What can you share about the small Gibsons, L/LG, newish and vintage?

ancient tones · #1 04-18-2018, 12:26 PM

I am familiar with and have played many Martin guitars, but I'm not very informed on Gibsons. Lately I'm wanting a L00, LG1,2,3. Maybe vintage, maybe newish like the American Eagle. Who's been down that road of exploration and what have you found to be. I know some models have ladder bracing and some have X bracing. I lean towards 1 11/16 nut width.

I would use it to back up fiddle tunes and to accompany singing of old time and bluegrass tunes. I own a Martin D18, 0018, and 00028 .

Thank you in advance!

zombywoof · #2 04-18-2018, 12:50 PM

The LG-1 is the ladder braced version. The LGs only had the 1 3/4" nut from 1942 to 1946 after which they went to the 1 11/16". Not sure what the nut width on the reissue is.

My first Gibson back in the 1960s was a 1930s L-00. After that I picked up a 1946 LG-2. Also had a '47 LG-2 around for a short while. But hands down my favorite small body Gibson is the CF-100. This was Gibson's first cutaway flattop. These were only built from 1950 to 1959 as they crashed and burned with the guitar buying public. I traded the '46 LG-2 for one and have never looked back. Gibson did reissue the CF-100 a year or so back but I have never gotten my hands on one so cannot comment from personal experience.

ancient tones · #3 04-18-2018, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

The LG-1 is the ladder braced version. The LGs only had the 1 3/4" nut from 1942 to 1946 after which they went to the 1 11/16". Not sure what the nut width on the reissue is.

My first Gibson back in the 1960s was a 1930s L-00. After that I picked up a 1946 LG-2. Also had a '47 LG-2 around for a short while. But hands down my favorite small body Gibson is the CF-100. I traded the '46 LG-2 for one and have never looked back.

What year CF100 or was it a reissue? How do the CF 100 beat out the other ones for you? Thank you....very much!

1Charlie · #4 04-18-2018, 12:59 PM

I own a '31 L-0, a 12-fret, all-mahogany version of the L-00. It is just slightly smaller than a Martin 000.

It is X-braced, has a 1 3/4" nut and a really chunky neck.

The L-0 is the lightest guitar I have ever held in my hands, well under 3 pounds. Very loud, warm, woody and responsive. A joy to play.

ancient tones · #5 04-18-2018, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Charlie

I own a '31 L-0, a 12-fret, all-mahogany version of the L-00. It is just slightly smaller than a Martin 000.

It is X-braced, has a 1 3/4" nut and a really chunky neck.

The L-0 is the lightest guitar I have ever held in my hands, well under 3 pounds. Very loud, warm, woody and responsive. A joy to play.

thank you. Is an L00 from the 30s ladder braced?

1Charlie · #6 04-18-2018, 01:10 PM

Nope. All the L-00's (12-fretters in 1930-31 and 14-fretters thereafter) were X-braced, AFAIK.

Gibson made a ladder-braced version of the L-00 during the '30's that was sold under the Waterloo label.

ancient tones · #7 04-18-2018, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Charlie

Nope. All the L-00's (12-fretters in 1930-31 and 14-fretters thereafter) were X-braced, AFAIK.

Gibson made a ladder-braced version of the L-00 during the '30's that was sold under the Waterloo label.

Not sure if I want ladder braced or X. Thank you.

Just read the CF100 is basically a LG2 with a cutaway. Many had pickups.

1Charlie · #8 04-18-2018, 01:24 PM

X-braced and ladder-braced guitars offer two completely different tones.

X-braced are generally livelier, with more sustain/resonance.

Ladder-braced are generally more fundamental in their tone, with a quicker decay. Often associated with the blues, especially in open tuning with a slide.

Try to find some examples of each to play, and if that's not possible, put on a good set of headphones and check out examples of old L-00's and Waterloo's on YouTube.

Br1ck · #9 04-18-2018, 07:07 PM

Don't, I repeat don't play a forties or early fifties Gibson LG2. Your credit cards and bank account will thank you.

mdshax · #10 04-18-2018, 08:15 PM

I have a 1958 Gibson LG2 (which I actually might be selling soon). It's a nice fundamental woody sound that reminds me very much of a J45, without the obvious bass of a dreadnought and the overtones of a larger guitar. It definitely has that sort of old time sound for blues and country, but I'm not sure it's going to hold its own against a fiddle player unless you are standing on opposite ends of the stage and pushed up in the mix. It's not what you could call a loud guitar even if it does have an excellent tone.

mdshax · #11 04-18-2018, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshax

I have a 1958 Gibson LG2 (which I actually might be selling soon). It's a nice fundamental woody sound that reminds me very much of a J45, without the obvious bass of a dreadnought and the overtones of a larger guitar. It definitely has that sort of old time sound for blues and country, but I'm not sure it's going to hold its own against a fiddle player unless you are standing on opposite ends of the stage and pushed up in the mix. It's not what you could call a loud guitar even if it does have an excellent tone.

I should have added: I've played some of the modern LGs, and I personally don't think they sound anything like the 40s or 50s models. It's not that their bad, because they definitely arent, but to my ear they have a very different tone. Less fundamental, more chimy sounding. That's probably not the greatest description, but there you are.

BluesKing777 · #12 04-18-2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ancient tones

I am familiar with and have played many Martin guitars, but I'm not very informed on Gibsons. Lately I'm wanting a L00, LG1,2,3. Maybe vintage, maybe newish like the American Eagle. Who's been down that road of exploration and what have you found to be. I know some models have ladder bracing and some have X bracing. I lean towards 1 11/16 nut width.

I would use it to back up fiddle tunes and to accompany singing of old time and bluegrass tunes. I own a Martin D18, 0018, and 00028 .

Thank you in advance!

Before you jump, have a look at the various Waterloos....I just bought a 14 fret, fabulous...

Have a looky at their videos, but these official ones will get you started - is this the sound you want?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Q-nNAbzJc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt9MSzCvPt8

BluesKing777.

fatt-dad · #13 04-18-2018, 08:26 PM

Just to add, I also own an old L-1. It's been a great guitar. Very stable over the last 30+ years. Mine is 1930, 12-fret and x-braced. Also, under 3 pounds.

Just love it!

f-d

hillin · #14 04-19-2018, 01:54 AM

B-25 3/4 owner here. This 3/4 size guitar is even smaller than the guitars you mentioned here. I've converted it to a requinto:

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=506451

joe paul · #15 04-19-2018, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Charlie

Nope. All the L-00's (12-fretters in 1930-31 and 14-fretters thereafter) were X-braced, AFAIK.

Gibson made a ladder-braced version of the L-00 during the '30's that was sold under the Waterloo label.

Don't mean to be difficult, but Waterloo is a recent invention by Collings. The ladder-braced guitars by Gibson in the 1930s were branded Kalamazoo. The Kalamazoo KG-11 and KG-14 guitars are not that hard to find in good condition, and are great guitars.

A great place to see, hear and maybe even acquire an old Gibson or Kalamazoo is this guy's website :
https://jakewildwood.blogspot.fr