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

[John K]

I must say I prefer the '43. Nice playing!

[jt1]

Originally Posted by John K

I must say I prefer the '43. Nice playing!

Thank you!

I loaned my guitars (4 of them) to Gibson at Gibson's request. I asked only that Gibson let me approve prototypes and that Gibson give a portion of the proceeds of each sale to a women's history non-profit. Alas, Gibson did neither.

[ancient tones]

Originally Posted by jt1

I'm an LG fan. My favorites are the WWII LG-1s, which were X-braced. Alas, Gibson only built 139 of them.

I have compared the my original with one of Gibson's 50 copies of it. Here is my comparison video of my original LG-1, shipped June 23, 1943, and Gibson's copy of my guitar, shipped 70 years later.

Nice. Thank you!

[ancient tones]

Are Gibsons like Martins in that they were lighter braced prewar and got heavier braced as time passed?

[Tuberoast]

Owned a 50's LG-1, a 1960 LG-1, A 58 LG-3, and an early 30's L-00 12 fret (black with white p/g). The L-00 was superior in every way to the LGs. A friend has a 40's LG-1 and it is quite nice, but the lightweight L-00 was the guitar my friends all grabbed when they came over (I had a large collection of old acoustics at one time).

[GmanJeff]

I have a B-25 I bought new in 1972 and enjoy it a great deal. The neck is quite narrow, which some people might find uncomfortable or challenging.

[ancient tones]

Originally Posted by Tuberoast

Owned a 50's LG-1, a 1960 LG-1, A 58 LG-3, and an early 30's L-00 12 fret (black with white p/g). The L-00 was superior in every way to the LGs. A friend has a 40's LG-1 and it is quite nice, but the lightweight L-00 was the guitar my friends all grabbed when they came over (I had a large collection of old acoustics at one time).

Good info. Thank you! I have a 30s L-00 on my radar. Cheap, but needs work.

[ancient tones]

Originally Posted by GmanJeff

I have a B-25 I bought new in 1972 and enjoy it a great deal. The neck is quite narrow, which some people might find uncomfortable or challenging.

I'm fine with narrow neck. Budget-wise the B25s from that era are a good value...and they are almost 50 years old. I would not trade my 72 D18 for anything.

[jt1]

Originally Posted by ancient tones

Are Gibsons like Martins in that they were lighter braced prewar and got heavier braced as time passed?

They are. They did lighten up during WWII when the Gals built them (I conducted X-ray and CT-scan studies to confirm this), but the general trend follows Martin's.

[jt1]

Originally Posted by ancient tones

Nice. Thank you!

Thank you!

[ancient tones]

Originally Posted by Woolbury

Haha! My life would be the poorer without my LG2. It just has a soul that other inanimate objects rarely reach. That said, it is a sound of its own, in a small room , around a campfire, so sweet. Trying to belt it out with other instruments, not so much. But blues, ragtime, all those daddy stovepipe vids where he plays cool old guitars, you're right there with an old LG2.

I can relate. Guitars, pretty much call to me or they don't. I can't keep from thinking of the ladder braced LG-2 3/4 I played. She's calling me back!

[ancient tones]

Originally Posted by HeyMikey

Same here! Oh man...

Yeah, honey... you really didn’t want to take that vacation this year did you? I mean, wouldn’t it be nice to stay home and relax. Maybe to some nice old guitar music?

I bought it for you sweetheart! ( She actually plays and sings and is petite enough it will be perfect for her ) I don't mind sharing guitars with her.