larrivee and old school gibson

[jtmiller02]

Heres a pic of my D03-e and old school Gibson, don't know the exact specs on it, its an early sixties model that my mom got when she was a kid.  I recently strung it up with some new strings, the old ones were 30+ years old .  Anyway, it was quite fun doing a restring with a missing tuner, geuss thats next on the list for the gibson. 

The larrivee is pretty boring, plane, nothing changed, never misses a beat...if only my playing was that way.  I got it back in January from Artisan in TN, they were great and shipped it down to me in the Virgin Islands.  Been kickin around polishing the back and sides but figure chances are i'll keep buying more so maybe its best to leave it be.

Anyway here they are, one of these days I'll have to get more with better lighting.

[Ratishna]

Your Gibson is an LG-1.  Looks pretty clean.

[Gemnoc]

Odd bridge shape on the Gibson, it looks reversed.

[ducktrapper]

That is the Gibson reversed bridge. I believe it is essentially unsound in the long run besides looking dumb. 

[sgarnett]

Gibson oriented the bridge both ways, belly up and belly down, even within the same body size. I have no idea why they kept changing it.

I have a J-50 of similiar vintage, but with the belly down. Some of those old adjustable-bridge Gibsons were built a little too light. I've also read that the laminated maple bridge pad is actually weaker than the old solid maple pad because it will delaminate.

On mine, the bridge started pulling up a few decades ago (with light strings, and always taken care of). It turned out that the "ebony" bridge was actually black plastic and the bridge pad needed repair, though I don't remember the details. The late great Homer Ledford made a new bridge out of  beautifully tiger-striped Macascar (spelling?) ebony and reglued whatever needed regluing inside. He told me it might eventually start pulling up again, and it did, but I switched it to "regular" silk and bronze strings (.011 treble E) and it seems to be stable now. Unfortunately Homer retired due to health problems before I got a chance to have him look at it again.

Anyway, I don't think my problems were all that unusual for adjustable Gibsons from that era. If you like the guitar, I'd suggest having a luthier look it over, especially under the bridge, and correct any looming problems before they get worse.

BTW, you can also find white ceramic saddles (that's what i have) if you want to experiment with the tone. I'ved never tried the rosewood saddle like you have, but I assume the ceramic is probably brighter.

The tuners are probably Kluson or Kluson copies if that helps.

[jtmiller02]

Thanks for the replies, yes i can see the bridge is going to need some work in the future, looks like it is ever so slightly moving upward.  The guitar is in pretty good shape but it was not a show peice my mom learned to play on it as a little kid.  It sounds good for what it is, and its easy to play, but the larrivee would blow it away with a string or 2 missing.  I got a chance to play a similar sized maple Martin this weekend and although I was a bit intoxicated at the time(new years) I was quite impressed by the way it played.

i can just hear the sounds of air filling the vaccum left by the contents of my wallet

[sayheyjeff]

Its been a while since I checked this section of the forum.  Came across this great photo.  Of particular interest to me since I have an L05MT and a Gibson LG1.  One of these days I will get photos to share (my wife is our official photographer).  I believe the Gibson pictured may be an LG0 rather than an LG1.  Say this based on a read from Vintage Guitar found on the internet when looking for the history and specs on the LG1 I got new as a kid (and didn't learn to play).  Since it is not clear how to attach here, I'll copy it in to share. 

jeff


apologize in advance.  the text is a little long and I can't get the picture of the sunburst LG1 to copy.  I can send it in a word document with a color photo of the LG1 via email to anyone interested.


Late 1940's LG-1. Note the narrow 14.25" body width. (missing photo)

LG-0, LG-1, LG-2, LG-3, B-25, B-25N Flattops

Collectibility: the LG-2, LG-3, due to their "X" bracing, are much better instruments than the LG-0, LG-1 models. B-25 and B-25N models, although X-braced, are constructed with adjustable bridges and other 1960's features that make them undesirable. Unfortunately, since all models are essentially student models with narrow 14 1/8" wide bodies (2" narrower than a J-45, and .5" narrower than an L-00) and are quite plentiful, they are not real collectible (though the script logo LG-2/LG-3 are quite good for their size).

Script logo (pre-1947) LG-2, LG-3: D+, all others: D--.
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)
B-25, B-25N: 1962 to 1977. X braced spruce top.

