Unknown Gibson Acoustic - WWII model?

[gvandell]

Hi!
Well, I have a mid-sized Gibson acoustic with no markings on it at all, except the 'Gibson' on the head stock. The 'G' is scrolled and is open. The 'N' has a long tail with a little flip at the bottom of it.

It is in immaculate shape, with the expected spidery cracks in the finish. It sat in a case for 30 years. The case is original, and there are two boxes of 'new' strings that are corroded, but still wrapped in wax paper in envelopes.

There is no serial number on the guitar. I've looked everywhere. I suspect it is an LG-2 or LG-3. If someone has a clue on this, I'd like to hear it! It is mahogony except for the maple top. It's a beautiful guitar, and plays wonderfully.

Please give me an opinion. I'm not sure that I'd want to sell it, but I have 10 other guitars, and this pretty much sits in its case.

I'd like to hear from anyone on this!

Greg

[Wally]

It sounds as if this post would be better placed in the Gibson ACoustic Forum so that we might be able to welcome you to the forum and determine what you have there.
Is the logo in 'cursive' script or the modern Gibson format? This format change took place in 1947 and is critical in approximating the age of these lower line Gibson guitars form this time frame. Is the headstock tapered or of equal thickness for the lenghth of the headstock? This change took place in the middle of 1950. There should be a work order number stamped inside the body...possibly on the heel block. This may or may not help date the guitar. In 1951, Gibson began using a letter designation preceeding the work order number in lower line guitars...this letter denotes the year. Z would be 1951 and this scheme works backwards...Y=1952 and so forth.
The configuration of the interior bracing will determine what model gutiar you have....that is..ladder bracing versus X bracing. Detailed description or better yet pictures woudl be helpful.

[gvandell]

Thanks Wally, for the valuable information.
I did some checking around on this, using a telescopic mirror. It does have the 'X' configuration on the bracing on the underside of the face of the guitar. The logo, as you can see in the enclosed pictures, is cursive, and the headstock is equal thickness, also seen in the pictures. My dog kept trying to get into the pictures! :0) I could not find a mark on the guitar other than the name.

I like what you said about putting this on the Gibson Acoustic page and getting welcomed! That was a nice thing to say. Is there a way we can move this over to that forum?

By the way, if you'd like to call and talk about this, you can reach me at 720.363.2566. I'm in Colorado.

Thanks!
Greg

[gvandell]

I'm going to move this over to the Gibson Acoustic Forum.. Thanks for the tip!

[gvandell]

Hi Folks,
I'm a newcomer here, and had a post on this guitar in a different forum, and it was suggested that I move it here.

I have a mid-sized Gibson acoustic. It is very old, with spider cracks on the finish, but otherwise is in great condition after spending 50 years in a case in a closet. It sings when played.

This has the X bracing, with light gauze material covering the area where the braces meet, non-tapered head, and Gibson in cursive. I have used a small retractable mirror to find any other marking inside of the guitar, but have not. I particularily looked around the heel block, but there is no marks there either.

I'm enclosing some pics of the guitar, and would invite any suggestions as to what year this may be, or of it's value. As I said in my other posting, I may consider selling it, as I have a room full of guitars, but right now my interest is purely historical. By the way, the case is original, and there are two boxes of strings, one is Gibson Mona-Steel (hand made) strings, the other is Black Diamond strings, and they are as old as the guitar. Corroded green, but still wrapped in wax paper and in envelopes. Pretty cool!

Well, I've babbled enough. Thanks for having me here!

Thanks everyone, and Wally!
Greg

[Gibson-Talk]

I combined the previous thread with this new thread to keep everything together.

[Wally]

gvandell, that logo puts that guitar as a 1947 or later. In other words, that is the modern script. That 'G' is more of a print style G than the older 'cursive' style G.
IT is hard for me to conclude what I think about the headstock. It appears that there has been a break up near the top??? IT appears tapered to me, but the pic doesn't allow me a definite conclusion. MEasure the thickness at the low E tuner and compare that to the thickness at the upper end. IF the thickness varies, the guitar hails from 1947-middle 1950. IF it is equal thickness, it hails from mid-1950 on. IF this is so and if the factory order number is not preceeded by a letter, it is a 1950 guitatr. IF there is a letter preceeding the factory order number (on theneel block), that letter will tell you when it was made. NO matter what, this is not a WWII-era guitar.

[nvosmeier]

I think you are probably right, yours could be an LG2 or LG3.

Here is a link with some information about Gibson accoustic guitars. It shows that the logo is after 1947 like Wally stated.

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson6.html

It looks very similar to one that I have, which is an LG0, mine is ladder braced not 'x' but still sounds very good and is fun to play.