#1
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Gibson LG-1
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.
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#2
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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
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Flammang RS35, Flammang el35, SC 000 12 Fret ss, SC H13, SC PJ, Rockbridge 00, Eastman 810ce, Recording King RPH 03, Martin LX (on loan), Martin 0018vs (given to Godson), Lowden F388c (traded), SC OM (traded), Martin OM28v (traded), Martin 00017s (sold), Bourgeois Martin Simpson Slope D 12 fret (sold), Larrivee Parlor (traded), Larrivee L05MT (sold), Gibson LG1 (sold), Seagull Folk (traded) |
#3
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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.
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#4
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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...
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#5
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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 |
#6
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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.
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Guild F212: 1964 (Hoboken), Guild Mark V: 1975 (Westerly), Guild Artist Award: 1975 (Westerly), Guild F50: 1976 (Westerly), Guild F512: 2010 (New Hartford), Pawless Mesquite Special: 2012, 90s Epi HR Custom (Samick), 2014 Guild OOO 12-fret Orpheum (New Hartford), 2013 12 fret Orpheum Dread (New Hartford), Guild BT258E, 8 string baritone, 1994 Guild D55, Westerly, 2023 Cordoba GK Negra Pro. |
#7
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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.
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95 Ditson 56 Gibson LG1 72 Guild D25 77 Gurian JM 78 Yamaha FG375S 79 Guild F512 92 Dobro 33H 96 Guild JF55 00 Fender Tele 01 Gibson Chet Atkins CEC 03 Taylor BB 04 Gibson ES137 05 Washburn Uke 06 Martin DC Aura 06 Gibson LP Std 07 Martin BP 11 Höfner Bs 15 Gibson LP Jr 18 Gibson SJ200 19 Danelectro 12 19 Gretsch G2420T 20 Epiphone Casino I work for Peterson Strobe Tuners |
#8
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....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...
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#9
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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.
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"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard Last edited by zombywoof; 07-02-2020 at 09:23 AM. |
#10
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I played a older LG-1 a couple of years ago that I wouldn’t have wanted.
They certainly do vary.
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Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
#11
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No Gibson built from 1947 on had a 1 3/4" nut. That was the year they transitioned to the 1 11/16" nut.
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"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard |
#12
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Quote:
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. |
#13
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Quote:
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.
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"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard |
#14
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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
__________________
Flammang RS35, Flammang el35, SC 000 12 Fret ss, SC H13, SC PJ, Rockbridge 00, Eastman 810ce, Recording King RPH 03, Martin LX (on loan), Martin 0018vs (given to Godson), Lowden F388c (traded), SC OM (traded), Martin OM28v (traded), Martin 00017s (sold), Bourgeois Martin Simpson Slope D 12 fret (sold), Larrivee Parlor (traded), Larrivee L05MT (sold), Gibson LG1 (sold), Seagull Folk (traded) |
#15
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Quote:
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. |