1958 Gibson LG-1 Black 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.
Although the label on this LG-1 is long gone, the Factory Order Number T 5817 29 is clearly visible inside, indicating that this was the 29th guitar in batch 5817 in the year 1958—62 years ago. In those 62 years, a number of changes have been made to the original specs, and this guitar has the 14/20-fret fingerboard and larger pickguard introduced in 1955. After six decades, as far as I can tell from checking the various vintage Gibson books, the only non-original parts of this 1950’s Gibson guitar are the end pin and the strings.
Needless to say, the aged and seasoned woods are thoroughly opened up and it sounds great, much stronger than my Guild D-25, for example. It is also in very playable condition, both structurally and cosmetically. There is some finish discoloration in the top bass upper bout, but the only cracks after fifty years are the usual ones on the sides between the fingerboard and the sound hole (visible in the pictures), which were repaired long ago, and a couple of grain cracks in the back, glued and cleated by my luthier. The neck joint is solid, the top is flat, the action is comfortably low (3/32” at the 12th fret low E), and it has lotsa finish crazing and small dings to show everyone what it is: an absolutely classic guitar from the Golden Age of Gibson, perfect for play in any style at any level. This is an instrument to be played with pride.
I think that the black hard shell case in which I bought it is original; I have seen many older Gibsons in similar vintage cases with the golden lining. In addition, the case fits it almost perfectly and is in very good condition inside and out, but it obviously is less worn than the guitar. Original to this guitar or not, it provides solid protection, and it’s a great vintage complement to this cool vintage Gibson.
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.
ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS
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.