Gibson LG-2 Banner Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1943)
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Item # 12898
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Gibson LG-2 Banner Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1943), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 2098-25, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is an almost incredibly well preserved 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". We see these fairly regularly but almost never in this sort of condition, both structurally and cosmetically about as good as it gets for 80+ years along.
The long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments early on 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 cleanest and best sounding LG-2's we have had, weighing in at all of 3.57 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 the usual spec; the top is 5-ply bound, the back 3-ply and the soundhole rosette is the fancier 7-ply style. Another delightful rarity is the pre-war style "firestripe" Celluloid pickguard, apparently the last of this material being used up. The major 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 earlier 1941 flat-plate riveted Klusons, with full depth gears and screws instead of rivets securing them.
The combination of the features and the stamped Factory Order Number (FON) 2098-25 on the squared mahogany neck block identifies this guitar as likely an earlier 1943 model, based on the most recent research. The neck has a deep round profile, not as full "Louisville slugger" as some but close. 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 over 80 years in amazing condition, absolutely one of the nicest "Banners" of any style 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 only VERY light wear but for its age and remains extremely clean overall and beautifully original. The all-original finish shows light typical checking but very little play wear. The lacquer on this particular guitar feels thinner than many wartime Gibsons, likely a factor in this one's exceptionally lively sound. It still shines like it did FDR was in the white house. Overall there are a few dings, dents very light scratches, with a couple of tiny small pick marks on the lower soundhole rim. Really for a WW--II era instrument this is an extremely clean guitar.
Amazingly enough the are no visible crack repairs. The bridge itself appears to have been possibly re-shaped a bit on the top or may be a very high grade repro; in either case there are some small marks around the base from its being removed and reglued. The saddle and nut are newer correct bone pieces. The neck has been VERY neatly reset with very minor touch up only visible under blacklight. The frets appear original, or if not the guitar has been incredibly cleanly refretted with period correct wire. The tuner buttons are correct replacements for the likely crumbled originals, the strips themselves are in very fine condition. Internally all the original light bracing and tiny maple bridge plate are intact and unaltered.
This is simply a really superb looking, playing and sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top classic, really about the nicest we have ever heard. It lives in a later HSC, really looking not much played since before V-E day. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is an almost incredibly well preserved 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". We see these fairly regularly but almost never in this sort of condition, both structurally and cosmetically about as good as it gets for 80+ years along.
The long-lived "LG" series of small-bodied Gibson flattops replaced the earlier L-00 style instruments early on 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 cleanest and best sounding LG-2's we have had, weighing in at all of 3.57 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 the usual spec; the top is 5-ply bound, the back 3-ply and the soundhole rosette is the fancier 7-ply style. Another delightful rarity is the pre-war style "firestripe" Celluloid pickguard, apparently the last of this material being used up. The major 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 earlier 1941 flat-plate riveted Klusons, with full depth gears and screws instead of rivets securing them.
The combination of the features and the stamped Factory Order Number (FON) 2098-25 on the squared mahogany neck block identifies this guitar as likely an earlier 1943 model, based on the most recent research. The neck has a deep round profile, not as full "Louisville slugger" as some but close. 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 over 80 years in amazing condition, absolutely one of the nicest "Banners" of any style 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 only VERY light wear but for its age and remains extremely clean overall and beautifully original. The all-original finish shows light typical checking but very little play wear. The lacquer on this particular guitar feels thinner than many wartime Gibsons, likely a factor in this one's exceptionally lively sound. It still shines like it did FDR was in the white house. Overall there are a few dings, dents very light scratches, with a couple of tiny small pick marks on the lower soundhole rim. Really for a WW--II era instrument this is an extremely clean guitar.
Amazingly enough the are no visible crack repairs. The bridge itself appears to have been possibly re-shaped a bit on the top or may be a very high grade repro; in either case there are some small marks around the base from its being removed and reglued. The saddle and nut are newer correct bone pieces. The neck has been VERY neatly reset with very minor touch up only visible under blacklight. The frets appear original, or if not the guitar has been incredibly cleanly refretted with period correct wire. The tuner buttons are correct replacements for the likely crumbled originals, the strips themselves are in very fine condition. Internally all the original light bracing and tiny maple bridge plate are intact and unaltered.
This is simply a really superb looking, playing and sounding example of Gibson's smaller WWII-era flat-top classic, really about the nicest we have ever heard. It lives in a later HSC, really looking not much played since before V-E day. Overall Excellent Condition.