Finger pickin' country blues L-00 or L-1??

Bluesidae · #1 03-22-2018, 07:51 AM

Looking to add a smaller body acoustic to the heard to scratch my finger picking, country blues itch. There are a couple of used guitars that are available. One is a Gibson L-1 blues tribute and the other is a 2016 L-00. I also am looking for a used Gibby Keb Mo. Do any of you have any thoughts to share?

Much appreciated!

Silly Moustache · #2 03-22-2018, 08:20 AM

Mm, yes, I went through this phase a while ago.

2012 , when we were pulling together our funds to move house, but I had a "thing" about an L-0 or L-1.

I got a call from a local specialist shop and scurried down to check out a beautiful example although rebuilt and re-finished. It was magical, but they wanted £6000 - a figure I couldn't justify at the time (or ever since).

I asked about a new Gibson version but the (Gibson dealer) suggested that he would have to accept whatever they send and that the quality was "iffy".

I found a chap in Spain who made his own replicas of his original L-1 and bought one of his. it was a very good sounding instrument, and I've only recently sold it as my Waterloo, has replaced it.

In late 2016, i determined to buy a new L-00 style guitar from another well known dealer who happened to have a fair selection available.

I tried 'em all, just could not relate to them. Then he pointed me towards the first batch of Waterloos he had. I tried a 12 fret because i prefer them. That was my choice, over all the Gibsons.

Far less well appointed but no presentation faults or dead spots as on all the Gibsons.

The original L-1 shape is a beauty, although the scale is VERY short. The Waterloos are a VERY basic presentation but what there is, is good, and the volume, once played in (about three months) is remarkable.

McGee · #3 03-22-2018, 11:02 AM

I started my search for a blues box a few years back with the Keb Mo. I thought it sounded outstanding but at the time I thought that the nut spacing (1.8) was a little too much. I also thought I may prefer a 14 fret. I then tried and liked the Gibson blues king which at the time did not get very much love on this forum. The L00 and L1's at the time were kind of on the high end of what I was willing to spend. I ended up with the LG2AE which is another outstanding guitar-especially for the price. I started to prefer a wider nut and string spacing with beefier necks so I let my 2014 LG2AE go last year in favor of my Martin CEO7. If I had known in the beginning that I would eventually prefer a wider nut and string spacing, I wished I had bought the Keb Mo and been done with it. As Silly M. mentioned, the Waterloos also provide a a reasonably priced alternative.

devellis · #4 03-22-2018, 11:07 AM

It's all a matter of personal preference, of course. Personally, I like the Waterloos better than the new Gibson copies of their older blues models. Virtually all of the Waterloo models are great blues guitars. It's just a matter of choosing which one suits you best.

I have a banner-era LG-2, a very nice guitar. Much better, I think, than Gibson's recent attempts to resurrect that style of guitar. But I find myself playing my Waterloos more. They play phenomenally well and sound really great for blues (and other stuff).

#5 03-22-2018, 12:15 PM

Here's a couple of recent recordings of my 2015 Gibson 1928 L-1 Blues Tribute for your reference:

I think it's a great guitar all around and I got it for a steal of a price here in Canada. They were blowing them out at the big box store. Re: the recent L-00 Standard. About a half year ago the big box store just got one in when I visited. It had nice fresh strings on it. Sounded great, so great I almost took it home. Went back 3+ months later. The strings were totally dead and it sounded terrible. YMMV.

Bluesidae · #6 03-22-2018, 12:34 PM

Very nice playing. Guitar and your playing sound awesome! Which bug box was clearing them out? L&M? I missed that.

#7 03-22-2018, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesidae

Very nice playing. Guitar and your playing sound awesome! Which bug box was clearing them out? L&M? I missed that.

Thank you! They were on deep discount at two different L&M locations in my area.

bluesfreek · #8 03-22-2018, 12:46 PM

I know the OP mentioned Gibson but I am just about to pull the trigger on one of these.

http://www.cortguitars.com/en/produc...qWord=&idx=103

Price? I can get one shipped to my door tax in for $270 CDN. Sure... it's all laminate but my playing isn't gonna get any better by playing a Gibson.

Bluesidae · #9 03-22-2018, 06:43 PM

Hey McGee how did the CEO - 7 compare? Haven't had a chance to play one. I think I am after the 'Gibson thump'

McGee · #10 03-23-2018, 02:40 AM

The LG2AE and the CEO7 are both really great guitars that can do many things. The LG2AE has a sitka top and the CEO7 has an adirondak top. To me, the CEO7 has a more mellow, smooth vibe with a growl for the base. I loved the base on the LG2AE also which was more like a rifle shot. They are both great for country fingerstyle blues but both can do much more. In the end I just really developed a taste for wider string spacing and beefier necks. At this point I didn't reach for the LG2AE as much so I let her go. If you are looking for the Gibson thump, you probably won't get it from the CEO7.

Bluesidae · #11 03-23-2018, 07:34 AM

^^
Great points. Thanks!

zombywoof · #12 03-23-2018, 09:30 AM

I started off in the 1960s with a 1930s Gibson L-00. As I have stuck with older Gibsons through the decades, I am not all that up on my Bozeman-made guitars. The one thing I did like about the Keb Mo guitars was the Epiphone style French Heel neck.

But in the end, there is no special gear needed to play some dirt-under-your-fingernails blues. For me it tends to come down to nut width and string spread at the bridge. I prefer a 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" nut and a 2 5/16" spread at the saddle. Not a rule, just a personal preference. Does not mean I am totally inflexible and shun a guitar with a 1 11/16" nit and 2 4/16" string spread. Just not the ideal.

Casey86 · #13 03-23-2018, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesfreek

I know the OP mentioned Gibson but I am just about to pull the trigger on one of these.

http://www.cortguitars.com/en/produc...qWord=&idx=103

Price? I can get one shipped to my door tax in for $270 CDN. Sure... it's all laminate but my playing isn't gonna get any better by playing a Gibson.

$270? Hey where did you order from? Tapestry here in Vancouver carries Cort but they don't have that model, would be nice to try it first. How do you like yours?

1Charlie · #14 03-23-2018, 11:12 AM

You owe it to yourself to hunt down one of the very early 12-fret Gibson L-0's (all mahogany) or L-00 (spruce/mahogany) from 1930-31.

Lighter than any other guitar I have ever held in my hands. Lighter than my '34 Martin 0-17, even though the L-0 is a larger guitar, almost 000-size.

The tone is precisely what I hear in my head when I think of early fingerpicked blues with a slide.

Mr. Jelly · #15 03-23-2018, 02:13 PM

I've owned Martin CEO-7s, a Gibson L-1 over twenty years old and a 12 fret L-00 Gibson.

Here's why I sold them. They were all fine guitars.

CEO-7 needed to be driven and I got tired of that when I wasn't in the mood. Though it had the Martin sound and sustain or ring to it.

L-1 had the Gibson thump but didn't sustain or ring so it was a little limiting to my ear. A great blues guitar in a limiting sorta way but not what you'd want for doing any rags.

L-00 12 fret had the Gibson thump but not much sustain or ring. It had a nice sounding high end and was more open than the L-1.

I eventually got Waterloo guitars. For blues and rag type things they fit the bill for me. They have more of a Martin ring and sustain but with the mid-range for blues and rags.

Look up the You Tube comparison between a L-00 and a Waterloo that Rolly Brown put out.