The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 12-29-2022, 07:16 AM
JMorris JMorris is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 16
Default Frankenstein ‘59-‘68 Gibson LG 0?

I was recently gifted a Gibson LG 0 and it is beautiful, very playable condition, and so meaningful to me because of its owner and the way it was given.
I’ve spent some time researching it to figure out the year but several factors are not adding up. I’ve read that this is common with older Gibsons. I’m wondering if it’s been through some minor repairs along the way and what I have is an amalgamation of sorts, a Frankenstein Gibson, if you will. To be clear, nothing looks weird. All the key dating factors simply collide! Should anyone want to Wade into the mystery with me, here we go:

1. It’s ladder braced. Black binding. Natural color wood. All mahogany as far as I can tell. The serial number is 6 digits (963779) with “made in USA” on the headstock. (Online searches suggest multiple years).
2. It has a black pickguard that is NOT screwed in (this has really thrown me off because I can barely find any LG 0 without the screws. Maybe it’s a replacement?)
3. The bridge is spruce (as far as I can tell) and the string ends have torn through it a bit (does that make it 1958 or 1959?).
4. It has an adjustable rosewood bridge (so, does that make it 1966? 1968?).

Here are some pictures.

https://www.joshbales.com/gibson
__________________
Martin HD-28 2005
Rainsong DR1100-N2 2018

Last edited by JMorris; 12-29-2022 at 07:17 AM. Reason: Grammar
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-29-2022, 07:55 AM
Jim Owen's Avatar
Jim Owen Jim Owen is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wilkes County NC and Columbus Georgia
Posts: 7,755
Default

Hi Josh,

The top looks spruce to me. So perhaps it’s an LG 01?

The volute and the made in USA stamp suggest late 60s. Gibson serial numbers from those days are cryptic to me.

These are sweet little guitars. Yours looks in fine shape.
__________________
Peace,
Jimmy

Optima dies, prima fugit
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-29-2022, 09:30 AM
hubcapsc's Avatar
hubcapsc hubcapsc is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: upstate SC
Posts: 2,683
Default

910000 to 999999 1968

http://www.guitarhq.com/gibson.html#serial
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-29-2022, 09:53 AM
JMorris JMorris is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 16
Default

Thanks! So, if I’m reading the info correctly, does the “made in USA” push it to 1970, even though the serial number suggests 1968?
__________________
Martin HD-28 2005
Rainsong DR1100-N2 2018
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-29-2022, 10:10 AM
SalFromChatham's Avatar
SalFromChatham SalFromChatham is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7,715
Default

Sure does look in fine shape. I think the numbers take precedent in dating over the Made In USA… imho.

How great that a fine guitar like that has found an appreciative owner.
__________________
i got tired of updating my guitars.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-29-2022, 11:39 AM
Osage Osage is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,142
Default

What you've go there is a c.1970 B-25N.

Gibson didn't add he volute or "Made in USA" stamps to the back of the headstock until 1970. 1970 was also the last year of the adjustable saddle so it's pretty easy to pin this one down. In theory it could be late 1969 or very early 1971 as they didn't start or end features on the first of the year. Gibson serial numbers are just about useless from this era.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-29-2022, 02:02 PM
DanR DanR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: St. Clair Shores, MI
Posts: 2,521
Default

It looks to me like it's a B-15N.

__________________
===================================
'07 Gibson J-45 '68 Reissue (Fuller's)
'18 Martin 00-18
'18 Martin GP-28E
'65 Epiphone Zenith archtop
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-29-2022, 02:43 PM
Osage Osage is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,142
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DanR View Post
It looks to me like it's a B-15N.


How can you tell? Is there physical difference between a 1970 B-25n and a Spruce topped B-15? I've never noticed one. Outwardly they appear to be the same guitar. The bracing is different with the B-15 being ladder braced. I was assuming B-25 as they were far more common than the B-15 and far far more common than a spruce topped B-15 as most B-15's had Mahogany tops.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-29-2022, 06:08 PM
DanR DanR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: St. Clair Shores, MI
Posts: 2,521
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Osage View Post
How can you tell? Is there physical difference between a 1970 B-25n and a Spruce topped B-15? I've never noticed one. Outwardly they appear to be the same guitar. The bracing is different with the B-15 being ladder braced. I was assuming B-25 as they were far more common than the B-15 and far far more common than a spruce topped B-15 as most B-15's had Mahogany tops.
I found the image on Google Images. Some of the B-25N's had the larger pickguard and the ceramic bridge. But it is possible that the OP's guitar is a B-25N.
__________________
===================================
'07 Gibson J-45 '68 Reissue (Fuller's)
'18 Martin 00-18
'18 Martin GP-28E
'65 Epiphone Zenith archtop
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-29-2022, 06:13 PM
Osage Osage is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,142
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DanR View Post
I found the image on Google Images. Some of the B-25N's had the larger pickguard and the ceramic bridge. But it is possible that the OP's guitar is a B-25N.


I just remembered the physical difference. The B-25 has binding and the B-15 does not. The OP's guitar has binding so I think it would have to be a B-25N
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-29-2022, 06:41 PM
JMorris JMorris is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 16
Default

Thanks everyone. This is so much fun. With the binding and the headstock, it does seem to add up more to be a b25 than the b15. Not that I can appreciate the difference at this point, but I’m so eager to know as much of the history as I can.

It was one of the best Christmas presents I’ve ever received…from a neighbor down the street who knows I play. I had helped her tune it a few months ago and told my wife, “if they every sell that guitar I hope I can get a shot at it.” When we asked about the price they researched it and said, “pretty steep…but we want to give it to your husband.” Amazing. I cleaned it up on Christmas morning and put new strings on it. The only other thing I might consider is some new pins. I’m in love! I have purchased (and returned) two modern Gibsons after significant issues with what seemed like quality control. So… I finally have a Gibson from a direction I never expected and that makes it all the more meaningful.
__________________
Martin HD-28 2005
Rainsong DR1100-N2 2018
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-30-2022, 10:14 AM
DanR DanR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: St. Clair Shores, MI
Posts: 2,521
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Osage View Post
I just remembered the physical difference. The B-25 has binding and the B-15 does not. The OP's guitar has binding so I think it would have to be a B-25N
This ad for a B-15N shows binding on the guitar. I'm sure the OP's guitar could still be a B-25N.

__________________
===================================
'07 Gibson J-45 '68 Reissue (Fuller's)
'18 Martin 00-18
'18 Martin GP-28E
'65 Epiphone Zenith archtop
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Tags
gibson, lg0

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=