1961 Gibson LG-2 Sunburst
Gibson introduced the LG-2 in August of 1942 as a kind of junior partner to the famous J-45, with the same solid spruce x-braced top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. It had full body binding, a simple one-stripe rosette, a straight rosewood bridge with two pearl dots and black bridge pins, a 14/19-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, a blackface headstock with a screened or decal 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) and x-braced top provided both strength and resonance, allowing it to play with great power despite its size. It was usually in a sunburst finish, and was produced until 1962, when it was replaced by the B-25.
The label on this LG-2 is long gone, and the serial number is not legible on the back of the headstock. However, since it does not have either the adjustable bridge introduced in 1962 nor the two dots on the bridge supposedly dropped in 1962, either it’s from 1961, or the bridge is not original, or it’s just another inconsistency in Gibson’s model specifications. In the 57 years since then a few other changes have been made to those original specs, so if you’re looking for an all-original museum piece, this might not be it.
Most obviously, this is a brilliant cherry sunburst finish, the pickguard is definitely tortoise, and the tuners are definitely the Kluson Deluxe 3-on-a-strip nickel originals. After over five decades, one can guess that some frets, the nut, the bridge pins, and the saddle may be replacements. I hope that you’re still with me—perhaps thinking that it’s still a 1961 Gibson, after all, and you’re right. The aged and seasoned woods are thoroughly opened up and it sounds great, much stronger than my Guild D-25, for example.
It has several small professionally repaired cracks on the back and top, faintly visible in the pictures, and considerable buckle wear on the back lower bout. The headstock also shows some chipping, and there are the usual dings, bruises, and lotsa finish crazing all over, but on the whole it is in excellent shape for its age: flat top, straight neck, and low action—a bit under 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. And of course the ultimate virtue of any guitar is its sound, and in that respect, this guitar can hardly be matched by any other small body guitar, new or old, by any other maker, no matter how expensive!
The included arched-top five-ply hard shell case is probably not original, but it is certainly more worthy of this guitar than those flimsy old Gibson chip boards, regardless of their authenticity. Naturally, the latches and hinges are functional, the plush lining is soft and clean, and it fits the LG-2 shape quite well. Given that our interest is in preserving the sound of this great little guitar, this case offers the solid protection it deserves.
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 instrument, 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 great vintage 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.