1957 Gibson LG-1 Cherry Sunburst
Gibson introduced the LG-1 in April of 1943 as a kind of junior partner to the famous J-45, with the same solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. It had full body binding, a simple one-stripe rosette, a straight rosewood bridge with pearl dot inlay and black bridge pins, a 14/19-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, a blackface headstock with a screened logo and three-on-a-plate nickel tuners, and a tortoise pickguard. Its smaller dimensions (14 1/8” lower bout, with a 24 ¾” scale) allowed Gibson to use straight-across ladder bracing on the top as well as the back, and to use a single piece mahogany back with no center seam. It was usually in a sunburst finish, and was produced at a rate of about 1000 a year until 1968.
Since there is no label inside and no serial number on the headstock, this LG-1 was probably made in the 1950s. The previous owner said that there’s a Factory Order Number on the neck block (U 885 8), indicating that this was the 8th guitar in batch 885 in the year 1957—64 years ago; unfortunately, the owner then installed Fishman electronics and mounted the battery on the neck block, so I can’t verify that number. Regardless, a number of changes were made to the original specs, and this guitar has the 14/20-fret fingerboard and larger pickguard introduced in 1955, so it’s no older than that.
Needless to say, the aged and seasoned woods are thoroughly opened up and it sounds great, stronger than my larger Guild D-25, for example. It is also in very playable condition, both structurally and cosmetically. The action is comfortably low (a bit over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E), and the only cracks after sixty-plus years are the usual one on the treble sides of the fingerboard extension (barely visible in the pictures), and a long grain crack in the back, both glued and cleated by my luthier. It also has an unused jack hole in the lower side, easily plugged if you want, and a bit of fret wear, but nothing that detracts from its playability.
So: the neck joint is solid, the top is flat, and it has lotsa finish crazing and small dings “to let the sound out,” as my luthier says. On the whole, everyone can see what it is: an absolutely classic guitar from the Golden Age of Gibson, perfect for play in any style at any level. And of course the electronics with the sound hole controls allow you to bang with the banjos and big boys when you want to.
Unfortunately, I have no LG-sized case for it; it currently is in a respectable black gig bag, which gives it some light-weight protection. I suspect that if you enjoy it as much as I have, you will find a more appropriate case as soon as you get a chance.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument and case, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.
Thank you for your interest in this classic Gibson guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.