Gibson LG-1

MikeInBethesda · #1 07-01-2020, 07:44 PM

Hi all, I’m considering a vintage Gibson LG1 as my go to blues box now that I’ve given up on my waterloo due to the neck profile not working for me. I’ve heard clips for the Gibson and it has the tone I’m looking for but I’m not sure about the playability and neck size and won’t be able to play before purchasing (though it is thru a reputable dealer). Can anyone tell me about your experience with the LG1 and particularly from the 60s era? Looking for info on the build quality, neck profile and any other thoughts. Also, if you have a ballpark idea of pricing from that era that would be great as well. Thanks.

sayheyjeff · #2 07-01-2020, 08:10 PM

I had a 63 or 64. In fact, I was the original owner. The width at the nut was 1 11/16. The neck profile was very shallow. One of the reasons I picked that guitar as a kid was it was well suited for my little hands as a kid. It was a fun guitar. Had it until about 10 years ago. Looked really nice, but in all honesty, I don’t believe all LG1s are equally good. I am not really an expert, but my impression is that the ones from the 60s like mine were not particularly special. The ones from the 50s were supposed to be much better. By the 60s, I think Gibson was cutting the costs on the LG1 and really turned it into more of a ‘student’ guitar. Mine had a plastic bridge that I replaced with one made of rosewood. I am sure there is literature on the history of the various LGs on line and I have heard some good ones I believe were from the 50s or maybe even the late 40s. Worth looking into but personally, I think ones like I had are fun to play around with, but not special.

Jeff

pagedr · #3 07-01-2020, 11:25 PM

There are good examples of LG-1's all across the 60s but like with any brand, and especially Gibson, there's so much variance from guitar to guitar. Having said that, Gibson necks do get progressively slimmer as you move through the 60s. Not 100% sure what year it was but they switched to a 1 9/16" nut at some point, though I think it was 1965 or 1966. Some people don't mind it as much, but I had a '67 B-25 at one point and it was pretty darn slim and I don't have huge hands by any means, ended up having to sell it. Earlier 60s models have better necks (and a 1 11/16" nut width) that you might like if you are looking for a good middle ground between chunky and thin, though again the build quality varies a lot from guitar to guitar.

J Patrick · #4 07-02-2020, 08:12 AM

I had a 65 LG-1 with a pretty stout neck...1-11/16ths nut...I also had a 65 J-50 with the skinny 1-9/16ths nut....so variations occur even within the year the guitar was built...overall...the sixties LG-1’s I have played, including the one I owned, tend to be overbuilt and thin sounding compared to earlier models...no doubt exceptions occur...

russchapman · #5 07-02-2020, 08:43 AM

Mike, maybe you should try a Beard Deco Phonic. They're made just down the road from you and they likely have what you're looking for in a Waterloo style guitar with a more comfortable neck. $1800

https://www.beardguitars.com/aeroxbracing

brad4d8 · #6 07-02-2020, 08:50 AM

I had a 60s LG1 for a few years in the early 70s. It was a nice little guitar, played well, had the plastic bridge that never gave me a problem. FWIW, you might check out 60s era Harmony Sovereign, also a ladder braced guitar. I've had a few over the years and found them to be at least the equal of my LG1, especially for blues, and can still be had for a lot less money than an LG1.

Stomp · #7 07-02-2020, 09:03 AM

Owning a '56 LG-1, I'm biased but I would advise you to look out for pre-1960 models. The necks were chunkier and they had a 1 3/4" nut (if that's important to you).
Build quality in the 1950s was excellent and pre-dated the folk boom of the 60s which created a demand that sometimes caused corners to be cut in the rush to satisfy the market.

50s LG-1s had Brazilian rosewood fretboards and bridges (rectangular not belly type) compared to the ceramic/plastic bridges of the later models in the 60s.

On mid to late 50s LG-1s, check for a crack on the treble side from the end of the fretboard to the soundhole just above the top edge of the pickguard. This is common and is due to expansion/contraction of the pickguard/guitar top over time, most will be cleated and stable.

J Patrick · #8 07-02-2020, 09:03 AM

....you might consider a Farida...at probably one quarter the cost it will likely be a far better guitar....going from a Waterloo to a 60’s LG-1 is probably gonna be a pretty big drop in overall tone satisfaction...or maybe not...

zombywoof · #9 07-02-2020, 09:11 AM

My first Gibson was an LG1. Bought it used. Back then it was impossible to figure out the build year so the best I could do was to narrow it down to 1955 to 1959.

No Gibson made in the 1960s had anywhere near what I would call a beefy neck. The fattest neck would have been found on the Folk Singer which although having a shallow carve had a 2" nut. Very similar to neck on the B45-12s. The reduced 1 5/8" nut width Gibson went with sometime in 1965 only made the necks feel skimpier.

