CarpenterSaw

https://share.icloud.com/photos/009D1_D_JRBZ3czVfKvIqikSA If folks can follow the above link to look at the photos it won't let me add them says too big anyways bought this LG-1. I think it's a 1957. Someone modified it at some point with a pick up, adding tone and volume knobs. Despite that, remarkable shape. Beautiful back on this one. There is a curious number etched into the heel of the neck the factory order number inside begins with a u I think it's u 376 20 any thoughts ? Bridge is not a rectangle but smaller belly up rosewood. Curious guitar but sounds great Thanks for any input fellow told me it was an LG3 which of course it's not ladder braces sunburst late 50s maybe early 60s LG-1 are my thoughts but heck love playing and singing with it there is me trying to play friend of the devil on it too enjoy

Thanks, ZW. Really appreciate that. I plan on holding on to this guitar for the rest of my life. I sold my 50s D28 after playing my friends '52 J45 last year, thinking I would be able to find one without a problem. It's taken a bit but I knew when I took one strum of this one it was the one. I had almost bought a '55 large gaurd but what a difference between them. Glad I waited and by some stroke of luck this guitar passed through so many hands this year to find its way home! From what the seller told me, it was originally from BC where a collector had it and sold it to someone who sold it to Folkways, where the friend of the fellow I bought it from got it. I think the young lad who bought it from him needed the money. So, you are right, I would be its fourth owner in a year. Do I feel lucky! It may need a neck reset at some point but right now it plays well. I wonder if the saddle had more room and the break angle of the strings was greater it would be louder but I can't imagine it sounding much better than it does. The whole thing vibrates when I strum it like it's alive. Very happy. Thanks again.

Thanks for the info. Lucky me! So pleased and looking forward to getting it back to BC safely. What I know of the guitar is that it was originally from a collector in BC who sold it to someone who then sold it to Folkways and it was then bought by the young lad who sold it to me the other day. I am in Ottawa visiting my family. Just happened to look on Kijiji and saw it up there. Have been searching for a good pre-55 for a long time. It's confusing to me that it doesn't seem all original but has specs of a 1950. Seems they started using a belly up bridge in late '47 if the FON is correct. Could also be as it was a factory second they had it at the factory longer don't know. Thanks for the info.

Hi: I just bought this 1947-48 with FON number 1017-7 -- very close to yours. It is crack-free and all original save for the tuners which were from a 1941 J-35. It was a 2 on back of headstock as well as a Made in USA denoting it was a factory 2nd and for export I assume. I am thrilled with it as is sounds more alive than anything I have am ever played. I am thinking of changing the tuners. Are your tuners original?

From all available research and my own experience: Guitar does indeed appear to be all original save for the tuning machines. It will need a neck reset at some point but still plays well and action is decent.

Thank you!

Won't let me upload a photo. Will have to try later when I can make the image smaller.

Hi: I finally found myself a teardrop post war pre 55 J45j! Crack free and all original save for tuners that are from a 1941 J35. It is a factory 2nd with a "2" and Made in USA stamped on back of headstock. The FON on inside is 1017-7. This makes it late 1947 or early 1948. According to seller Folkways Music confirmed aside from the tuners all original. Can this be? Anyone here heard of a late '47 with block logo and belly up bridge?!! Seems rare.