c.1964 Gibson LG-0 Guitar

These smaller-bodied Gibson LG-0s (think somewhere between an 0/00 in feel) make great workhorse instruments for traveling around with and recording. They combine the typical fast-feeling Gibson necks from the period with a ladder braced mahogany body, which gives them a sort of vintage bluesy, very midrange and balanced tone. This is great for recording as well as for amplifying with pickups as no one frequency response is too heavy.

Fingerpicking sounds warm and mellow while flatpicking has a good, balanced strummy sound to it.

Bound with tortoise on the top and a one-line, one-ring rosette. Very spare. Has faux-MOP side dots and fret dots.

Truss rod, plastic nut. Hardware looks all original.

Frets are in decent shape so a fret dress was not necessary.

Big old J-45 style pickguard.

Saddle has been shaved previously for correct action. The top, as usual, on these guitars, has bellying behind the bridge, though it's stable as long as 52w to 11 or lighter strings are used. I worked on this guitar for a customer previously (this was a trade-in) and my work included:

1) Repairing and cleating two longish soundboard cracks on either side of the bridge.

2) Regluing the mid seam on the front and back.

3) Brace reglues all along the top.

4) Removal of the original Gibson-style tiny-washer bolts in the bridge (under the MOP dots) and replacement with heavier-duty, larger-washered bolts (for strength).

5) Setup, light cleaning.

This guitar has seen a LOT of use -- there are knicks and scratches throughout -- but I think this gives it that "old friendly guitar" feel, for sure.

At the same time I did the other repairs to the instrument, I also added a K&K Big Twin pickup. I took this guitar to a gig last Friday and it sounded great through our band's PA, with a very natural and (appropriately) balanced tone. I've been thinking about holding onto this as a general use backup guitar as it plays so nicely (60s Gib necks are lovely), but I may have to pass if I hold onto that J-50 I posted about earlier.

You can really see how the finish is weather-checked and roughed-up throughout.

Pickup, and here you can actually see that binding pretty well.