With the LG1s there are two things you need to be aware of. Sometime in 1962 Gibson started installing hollow bolt-on plastic bridges. They did not return to rosewood bridges until after the nut width had been reduced. The other thing to watch for is I believe Gibson also started going with spruce bridge plates. While not the best thing for sound, they also can be chewed to pieces by the ball ends of the strings. Point is even if the bridge has been rolled it is a good idea to stick a mirror inside to check the condition of the bridge plate.

rokdog49 · #10 07-02-2020, 09:17 AM

I played a older LG-1 a couple of years ago that I wouldn’t have wanted.
They certainly do vary.

zombywoof · #11 07-02-2020, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stomp

Owning a '56 LG-1, I'm biased but I would advise you to look out for pre-1960 models. The necks were chunkier and they had a 1 3/4" nut (if that's important to you).

No Gibson built from 1947 on had a 1 3/4" nut. That was the year they transitioned to the 1 11/16" nut.

EverettWilliams · #12 07-02-2020, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

My first Gibson was an LG1. Bought it used. Back then it was impossible to figure out the build year so the best I could do was to narrow it down to 1955 to 1959.

No Gibson made in the 1960s had anywhere near what I would call a beefy neck. The fattest neck would have been found on the Folk Singer which although having a shallow carve had a 2" nut. Very similar to neck on the B45-12s. The reduced 1 5/8" nut width Gibson went with sometime in 1965 only made the necks feel skimpier.

With the LG1s there are two things you need to be aware of. Sometime in 1962 Gibson started installing hollow bolt-on plastic bridges. They did not return to rosewood bridges until after the nut width had been reduced. The other thing to watch for is I believe Gibson also started going with spruce bridge plates. While not the best thing for sound, they also can be chewed to pieces by the ball ends of the strings. Point is even if the bridge has been rolled it is a good idea to stick a mirror inside to check the condition of the bridge plate.

I had one from the 1965 (still with the 1 11/16) and it was beautiful and had much mojo. I had the plastic bridge replaced with Brazilian and it helped (good point above on the bridge plate too -- the fill and drill solves it). But aside from loving how it looked and enjoying how it played, I was never that impressed with the sound and I've not found many of them, especially from the 60s to be that appealing. I still see it from time to time because my friend owns it, but in the last 16 years since I sold it, I've never looked for another nor have I regretting selling it.

There are other Waterloos with smaller necks (I love my WL-S -- favorite of the bunch, but I like my 14 too) and I think those will generally outperform an LG-1.

zombywoof · #13 07-02-2020, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EverettWilliams

I had one from the 1965 (still with the 1 11/16) and it was beautiful and had much mojo. I had the plastic bridge replaced with Brazilian and it helped (good point above on the bridge plate too -- the fill and drill solves it). But aside from loving how it looked and enjoying how it played, I was never that impressed with the sound and I've not found many of them, especially from the 60s to be that appealing. I still see it from time to time because my friend owns it, but in the last 16 years since I sold it, I've never looked for another nor have I regretting selling it.

There are other Waterloos with smaller necks (I love my WL-S -- favorite of the bunch, but I like my 14 too) and I think those will generally outperform an LG-1.

Yeah, it is not like Gibson changed the specs at the stroke of midnight on January 1. There was always some carry over and mixing of old and new specs during transition years.

The only Waterloo I ever really thought about buying was a first run WL-S Deluxe which had the hand rubbed varnish finish. Considering the cost of that upgrade I do not have a clue how Collings pulled it off. And these days in addition to the Waterloos we have Tony Klassen's Crooked Star line of guitars.

sayheyjeff · #14 07-03-2020, 08:18 PM

Along these lines, the Roberts LG 2 here in the classifieds looks like it could do what you are asking and it’s beautiful. I played one a few years ago and thought it was great. Don’t know the seller or this guitar in particular. Just a thought.

Jeff

BluesKing777 · #15 07-03-2020, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeInBethesda

Hi all, I’m considering a vintage Gibson LG1 as my go to blues box now that I’ve given up on my waterloo due to the neck profile not working for me. I’ve heard clips for the Gibson and it has the tone I’m looking for but I’m not sure about the playability and neck size and won’t be able to play before purchasing (though it is thru a reputable dealer). Can anyone tell me about your experience with the LG1 and particularly from the 60s era? Looking for info on the build quality, neck profile and any other thoughts. Also, if you have a ballpark idea of pricing from that era that would be great as well. Thanks.

When you say blues box, the LG1s getting around the place these days may just give you the blues!

I have an abused ‘52 I leave in Open D - the ladder bracing is fabulous for slide blues. Standard tuning blues, fair to poor. Apart from the first few years of nice models, the LG1 quickly became ‘student models’, no case, on the way to destruction. Mine was delivered by Fedex in a bag it was sent in - the neck was sticking out the top. Cracks everywhere, bowed neck needing reset, horrid to play in standard tuning.....yep, it didn’t take long to discover I was ripped off!

But you know, old wood is old wood and under the ash tray smell, there was a whisky aroma and I put it in open tuning and ran a slide down it...bingo! Still mine! Ladder braced guitars sing with slide.

But as an only guitar....don’t know, honestly. Even if you go for the way more expensive LG2, I still am not sure I would call it a blues box? These days there are better choices.....I would say my 2007 era Gibson Blues King L-00 would be better suited......have a look at the used ones pre 2010, maybe....nice, average neck for Gibson.

BluesKing777.