All are 14 1/8" wide, mahogany back and sides (except for some WW2 models with maple back and sides), round back-shaped mahogany neck (except during WW2, when maple necks were used), dot fingerboard inlays, 24.75" scale length, silkscreen gold decal "Gibson" logo. The "X" braced models (LG-2, LG-3) are decent little guitars. The ladder braced LG-0 and LG-1 are not very good, essentially beginner's guitars.   

1958 LG-0 introduction specs:
Mahogany top, mahogany back, laminate mahogany sides, straight ladder bracing, black bridge pins, screw-on black pickguard, tortoise binding on top and back, 3 on-a-plate tuners, rectangle rosewood bridge, rosewood fingerboard, 20 frets total, natural finish. Bridge pad was spruce, which unfortunately would wear out from the string's ball-ends.
In 1962 plastic bridge used. $85 list price.
In 1963 an injection molded styrene pickguard was used.
In 1966 rosewood bridge with adjustable saddle was used.
In 1969 spruce top and bottom belly bridge.
In 1974 discontinued.

1947 LG-1 introduction specs:
Spruce top, straight ladder bracing, mahogany back, laminate mahogany sides, mahogany neck, rectangle bridge with black pins, single bound top and back, dark sunburst finish (darker than the LG-2, to hide the lower quality spruce top).
In 1955 larger pickguard with point, and 20 frets total.
In 1962 plastic top belly bridge. $105 list price.
In 1966 rosewood bridge with adjustable saddle was used.
Discontinued in 1968.

1942 LG-2 introduction specs:
Spruce single "X" braced top, solid mahogany back and sides, multiple bound top and back, fire strip pickguard, 19 total frets, rosewood fingerboard, rectangle rosewood bridge with black bridge pins, two pearl dots on bridge, dot fingerboard inlays, 3 on-a-plate tuners, sunburst finish. Some war-time models have a mahogany top.
In 1943 standard tortoise pickguard, single bound top and back.
In 1947 the "banner" is dropped (still a script "Gibson" peghead logo).
In 1948 goes to a "block" Gibson peghead logo.
In 1949 a 3/4 scale (23") LG-2 was introduced, with ladder bracing.
In 1955 larger pickguard with point, 20 frets total, lower braces.
In 1961 has cherry sunburst finish, adjustable top belly bridge, white pins, $115.
In late 1962 replaced by B-25.
1950s and early LG-2 models are actually a decent little guitar, since it has "X" bracing.

1946 LG-3 introduction specs:
Spruce single "X" braced top, solid mahogany back and sides, multiple bound top, single bound back, teardrop tortoise pickguard, 19 total frets, rosewood fingerboard, rectangle rosewood bridge with white bridge pins, two pearl dots on bridge, dot fingerboard inlays, 3 on-a-plate tuners, natural finish. The LG-3 is essentially an LG-2 with a natural top finish. Note some literature has the LG-3 as being introduced in 1942; this is incorrect (no natural finish Gibson guitars were available during WW2).
In 1947 the "banner" is dropped (still a script "Gibson" peghead logo).
In 1948 goes to a "block" Gibson peghead logo.
In 1955 larger pickguard with point, 20 frets total, lower braces.
In 1961 adjustable top belly bridge.
In 1962 bridge becomes plastic, $127.50 list price.
In 1963 Replaced by B-25N.

1962 B-25 introduction specs:
Continuation of the LG-2 with minor changes such as triple bound w/b/w top, cherry sunburst top, plastic bridge, laminated bridge plate, thick pickguard.
In 1966 rosewood bridge with adjustable saddle was used.
Discontinued in 1977.

1962 B-25N introduction specs:
Basically the B-25 was the continuation of the LG-3 with minor changes such as cherry finish on the back and sides (only), natural top, plastic bridge, laminated bridge plate, thick pickguard.
In 1966 rosewood bridge with adjustable saddle was used.
Discontinued in 1977.

Taken from Vintage Guitars Info's Gibson Flat top Model Descriptions - History, collecting Gibson flattop vintage guitars. Private vintage guitar collector. Pictures, history for flat top Gibson vintage guitars.  Copyright 1995-2002 all rights reserved. - Contact the vintage guitar info guy

[sgarnett]

It's curious to me that ladder bracing is making a comeback as a boutique feature :)