Gibson LG-0 OR LG-1?

[Andy C]

Hi guys, I have found two very good bargain guitars.One is a LG-1 and the other an LG-0.
The LG-0 is in a much more better condition than the LG-1, but it there is one problem.
It has a strange bridge system and I would like to know if I can change it to have a standard acoustic guitar's bridge.
The first photo is of the LG-1, you can see the wear.The back is in perfect condition.
The second is from the LG-0's bridge.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll118/smallchestnut/DSC00136_22.jpghttp://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll118/smallchestnut/20U-10638_bridge.jpg

[zombywoof]

You can swap the adjustable saddle bridges for a standard Gibson rosewood bridge pretty easily. Those adjustable saddles were offered as an option in the latter 1950s and started becoming a standard feature on certain models in 1961. Virtually everybody I know has swapped them out as that innovation is not considered the best design idea Gibson ever came up with.

The LG-0 and LG-1 are pretty much the same guitar except for top finish. They were entry level instruments and after WWII were both re-introduced as ladder braced instruments.

If you have to choose between the two - not having heard or played either I cannot recommend one over the other but on gut instinct I would go with the LG-1 despite the wear.

[nmiller]

The LG-0 and LG-1 are pretty much the same guitar except for top finish.

Not so; the LG-0 has a mahogany top, but the LG-1 has a spruce top. The dimensions and bracing are the same, though.

[zombywoof]

Not so; the LG-0 has a mahogany top, but the LG-1 has a spruce top. The dimensions and bracing are the same, though.

The LG-2s and 3s had spruce tops. There were some spruce top LG-0's made in the late 1960s but mahogany tops are still far more common. I have never run across an LG-1 with a spruce top - only the brown finish mahogany.

[zombywoof]

Not so; the LG-0 has a mahogany top, but the LG-1 has a spruce top. The dimensions and bracing are the same, though.

You are, of course, correct. There were also a few spruce top LG-0s made in the late 1960s with spruce tops but are far less common than the mahogany top guitars. You think I would remember that having played Gibson acoustics for over 40 years.

[Cornbread]

I have had a 1950 LG 2 for the past 15 years. Great little guitars with a bigger sound than you might expect.

Lots of info here: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson6.html#lg

According to the site:
An LG-0 would be all mahogany and ladder braced. The LG-1 has a spruce top, ladder bracing, and a sunburst finish. The LG-2 has a higher grade spruce top, x-bracing, and is sunburst finish. The LG-3 is the same as an LG-2 except it has a natural finish top.

There are more identifying factors on the site above.

[Andy C]

They both sound pretty similar.
My concern about the LG1 is that it has some cracks on the top, but over the net,I can't describe how deep or not they are...
And the difference between the two is around 100-150 euros.
At first I was aiming for the LG1, because the guy who sells it is a friend, not a close one, but I trust him, but I did some research over the net and found the LG0 and now I got more confused... ha ha
I also found a 1959 LG1 in a perfectly mint condition, but around 1100-1150 euros.

[Andy C]

Hello and happny new year to you all.
I finally decided to trust my instict and the saying that states that the first choice is most of the times the best...
So, I decided to go for the LG-1 which is pictured.
I'm guessing that it will be my project guitar as I 'm planning to restore it a bit.

[Andy C]

Well, the specific LG1 has a spruce top, plus it belongs to a friend who lives in another town, that's why I needed your help, and I'm guessing that if it has any major problems, which I doubt, I could always return it and get my money back...
But I really liked the idea of getting a really old guitar and restore it.
I guess that the process will be very interesting.
Anyone knows what kind or brand of nitro paint and laquers they were using back in those days?
My friend told me that it was supposed to be sunburst, but it has no finish at all now.

[Ogre]

LG2 or LG3 are the models to have. They are superior in tone to the aforementioned guitars.

[mds]

I'd hold out for an LG-2, personally. The different bracing really effects the tone. Good LG-2s are wonderful guitars...

[zombywoof]

But I really liked the idea of getting a really old guitar and restore it.
I guess that the process will be very interesting.
Anyone knows what kind or brand of nitro paint and laquers they were using back in those days?
My friend told me that it was supposed to be sunburst, but it has no finish at all now.

I do not think that LG-1 is that old. Assuming the bridge is original that LG-1 was made between 1955 and 1962.

