NGD: 1943 Banner Gibson LG-3
 

I'm pretty new here and don't post all that often, but I thought some of you might enjoy seeing this.

I have a bit of a thing for natural-topped Gibson acoustics, having a J-200, Country Western, and Dove. The only other body type that I felt like I was somewhat missing was an LG. I had a mid '60s LG-0 a while back and was really impressed with the sound of it, but the all-mahogany thing didn't really work for me. Being that I prefer natural (spruce) finishes, the LG-3 was on my radar and I was hoping to find something from before they went to the large pickguard in the mid '50s.

I came really close (even made offers) on a '49-'50 that was located in NYC on consignment, but had a really hard time getting responses (not really the dealer's fault, but rather the consignor). While I was waiting to hear back on my last counteroffer, a different one in NYC became available and I ended up making a deal for it.

As it turns out, it was the exact guitar that I had seen on an old ended Reverb listing from several years ago while researching these and had been lamenting that I wasn't really looking back then.

This particular example was featured briefly in the book Kalamazoo Gals by John Thomas, which documents the banner-era Gibsons, built largely by women during World War II. This one was originally marked "CULL" (think factory second in later Gibson lingo) by a worker named Velura Wood, but was later pulled back by a supervisor who claimed "Ah, hell, this one is fine." Only a Gibson is... "Good Enough." :lol:

These are quite rare with supposedly less than 200 being made across 1942-1943 before production ceased until after the war. According to the ledger, it was shipped out to Parker Music in Houston, TX in April 1943 and still bears the dealer decal on the back of the headstock.

I'm really loving playing this thing. It's got the characteristically fat neck from this era and plays great with the help of a pro neck reset done in the last decade or so. The slightly mid-rangey sound of this guitar really rounds out what I can get from my Gibson acoustics. Again, I'm hoping to make a video of not only this one, but a comparison video to see how the different designs (small body, slope shoulder, square shoulder, jumbo) compare, albeit from somewhat different eras.

Anyway, here are some pics I took as best I could with the gigantic mess that we have going on in our house currently.

https://i.imgur.com/COSp10y.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/ahMNA5e.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/YZs2Dx4.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/IxFMz9G.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/9O3eCTL.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/F8XanTS.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/RycOVJC.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/0CJXZ8z.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/Kp6rDmV.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/ID0fb4U.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/uUWRDza.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/RfOp1ix.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/z9G5FvA.jpg?1

SWEET find! Congrats!

Oh wow, that is lovely, contrats!

Very cool. Congrats 👍

Congratulations on that purchase! It looks like a really neat guitar, and, you have a well-documented (and published!) provenance for it too.

I have a case with the Parker Music badge on it, so I guess I can assume that that guitar might have been originally shipped to and sold by Parker Music. They must have been the Fuller's of their time, in Houston.

Fred

First off, welcome!

Sweet guitar!
Congratulations,
and thanks for sharing;)

Be still, my heart!

That's a beauty. Because of the dealer sticker on the back of the headstock, as I point out in Kalamazoo Gals, it is one of the few Banners was able to track through the shipping ledgers (one of the others being my 1943 LG-1, revealed above on one of the pages from my book in your photos).

And, well, you barely escaped with that guitar! :) I discovered its availability and emailed the dealer shortly after he'd sent it to you for approval. Dang!

If you ever decide to part with the guitar, you know whom to contact.

Congratulations!

Wow! What a score!

Happy NGD! :)

That is one great guitar!

Sweet, love the sticker on the back of the headstock.

Wow, what a great guitar, history and story. With threads like this, me thinks you should post a bit more often! Congrats.

Congrats. That’s a unique LG 3 for sure.

Very cool guitar! Enjoy!

Thanks for posting, Boss. For a guy who doesn't post much, that was one heck of a post. Great photos, interesting history, and that is a sweetheart of a guitar!

Congratulations. It's a beauty! I would love to get a Banner Gibson someday.