twalker Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Here's one for all you Gibson acoustic guitar buffs: Aside from all the technical information I was wondering if any of you knew some of the more interesting facts about the Gibson L-00. For instance... what notable musicians in the past or in the present played/plays one? Or what makes this guitar so special? Why does this guitar continue to be so popular? Any other fun facts about this model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Like a great horse...it needs 'soft' hands. When I back off a little from exuberant picking, it responds in a narrow but super sweet mid-soft tone that I haven't found in other small bods. I'm addicted to them too. I might get rid of my dreads and just play my '35 L00, though I'm really curious to A-B mine with a pre-65 Martin 000. That might be the guitar I'd like to add to my little playpen. What's your string choice for their featherweight top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I put phosphor bronze 12s and tune down a whole step. Lots of growly blues in these old boxes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I put phosphor bronze 12s and tune down a hole step. Lots of growly blues in these old boxes! Oh crap, another variation. I'll be trying that tomorrow when I'm supposed to be at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twalker Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Like a great horse...it needs 'soft' hands. When I back off a little from exuberant picking, it responds in a narrow but super sweet mid-soft tone that I haven't found in other small bods. I'm addicted to them too. I might get rid of my dreads and just play my '35 L00, though I'm really curious to A-B mine with a pre-65 Martin 000. That might be the guitar I'd like to add to my little playpen. What's your string choice for their featherweight top? Considering it has X bracing I simply use light gauge (12) and have it tuned to pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 What's your string choice for their featherweight top? I have lights, tuned to standard pitch, on my '31 Kel Kroydon KK-1. The Kel has a much thinner top than my '37 L-0, so I certainly don't worry about lights on that. Heck, if these little guys weren't sturdier than they seem, they wouldn't have lasted this long. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mking Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Rodney Crowell plays one that is black with a white pick guard, 12 fret neck. He also has a sunburst 14 fret neck given to him by Vince Gill. I imagine they are both from the 30's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 My first Gibson back in the 1960s was an L-00. At the time I did not know a good guitar from a can of tuna but I liked the way it looked and it was cheap. I played my first gig at a local folk music gathering with a harp player/singer using that guitar. I had a lot more chutzpah than talent back then but I did have a cool guitar. My experience with the smaller body Gibsons is they are at their best when strung with 12s or maybe medium lights. Just my taste but I find the heavier gauge gives them more snap and pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Toby, there's two pics of Robt Jr Lockwood with a white guard L00, one in Gib-Fab_Flats and another in Peter Guralnick;s Searching for Robt Johnson, which makes one think it might have been his. And you seem 'em in pics of the old-time country string bands, the fruit jar sipping possum ramblers & such. And an anecdote. I was at a song circle, way back, in JP. There were 2 dreads, a Gibson and a Martin, a 00028 and an L00. It was the L00 that cut through the mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_no Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Toby, there's two pics of Robt Jr Lockwood with a white guard L00, one in Gib-Fab_Flats and another in Peter Guralnick;s Searching for Robt Johnson, which makes one think it might have been his. And you seem 'em in pics of the old-time country string bands, the fruit jar sipping possum ramblers & such. And an anecdote. I was at a song circle, way back, in JP. There were 2 dreads, a Gibson and a Martin, a 00028 and an L00. It was the L00 that cut through the mix. And the new guitarist in the old-timey band Old Crow Medicine Show, Chance McCoy, plays a '30s L-00...and he really whales on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Apparently the model exterminates right-wing extremists. Seen in the hands of an old drunk down the pub: As used by an old busker on the New York subway: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 And in an early Youtube video which kickstarted that craze for performances where several people play a single guitar at the same time: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twalker Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 Toby, there's two pics of Robt Jr Lockwood with a white guard L00, one in Gib-Fab_Flats and another in Peter Guralnick;s Searching for Robt Johnson, which makes one think it might have been his. And you seem 'em in pics of the old-time country string bands, the fruit jar sipping possum ramblers & such. And an anecdote. I was at a song circle, way back, in JP. There were 2 dreads, a Gibson and a Martin, a 00028 and an L00. It was the L00 that cut through the mix. Ah... that's just the kind of info I'm looking for. Thanks a bunch!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twalker Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 And in an early Youtube video which kickstarted that craze for performances where several people play a single guitar at the same time: What a great shot!!!! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twalker Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 Apparently the model exterminates right-wing extremists. Seen in the hands of an old drunk down the pub: As used by an old busker on the New York subway: Wonderful, simply wonderful. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 more recently Elvis Costello can be seen with a 1937 L 00 Legend : JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Note in the old pics that capo locked onto the third fret. I've been playing mine like that lately. Oh so easy on the hands and the vocal chords! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 T, here's the Lockwood & Sonny Boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 And Robert Jr. Note electric input... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Alabama native John Paul White of the Civil Wars picked up a 12 fret 00 from Chicago Music exchange a while back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 more recently Elvis Costello can be seen with a 1937 L 00 Legend : JC Aha - his aim is true... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 And Robert Jr. Note electric input... That's very early for an LR Baggs Element... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Alabama native John Paul White of the Civil Wars picked up a 12 fret 00 from Chicago Music exchange a while back Are you sure that's not Johnny Depp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Lee Roy Parnell obviously plays one, since it's the archetype for the Legend. Modoc 333's "Penny" is a nice one as well. Oh, and there's that guy Little Toby Walker, who's a really great picker......... I absolutely love my L-OO Legend. If I had to cut my collection down to one guitar, I'm not sure if I would keep the L-OO or the 1948 J-45 I've owned for almost 50 years....... It's that good. No better fingerpicking guitar on earth than the L-OO, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Lee Roy Parnell obviously plays one, since it's the archetype for the Legend. Modoc 333's "Penny" is a nice one as well. Oh, and there's that guy Little Toby Walker, who's a really great picker......... I absolutely love my L-OO Legend. If I had to cut my collection down to one guitar, I'm not sure if I would keep the L-OO or the 1948 J-45 I've owned for almost 50 years....... It's that good. No better fingerpicking guitar on earth than the L-OO, IMHO. my little "Penny" is honored to be mentioned with all of these famous people! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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