Gibson LG-2 Banner Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1944)
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Item # 11316
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Gibson LG-2 Banner Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1944), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 435 (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 really superb 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". The long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments during the early part of 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.
The Gibson Factory Order Number (FON) 435 on the squared heelblock identifies this guitar as most likely a 1944 model, based on recent research. The headstock bears the wartime gold script Gibson logo over the "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner decal. 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 LG-2 is a "correct spec" model with the standard combination of a sunburst-finished spruce top over the mahogany back, sides and neck. The decoration is the factory spec. as well with the top and back single bound and a plain 3-ply soundhole ring. The mahogany neck has a deep round profile, large for sure not as much as some of these wartime guitars. It does have the Gibson adjustable truss rod, often missing during the war 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.
This particular guitar is one of the best sounding LG-2's we have had, with a loud, ringing and punchy sound retaining a lot of depth. It weighs in at all of 3.66 Lbs. WITH a metal truss rod. This is simply a great playing, wonderful sounding instrument that has survived nearly 80 years in fine condition, one of the nicer "Junior 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 light wear but for its age remains very clean overall and original except for a repro bridge. The all-original finish has a lovely deep sunburst with some noticeable checking but very little play wear, just some small scuffs, scratches and dings. The back of the neck is very clean, with just a few tint marks. Even the headstock finish is nearly pristine, even the 80-year-old tuners look practically new.
There are no crack repairs or notable damage. The bridge appears to be a decently done rosewood repro of the original, a bit softer on some contours with some minor touch-up to finish loss visible around the base, mostly on the front edge. The small maple bridgeplate and all bracing is original and untouched. The neck has been very neatly reset; the original small frets and fingerboard show very little wear. This is a really superb playing and sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model that does not appear to have been played much since new, and even so one of the best we have heard. Overall Excellent + Condition.
This is a really superb 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". The long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments during the early part of 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.
The Gibson Factory Order Number (FON) 435 on the squared heelblock identifies this guitar as most likely a 1944 model, based on recent research. The headstock bears the wartime gold script Gibson logo over the "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner decal. 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 LG-2 is a "correct spec" model with the standard combination of a sunburst-finished spruce top over the mahogany back, sides and neck. The decoration is the factory spec. as well with the top and back single bound and a plain 3-ply soundhole ring. The mahogany neck has a deep round profile, large for sure not as much as some of these wartime guitars. It does have the Gibson adjustable truss rod, often missing during the war 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.
This particular guitar is one of the best sounding LG-2's we have had, with a loud, ringing and punchy sound retaining a lot of depth. It weighs in at all of 3.66 Lbs. WITH a metal truss rod. This is simply a great playing, wonderful sounding instrument that has survived nearly 80 years in fine condition, one of the nicer "Junior 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 light wear but for its age remains very clean overall and original except for a repro bridge. The all-original finish has a lovely deep sunburst with some noticeable checking but very little play wear, just some small scuffs, scratches and dings. The back of the neck is very clean, with just a few tint marks. Even the headstock finish is nearly pristine, even the 80-year-old tuners look practically new.
There are no crack repairs or notable damage. The bridge appears to be a decently done rosewood repro of the original, a bit softer on some contours with some minor touch-up to finish loss visible around the base, mostly on the front edge. The small maple bridgeplate and all bracing is original and untouched. The neck has been very neatly reset; the original small frets and fingerboard show very little wear. This is a really superb playing and sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top model that does not appear to have been played much since new, and even so one of the best we have heard. Overall Excellent + Condition.