Gibson LG-1 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1959)
Gibson LG-1 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1959), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # S2251-31, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown alligator grain chipboard case.
This is a not-too-much played example of the LG-1, Gibson's lower budget flat top in the 1950's. While originally built to a price this is still a classy looking and good sounding guitar. The model is essentially identical to the next-in-line LG-2 but with simpler ladder-bracing under the top instead of the more elaborate X-pattern. The materials and cosmetics are otherwise exactly the same, with mahogany back and sides and a spruce top. The only way to tell the difference is to peer (or poke a finger) under the back edge of the soundhole! The top is finished in a stately sunburst, the back and sides natural mahogany and both are single bound. The mahogany neck has a plain dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard and is topped by the standard Gibson-logo'd headstock with Kluson Deluxe tuners.
While designed as a budget guitar for student players and teaching studios the LG-1 in this period is still a very nicely made instrument, especially compared to most of its competitors. This year in 1959 the model was spelled by the much plainer LG-0 at the bottom of Gibson's line, and compared to that plain mahogany piece the LG-1 looks rather upscale! The sound is somewhat brighter and less sophisticated than its X-braced LG sisters, with something like a mix of Gibson and Stella characteristics. These days some folks actually like the barkier, bluesier tone of the ladder braced models better! This one plays well and sounds quite good, mellowed in by 65 years of ageing!
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 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.).
This guitar shows only fairly light wear overall and is a nice player. The all-original finish shows mostly small dings, dents and scrapes with some very minor pickwear to edges of the soundhole and one deeper scrape just above it. The top has what appears to be a small spruce grain split below the fingerboard extension and along the top edge of the pickguard; solidly sealed. Other than this the guitar is crack free; the back of the neck is clean with a few small dings.
The neck has never been reset, the small rosewood bridge may have been lowered a bit but remains original with the retaining bolts under the pearl dots still intact. Internally all the bracing an original maple bridgeplate are unaltered, the bridgeplate has some pin hole wear but nothing causing any problems. The guitar plays well with a bright and barky sound especially suited to fingerstyle blues and related styles, but retaining more warmth than some of these. It resides in the original alligator grained chipboard case. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a not-too-much played example of the LG-1, Gibson's lower budget flat top in the 1950's. While originally built to a price this is still a classy looking and good sounding guitar. The model is essentially identical to the next-in-line LG-2 but with simpler ladder-bracing under the top instead of the more elaborate X-pattern. The materials and cosmetics are otherwise exactly the same, with mahogany back and sides and a spruce top. The only way to tell the difference is to peer (or poke a finger) under the back edge of the soundhole! The top is finished in a stately sunburst, the back and sides natural mahogany and both are single bound. The mahogany neck has a plain dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard and is topped by the standard Gibson-logo'd headstock with Kluson Deluxe tuners.
While designed as a budget guitar for student players and teaching studios the LG-1 in this period is still a very nicely made instrument, especially compared to most of its competitors. This year in 1959 the model was spelled by the much plainer LG-0 at the bottom of Gibson's line, and compared to that plain mahogany piece the LG-1 looks rather upscale! The sound is somewhat brighter and less sophisticated than its X-braced LG sisters, with something like a mix of Gibson and Stella characteristics. These days some folks actually like the barkier, bluesier tone of the ladder braced models better! This one plays well and sounds quite good, mellowed in by 65 years of ageing!
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 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.).
This guitar shows only fairly light wear overall and is a nice player. The all-original finish shows mostly small dings, dents and scrapes with some very minor pickwear to edges of the soundhole and one deeper scrape just above it. The top has what appears to be a small spruce grain split below the fingerboard extension and along the top edge of the pickguard; solidly sealed. Other than this the guitar is crack free; the back of the neck is clean with a few small dings.
The neck has never been reset, the small rosewood bridge may have been lowered a bit but remains original with the retaining bolts under the pearl dots still intact. Internally all the bracing an original maple bridgeplate are unaltered, the bridgeplate has some pin hole wear but nothing causing any problems. The guitar plays well with a bright and barky sound especially suited to fingerstyle blues and related styles, but retaining more warmth than some of these. It resides in the original alligator grained chipboard case. Overall Excellent - Condition.