsons from this era. We think it adds a crowning touch to this already wonderful guitar, which was after all made by the "Kalamazoo Gals", Gibson's mostly female work force of the time.
The long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments during the war, the main difference being a wider-waisted but slightly smaller body. The LG-2 was the middle model of an eventual three-instrument line with the externally identical but ladder-braced LG-1 below it and the natural-finish LG-3 above. In this Wartime period the specifications of individual Gibson flat tops often vary greatly, dictated by both restrictions in place at the time and the limited materials available. One constant is they are nearly always great sounding instruments, though often the specifics of materials, construction and tone can be quite different!
This particular guitar is one of the lightest and best sounding LG-2's we have ever had, weighing in at all of 3.2 Lbs. It has the standard expected combination of a sunburst-finished spruce top over the mahogany back, sides and neck. The decoration is however fancier than spec; the top is 5-ply bound, the back 3-ply and the soundhole rosette is the fancier 7-ply style. A concession to wartime conditions is the use of a maple insert under the fingerboard instead of the standard adjustable truss rod, as metal was severely rationed. The tuners are the slim flat-plate riveted Klusons of the period, specifically designed to use the minimum of metal possible.
The Gibson Factory Order Number (FON) 2131-14 on the heelblock identifies this guitar as likely a 1944 (or possibly 1943) model, based on recent research. The neck has a deep profile with just a hint of a soft "V" spine, somewhat unusual and not as bulky as some of these wartime guitars. The headstock bears the gold script Gibson logo introduced at this time over the "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner decal. This is a great playing, wonderful sounding instrument that has survived nearly 80 years in fine condition, one of the nicer "Banners" we have ever had.
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 guitar shows some general wear but for its age remains very clean overall and all original, with some noticeable checking but not a lot of play wear. For some reason the headstock finish is very heavily checked and flaking in a few spots, while the rest of the lacquer is much better preserved with very fine micro-checking overall. The finish on this guitar is thinner than many wartime Gibson, a factor in this one's exceptionally lively sound. There is some scuffing and small chips to the finish but really except for the headstock face this is a VERY clean guitar.
The only crack visible is a tiny split between the back edge of the pickguard and the bridge, well sealed up. The bridge itself appears to be the original re-shaped slightly on the top or may be a high grade repro. The saddle and nut are newer, the neck has been very neatly reset and refretted with period correct wire This is a really superb playing and sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model, absolutely one of the best we have ever heard. It is still living in the original wartime chipboard case, better persevered than it has any right to be after 75+ years. Maybe it's the magic of the high deco bubble girl! Excellent - Condition.
This is a super example of the celebrated "Banner" Gibson LG-2, built during WWII and so-called for its headstock decal reading "Only A Gibson is Good Enough". This one has an additional period decoration, the period "Bubble Girl" decal on the top that seems to occasionally appear on old guitars, primarily Gibsons from this era. We think it adds a crowning touch to this already wonderful guitar, which was after all made by the "Kalamazoo Gals", Gibson's mostly female work force of the time.
The long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments during the war, the main difference being a wider-waisted but slightly smaller body. The LG-2 was the middle model of an eventual three-instrument line with the externally identical but ladder-braced LG-1 below it and the natural-finish LG-3 above. In this Wartime period the specifications of individual Gibson flat tops often vary greatly, dictated by both restrictions in place at the time and the limited materials available. One constant is they are nearly always great sounding instruments, though often the specifics of materials, construction and tone can be quite different!
This particular guitar is one of the lightest and best sounding LG-2's we have ever had, weighing in at all of 3.2 Lbs. It has the standard expected combination of a sunburst-finished spruce top over the mahogany back, sides and neck. The decoration is however fancier than spec; the top is 5-ply bound, the back 3-ply and the soundhole rosette is the fancier 7-ply style. A concession to wartime conditions is the use of a maple insert under the fingerboard instead of the standard adjustable truss rod, as metal was severely rationed. The tuners are the slim flat-plate riveted Klusons of the period, specifically designed to use the minimum of metal possible.
The Gibson Factory Order Number (FON) 2131-14 on the heelblock identifies this guitar as likely a 1944 (or possibly 1943) model, based on recent research. The neck has a deep profile with just a hint of a soft "V" spine, somewhat unusual and not as bulky as some of these wartime guitars. The headstock bears the gold script Gibson logo introduced at this time over the "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner decal. This is a great playing, wonderful sounding instrument that has survived nearly 80 years in fine condition, one of the nicer "Banners" we have ever had.
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 guitar shows some general wear but for its age remains very clean overall and all original, with some noticeable checking but not a lot of play wear. For some reason the headstock finish is very heavily checked and flaking in a few spots, while the rest of the lacquer is much better preserved with very fine micro-checking overall. The finish on this guitar is thinner than many wartime Gibson, a factor in this one's exceptionally lively sound. There is some scuffing and small chips to the finish but really except for the headstock face this is a VERY clean guitar.
The only crack visible is a tiny split between the back edge of the pickguard and the bridge, well sealed up. The bridge itself appears to be the original re-shaped slightly on the top or may be a high grade repro. The saddle and nut are newer, the neck has been very neatly reset and refretted with period correct wire This is a really superb playing and sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model, absolutely one of the best we have ever heard. It is still living in the original wartime chipboard case, better persevered than it has any right to be after 75+ years. Maybe it's the magic of the high deco bubble girl! Excellent - Condition.