CJB Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Hey everyone, I'm starting my hunt for a L-00 'Vintage' model made in recent years. Specifically this one: http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/2017/L-00-Vintage.aspx I realize that there are several flavors of 'Vintage' out there so the key features I'm looking for are the vintage style V neck, 12" radius, 24.75" scale, mahogany back and side, sitka or adirondack top (baked or not). Less important features that I'd like are no back binding, black nut, long saddle, no pickup. If any of you know of one available or are willing to sell or trade yours I'd appreciate hearing from you. For trade, I have a L-00 Studio and a Martin 017 custom from 2017. Failing a specific guitar from Gibson, I'd consider a Waterloo WL-14X or L or mahogany top with the bigger neck. Bonus points for something within 2 hours of Winston-Salem, NC. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 I have one of these from 2014 that fit your bill, but I'm holding on to it. Put it on your search list. Nick has an L00 Legend that would fit the bill too. http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/2014/1932-L-00.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 9 minutes ago, Dave F said: I have one of these from 2014 that fit your bill, but I'm holding on to it. Put it on your search list. Nick has an L00 Legend that would fit the bill too. http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/2014/1932-L-00.aspx My L-OO Legend is not for sale or trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJB Posted January 7, 2021 Author Share Posted January 7, 2021 @DaveF and @j45nick, with the way y'all talk about your L-00's I'd be very surprised if you'd ever let them go. That's part of the reason I'm looking now! 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 7 minutes ago, CJB said: @DaveF and @j45nick, with the way y'all talk about your L-00's I'd be very surprised if you'd ever let them go. That's part of the reason I'm looking now! 😄 All I can suggest is to scour forum noticeboards, reverb, craigslist, ebay. Go online and identify small specialist dealers such as boutiqueguitarshop.com. Many of these smaller dealers also list on reverb and ebay. I have bought a 2006 Martin 000-28 EC and a 1947 Gibson L-7 from individuals on craiglist-- both within a few hours of driving time from my home in FL--as well as passing on a few that I should not have passed on, such as one-owner but poorly-maintained 1948 SJ. Unlike a lot of folks, I have had good luck with ebay buys from smaller dealers and individuals, including my L-OO Legend, a near-pristine 1968 ES- 335 12, a mint-condition 1959 Historic ES-335, and my near-mint 2006 1943 SJ re-issue. Another really good source can be guitar shows, although those may or may not be happening right now. There is one in Orlando, FL every year, and others in NC, I believe. Still another is the used and vintage section of guitarcenter.com, which can have some surprisingly good deals from time to time. What you are looking for is out there. You need patience, and perseverance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 (edited) Coincidentally, I just finished a good bit of time spent with my 1932 L1. Got hooked on running the Stones "Factory Girl" into the Airplane's "Embryonic Journey." Yeah, I think I am losing it. Human beings were never meant to have three meals a day with the same person. But I do got a question. How does this Vintage version differ from the earlier 1932 L00 Vintage? If they are virtually the same guitar it would widen the window of opportunity for the OP in his search. Edited January 7, 2021 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJB Posted January 7, 2021 Author Share Posted January 7, 2021 @zombywoof sounds like you're losing it. 🙂 My wife (teacher) and son (6th grade) went back to school yesterday and, while I love them dearly, after all this time being with them at nearly every moment it's really nice to have a little breathing room during the say. RE: the 1932 Vintage model, I have no idea why they're labeled differently they certainly look very similar - I'd be happy with that one as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 (edited) ‘If any of you know of one available or are willing to sell or trade yours I'd appreciate hearing from you. For trade, I have a L-00 Studio and a Martin 017 custom from 2017. ‘ It is wishful thinking that someone will trade the L.00 Vintage for your Studio and 0-17..........’Here, I’m sick of my BMW - I’ll trade it to you for your 2 little Toyotas!’ You probably need to sell those 2 and then find the next. BluesKing777. Edited January 8, 2021 by BluesKing777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 3 minutes ago, BluesKing777 said: ‘If any of you know of one available or are willing to sell or trade yours I'd appreciate hearing from you. For trade, I have a L-00 Studio and a Martin 017 custom from 2017. ‘ It is wishful thinking that someone will trade the L.00 Vintage for your Studio and 0-17..........’Here, I’m sick of my BMW - I’ll trade it too you for your 2 little Toyotas!’ You probably need to sell those 2 and then find the next. BluesKing777. Yep. Not many people want to trade down, or trade at all for that matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJB Posted January 7, 2021 Author Share Posted January 7, 2021 9 minutes ago, BluesKing777 said: ‘If any of you know of one available or are willing to sell or trade yours I'd appreciate hearing from you. For trade, I have a L-00 Studio and a Martin 017 custom from 2017. ‘ It is wishful thinking that someone will trade the L.00 Vintage for your Studio and 0-17..........’Here, I’m sick of my BMW - I’ll trade it too you for your 2 little Toyotas!’ You probably need to sell those 2 and then find the next. BluesKing777. Yep, I'm fully aware that it may be optimistic but I thought I'd start asking around to see what's out there looking for a home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Few I see on the net https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539873 If you're near Minneapolis https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/msg/d/minneapolis-1932-gibson-00-acoustic/7240615899.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 (edited) The chunkier neck new Gibson L-00s are pretty slim on the ground and we seem to hear about them after someone bought one! Most recent Gibson L-00s have the same neck as your studio. I mentioned my Waterloo WL-14s previously because they are firstly, fabulous guitars with big V neck etc, but a few used ones are around. Covid has made scarce though - Collings shut down for a long while, I believe. Another with a few for sale used is a fab but glossy/shinier chunky neck L-00 shape guitar to consider is a used Martin CEO7, preferably from the early productions. Mine fits exactly in the same flight case as my L-00s! Mahogany/Adi, mod V neck etc, sounds like a Martin Gibson..... I had a K&K Trinity pickup system installed recently and a nice setup (I have been playing it with the high factory setup for many years and now...ha ha.......guess what? Yep, it plays great. My luthier was in love with the guitar and kept mumbling love noises about it when I picked it up. He said, quote: ‘This is a great guitar, your best guitar, but you have lots of great guitars, don’t you?’ But when I quizzed him on what he meant, another frazzled customer came in and the moment was lost.... BluesKing777. Edited January 7, 2021 by BluesKing777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 2 hours ago, Dave F said: Few I see on the net https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539873 If you're near Minneapolis https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/msg/d/minneapolis-1932-gibson-00-acoustic/7240615899.html The Legend was a really good price, but that's a two year old listing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) 31 minutes ago, j45nick said: The Legend was a really good price, but that's a two year old listing. Here's another one I found. Don't know if there any still available. Prices look good. Notice they show all 12 fret necks but have a note that they are all 14 fret. Edited January 8, 2021 by Dave F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 This one looks interesting https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Custom-Shop-L-00-Limited-Edition-12-Fret-Guitar-2020-Nitrocellulose/265001928807 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 1 hour ago, j45nick said: The Legend was a really good price, but that's a two year old listing. As one of the apparently few L-00 players on this forum, I have regularly looked for the Legend models mentioned and they are just not for sale. Your only hope is some poor owner dies and the wife leaves it on the front lawn! Divorce no good, they probably hit him on the head with it.... There is the 1932 version in Netherlands! If you rang them, you will find that like lots of online sellers, they don’t know how to delete a SOLD listing. I played a J45 Legend when I first bought a Standard J45 round 2010? Guitars are way more expensive here so I went the ‘cheapie’ or should I say ‘cheaper’ option...J45 Standard..... I wasn’t experienced enough at the time but honestly didn’t really like the Legend......Adi top? Better for pickers of the plectrum variety.... I had a full custom hand made guitar with the neck I want for far less money. Just had to have....patience.....gulp. It is my best guitar, really...made just for ME! BluesKing777. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 52 minutes ago, Dave F said: Here's another one I found. Don't know if there any still available. Prices look good. Notice they show all 12 fret necks but have a note that they are all 14 fret. Yeah, but the case was extra. Probably another $5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 7 minutes ago, BluesKing777 said: I had a full custom hand made guitar with the neck I want for far less money. Just had to have....patience.....gulp. It is my best guitar, really...made just for ME! BluesKing777. I had an L5 neck profile put on my full custom hand made L00 guitar. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Dave F said: I had an L5 neck profile put on my full custom hand made L00 guitar. Love it. Yep, save buying the whole shop, just get one made with what you want! Patience, a bit of outlay, more patience, disappointment a little because a brand new made guitar is...new! But a few years down the track and it will come alive. Trouble is you have to.........know what you want. You could fluke it, but probably need to buy and try quite a few off the shelf guitars to get an idea if you like Albanian Olivewood with recycled parts cratewood top and a massive V neck or...or..or... And I have photos of him building it! (00 deep body in Gabon Ebony with Italian Spruce top, rounded chunky 5 piece Mahogany top, Ebony bridge, fretboard....and recently, a K&K Trinity full onboard pickup system (dual source pickup plus internal mic). I told him I wanted it to sound like my incredible Maton EBG808 plugged but with the guitar and neck I wanted. (Maton necks are great to play but more the modified low oval C with 1.736” nut, absolutely no custom size necks available!) Mention this because finding that special expensive guitar online is pretty hopeless. Online great for research, buying, hmmm. BluesKing777. Edited January 8, 2021 by BluesKing777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) 