gibpicker

Thanks slim, I got a picture of the inside today and I'm think it's hog, but still kinda hard to tell with all of the aging. https://photos.app.goo.gl/4EXw8LjQP5MxTZ3AA

Looks like it's mahogany but wasn't 100% sure just given how worn the top is.

I've owned/played a bunch of old LG-2's and that's gotta be one of the better sounding ones I've heard. Could just be the mic/mixing but man, great tone.

Yeah that was another thought, the back and sides look quite different. Uploaded a couple side pics to the album to illustrate that. Thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks, Zomby. I swung by my luthier's shop earlier today for him to take a quick look, he was sure that the back was a replacement. Just wanted to get some additional thoughts here. The wood on the inside looks as new as the wood on the outside, so unless someone refinished the inside of the back (seems really unlikely) I just don't see how it could be original. The seller is adamant that he won't provide any sort of refund, doesn't believe the back is a replacement, etc. The guitar sounds pretty darn good so I wouldn't mind keeping it. And while I try not to think about resale value on a guitar, I'd take a pretty big hit if I ever sold this guitar and advertised it as having a replaced back. So just trying to figure out how I want to proceed.

Following up on my LG-3 thread from last night, just want to make sure that my luthier and I aren't crazy. Does the back on this early 50s LG-3 look original? To us it looks much newer than the mahogany on the sides, is striped like a sapele/khaya/sipo type wood, and there's no center strip down the inside of the back (and no sign one was ever there). The finish on the back is also a satin, open pore type finish...don't think there would really be a way to have an open pore finish on a guitar that had already had pores filled, right? Pictures here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/K1C8D735L2UdEzzQ6

Well, guess this thread is moot now, the seller is absolving himself of all responsibility so I'll need to go through Reverb just to get a refund. Too bad.

I recently purchased an early 50s LG-3 online - it's not in the greatest shape cosmetically (though I don't think it's to the point I'd call it a "player" either) but the seller described it as being in great shape structurally and not needing any work. I don't mind a guitar with some bumps and bruises, and I paid what I think is a relatively reasonable price in this crazy vintage market at just over $3k. Fast forward to today when the guitar arrives, and I was a bit disappointed in what I received. The guitar was sold with a mention that the seller thought the back had been oversprayed - it did look like that was the case in the pics, but I didn't care because, well, it's just the back. Not something I'd ever see anyway. But when I inspected the guitar today, I realized that the entire back had been replaced. There's no center strip down the middle of the back, the wood looks way newer than the rest of the guitar, and I can see where wood chipped away from the sides when the binding was removed. I assume all of the back bracing was replaced, as well, though it at least looks like it was well done. Two other issues with the guitar: - The seller described the action as being set to modern spec - I assumed somewhere in the neighborhood of 3/32" (though I suppose shame on me for not asking for specific measurements). Turns out that the action measures in at about 9/64" at the 12th fret. There's a pretty good amount of saddle left so I think I'll be able to get action to a more than comfortable measurement, but obviously still a bit frustrating. - I took some pictures of the inside of the guitar to make sure the bridge plate and bracing looked ok. I was shocked to see that one of the side braces had a big piece of blue painters tape over it!! (picture attached here) I tried lightly jiggling it and there was no movement, and no rattling when tapping the top...but the tape might just be doing a good job of holding the brace in place. Not sure and I'm not a luthier so I don't want to mess with it. Also unclear what the two patches around it are for...no cracks on the top so they aren't cleats. So here's the thing...despite all of the above, the guitar sounds excellent. I honestly wouldn't mind keeping it despite the aforementioned issues/deception, assuming I'd be able to get a relatively large refund. So I'm curious what folks here think would be a reasonable amount to ask for/what this guitar is realistically worth. My initial thinking was to ask for around $700-$1,000 back...not sure if that's unreasonable, but I figure the whole back and back bracing being replaced devalues the guitar quite a bit. And it seems possible I'll need to get a brace reglued, get the guitar set up, etc. Thanks for any advice!

Fairbanks go for around $6k new usually, probably closer to $5k used... meanwhile Waterloos are starting to get pretty pricey, I think the WL's are close to $3k new now while the WL-K, WL-S, etc are starting to get well over $3k. So don't think the price disparity is quite that dramatic.

Appreciate the notes, everyone! Please pass some of that "lucky SOB" along to me! Good call on hitting the guitar shows, I've never been to one but maybe it's time to try one or two out. Beautiful guitars, and very helpful hearing from someone with an HG-00 and an L. Yeah, I owned a Waterloo WL-14X for a bit but it just didn't scratch the itch. Great guitar, but left me wanting more. This is something I've been considering, there are a few 12 fret Kzoo's floating around right now, so I could pick one up and ship it off to Baxendale or someone else to convert it.

Anyone have any recommendations for finding one of these 12 fret beauties? Been looking for a 30s L-1, or a 12 fret L-00, for quite some time but there just haven't been any out there for a while (I guess there's one 12 fret L00 on Reverb right now but $9k seems a touch overpriced). Been tracking the usual suspects in Reverb, eBay and a couple forums but no luck. Just curious if there are any shops or sites that might be worth tracking in addition to these. Also been somewhat considering an L-0 from the early 30s as there are a few floating around at more reasonable prices, but I already have an all hog Martin so not sure I want/need a second all hog guitar. Kinda curious how a converted HG-00 would compare to an L-1 as well, though not sure I can handle those huge necks.

Thanks all for the thoughts! I ended up taking the plunge on one of the 50s J-45's. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I would keep asking myself "what if" if I'd gone with the J-185. The J-45 is what I've lusted after for quite some time. So sometime next week I'll have a beautiful late 50s J-45 in my hands! I'll follow up here once I have it. Thanks again for the posts.

Looking for some opinions on a guitar purchase. I recently sold off a late 50s LG-2 - incredible guitar, but my other acoustic is an old Martin 00-17 and I've just been wanting something a little bit bigger to go along with it, and decided the Martin was the keeper of those two. I was initially dead set on a vintage J-45, but then I remembered playing an iteration of the newer J-185's a couple years back (it was before the Historic series had been introduced I believe) that was really a killer guitar. I think it might've been a TV model? I haven't been able to find one of the new J-185 Historic's to play, but they sound awesome from the sound clips I've heard. I know they are supposed to be excellent strummers, but not sure how good they are for finger picking. Also with maple back and sides are they noticeably brighter than something with mahogany? I wish I could remember all the nuances of the one I played better. On the flip side, I feel like the J-45 is the quintessential singer songwriter guitar (I'm a folk/singer songwriter type musician who plays unaccompanied about 90% of the time), and I have a line on two different ones from the mid-late 50s, have played both, and they're both excellent guitars and relatively fairly priced given the current market. I feel like a J-45 covers both strumming and finger picking about as well as a guitar can. I alternate between both with my playing, though I'm never really a heavy strummer, mostly just strum soft with a pick or using my thumb. Anyway, I know it all comes down to personal preference, but I think I'm most interested to hear from anyone who has played the new J-185's and what their opinion is on them as an all arounder. I know what the J-45's are, the unknown of the J-185 is what's throwing me at the moment. General encouragements to just make up my damn mind already are also more than welcome.

So much for that...even though I bought it on their site, it had apparently sold just a little bit earlier. More decision making now I suppose...

Thanks all for the additional replies! After a few days of collecting more info, I ended up going with the early 40s L-00 from Vintage Instruments in Philly. I have purchased from them in the past so I expect it'll be a great guitar. Will definitely post an NGD once it arrives!