From at least the 1940s into the mid-1960s Gibson used PPG Forbes lacquers on their guitars which was considered the finest nitrocellulous lacquer available. If the guitar was made before 1960 it was finished in the old spray booths in the old Daylight Plant. If it was made from 1960 on it was finished on a conveyor belt in the new plant (the old spray booths only being used for Custom Department acoustics like the J-200). But generally the build quality of Gibson acoustics remained relatively high until around 1964.

All the LG-1s I have seen have been burst. The pickguard is also, of course, missing. Whether you go throught he expense of having the guitar "restored" is up to you. If you are looking at it purely from a value standpoint - non-original finishes and replacement pickguards will not increase what it is worth that much. from an aesthetic point of view though there ainit nothing prettier than a Gibson burst.

Cracks in the top are no big deal - they are easily fixed with some glue and cleats. Any competent repair person can take care of that for you and should not be all that expensive to have done.

I have no idea what these guitars sell for or how rare they are over in your neck of the woods. You can pick up a mid- to late 1950s block letter logo LG-1 here in good condition for under $900 (an LG-2 would run you double that). A non-original finish, missing pickguard, and condition issues can reduce the value somewhere between 30% to 40%.

If it were me, I would have the guitar put into the best playing condition possible and not worry about restoring it. I would have the top cracks repaired and maybe a good nitro clear coat shot and a new pickguard added. I would probably replace the tuners (the ones used on the lower end guitars are not the best quality) - just make sure they are direct replacements requiring no additional drilling and to keep the originals.

Good Luck with it. I am guessing you will end up with a very nice playing and sounding guitar when all is said and done.

[Andy C]

Thanks for the wishes and the info zombywoof.
I actually got the guitar yesterday and for much less than $900.
LG2's are great guitars but I can't afford that much, I am mostly an electric blues-based player.
It's amazing and the photo is kind of confusing..
It has just one top crack, but not a big deal, it can be easily repaired.
You are right about the finish, I don't think I'll have it refinished, not for now at least. I like the way it looks, it shows how really old it is.
The neck is just perfect, a real beauty, no cracks, a couple of dings and that's all.
So for now I'll just concentrate on fixing that top crack and any other minor thing that might come up.
I think it has the original tuners, they are Klusons and while I was trying different slide tunnings, I was surprised to see that after all these years they work fine. The low E is a bit hard to turn, but not an issue and they keep in tune.
Maybe I'll make a video and post it any day now, so that you could see foryourself and for anyone interested in buying such a guitar.

[johnnyjellybean]

Not so; the LG-0 has a mahogany top, but the LG-1 has a spruce top. The dimensions and bracing are the same, though.

No they are not. The LG0 has ladder bracing and the LG1 has X bracing. Ther LG1 is a better sounding guitar.

[johneeeveee]

No they are not. The LG0 has ladder bracing and the LG1 has X bracing. Ther LG1 is a better sounding guitar.

I think you may be confusing and LG-1 with an LG-2 (which is X braced). Both the LG-0 and LG-1 are ladder braced.

Peace - jv

[Ogre]

Johnny V is correct.

[Andy C]

Yes, it's ladder type.
At least the one I got is.

You can easily tell just by looking in the hole of the top, the bracing is viewable from that spot.

[johneeeveee]

Here's the timeline that helps make it easier... it does get a bit confusing:

LG-0: 1958 to 1974. mahogany top, ladder braced, natural.
LG-1: 1947 to 1968, spruce top, ladder braced, sunburst.
LG-2: 1942 to 1962. X braced spruce top, sunburst (replaced by B-25)
LG-3: 1946 to 1963 X braced spruce top, natural (replaced by B-25N)

Sooo, basically an LG-0 and an LG-1 are both ladder braced and usually differ only in their top wood and finish.

LG-2's and 3's are the same as well (spruce top, X braced), with LG-3's being natural finished as opposed to the LG-2's sunburst.

However, although the bracing of these models is consistent, Gibson is known for making exceptions in finish and top woods. EX: There are definitely some all mahogany LG-2's out there (and i want one :))

Hope that helps - jv

Here's my '59 LG-2 (one of the nicest Gibson bursts I have seen):

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/johneeeveee/afe9_3.jpg