9 hours ago, Dave F said: This one looks interesting https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Custom-Shop-L-00-Limited-Edition-12-Fret-Guitar-2020-Nitrocellulose/265001928807 A 12 L-00 would definitely be interesting to try. And a beautiful Gibson sunburst to go with. Showing as "no longer available". Hopefully OP CJB got it, as he was looking for a more recent model. As much as the 12 design would be interesting on an L-00, it only makes the idea of the 12 and 13 fret Nick Lucas Gibsons with their increased body depth more interesting. Edited January 8, 2021 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) Mid 2005 odd, shopping for Gibson Blues King L-00, the shop had a (new) Gibson Custom Shop Nick Lucas in a gloss charcoal, looked alive! Priced at about 5x the Blues King, didn’t want to pick it up, didn’t know anything about it at the time! I have a few deep body 00 size 14 fret guitars...my Cargill, my Lowden S35 and my 3 Maton 808s of various woodage. The sound difference is hard to describe, except a ‘fuller’ sound for fingerpicking. I was playing my Cargill last night, the Maton 808 tonight, so tomorrow the Lowden could call! The Maton EBG808 is a very ‘definite’ sound, perfect for blues and rags - neck somewhere between my 59 LG3 and a bit like a Martin MLO........... while the Cargill and Lowden S35 are more ‘dreamy’ sounding, lush, overtone overboard! See, it is a tough, tough thing buyin’ and tryin’, eh? While I love my Blues King L-00, I couldn’t recommend it as a companion for CJB’s (OP) Gibson LG2 Original Series as I have a feeling it would be hard to tell them apart. Maybe not? BluesKing777. Edited January 8, 2021 by BluesKing777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJB Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 Thanks so much for the input and conversation everyone. One of my goals, as @BluesKing777 mentioned, is to compliment my recent LG2. I'm looking for that resonant but tight and spanky sound. The LG2 is bigger and rounder. That is one of the reasons I'm considering the Waterloo guitars (I've had a WL-12 and WL-K and while nice, not quite 'it'). My L-00 Studio is nice but I like mahogany better and the neck isn't quite how I like it - needs to be thicker and 12" radius. I do have a price limit but right now that's a moving target while I try to figure out what is reasonable to expect to find. I realize that trading my one or two for the right 'one' is unrealistic but figured I'd start there to get the ball rolling toward the right L-00. Mistake? Probably, I'm an experiential learner. 🙂 One of the hard parts regarding that aspect is that the Gibson model names can be so similar and looking around on Reverb and other sites they mention the word 'Vintage' and it actually means vintage and not that it's the 'Vintage' Model and the sellers don't delineate what exactly they have. The ad that @Dave F mentions is pretty much perfect, but I bet they're out of stock. 😉 I've been offered a few small shop luthier built guitars but those are unknowns to me and I'm a little tired of buying and trying and selling so I'm gun shy. Maybe one of those would work? I'd really like to find a companion to my LG2 to settle down with. Maybe that's not realistic either? It's worth the journey though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) 19 hours ago, Dave F said: Here's another one I found. Don't know if there any still available. Prices look good. Notice they show all 12 fret necks but have a note that they are all 14 fret. The 1930 through 1932 catalogs show only 12 fretters. 14 fretters though appear in the 1934 catalog. Edited January 8, 2021 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 It is better to try the guitar live - your playing, your hands, your style....etc Apart from the joyous blissful happiness of having lots of acoustics 😎, it is also possible to make very narrow comparisons of said guitars and their suitability for various songs and tunes. For example, plain old ‘Railroad Bill’ fingerpicked bare fingers in cowboy C with the addition of a capo on 3 and also alternating bass........also depending a bit on player mood and the weather......but in the back of the mind we are going for a fairly traditional acoustic balanced tone, unplugged, no effects.....over the years, most of my gear has been subjected to that tune as a starter.......and the ‘balanced bass vs trebles for Railroad Bill’ winners are my 1937 Gibson L-0 and my 2 Waterloo WL-14 (X braced and ladder braced)! Exactly the same tune and conditions, my Lowden S35 is surprisingly good but too many overlapping overtones needing concentrated right hand damping! My Maton EBG808 (similar to Tommy Emmanuel’s guitar but mine has a custom black finish) - on open string blues in E or A is amazing but put the capo on for Railroad Bill in C, the bass has the wrong tone totally and overall too bassy (probably from the deep body configuration?) But generally a 00 size is better, no matter the brand. So out comes the Martin CEO7, slope shoulder 00, capo on 3 - too bassy. Same with my OM.....etc etc... If only played Railroad Bill over and over, all the others could go! But ha ha ha hoo hoo, I play everything I can. Moral of the story is? Play the prospective guitar in the flesh at a shop with a few different tunes and styles....don’t fall in love with ‘the look’ or price....it is just an instant yes or no in reality! BluesKing777. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 (edited) Dave putting up that ad made me sadly miss my '31 L0, which I sold to the owner of Retrofret. My whole day is ruined. Thanks, bro. Edited January 9, 2021 by jedzep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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