MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 My grandfather had a Gibson j45 from the 1940’s and I’d like to know more about it also I need advice on what to get done to fix deadnotes on the guitar(I have no intent on selling the guitar, I just want to know more about a big part of my family and it’s history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 How wide is the lower bout? Is there an ink stamp inside on the neck block? Any reputable luthier should be able to fix you up. Tell us where you're at and someone will know a luthier in your area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 What a beauty, and a high value one! The way I would handle it is to find a nearby guitar shop or luthier who has a good reputation with valuable vintage guitars and put it in their hands, mentioning that they shouldn't change parts or alter anything except as it pertains to stringing it up and making all the notes ring out. This would be square one. Dollar value for your 'Banner' J45, FYI, is above 6K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 I’m in Oklahoma I don’t have any of that information on the sizes or if there’s a stamp but I know it was an early 40’s and that it’s authentic my grandmother was with my grandad when he bought it in the 40’s at a Gibson dealership Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 5 minutes ago, jedzep said: What a beauty, and a high value one! The way I would handle it is to find a nearby guitar shop or luthier who has a good reputation with valuable vintage guitars and put it in their hands, mentioning that they shouldn't change parts or alter anything except as it pertains to stringing it up and making all the notes ring out. This would be square one. Dollar value for your 'Banner' J45, FYI, is above 6K. Thanks for the information I will maybe talk with a local guitar shop I know they have fixed an amp I own from the same Era I’ll for sure to talk to them and get a quote any idea what kind of wood it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 Spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 It may be the angle, but the width of that guitar in comparison to the bridge has me wondering if it's an LG2. The J45 should be around 16" wide.. The LG2 is around 14-1/2" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 I thought it looked smaller too, Dave, but took the author's word on his grandparent's info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 4 minutes ago, jedzep said: Spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Thanks I was really curious about that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 3 minutes ago, Dave F said: It may be the angle, but the width of that guitar in comparison to the bridge has me wondering if it's an LG2. The J45 should be around 16" wide.. The LG2 is around 14-1/2" I will for sure give you some measurements on it when I have the ability to do so I have some other pictures of it helps at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 Nice! When you get it playable, will it actually get played regularly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 Also I’m not for sure if it’s a j45 I had on another forum in the past and someone said it was a j45 but it wasn’t Gibson dedicated and I also had a lot of predatory offers to buy it (had a guy offer me $100) but to me it’s one of them things that doesn’t have a price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 1 minute ago, jedzep said: Nice! When you get it playable, will it actually get played regularly? It’s playable right now it’s spotty past the I wanna say 14th fret with the dead notes. it tunes well and could use a new set of stings but I’m afraid to do that on my own but yeah I play it a lot and plan to keep playing but I’d like have the full fretboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 Now there's another question. It has a price, alright, though. Not now for you, anyway. If it's going to sit in a case and not get played and/or protected from elements like dryness, humidity, or sudden swings in these conditions, you'll want to keep reduced string tension for storage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 (edited) Glad to hear you're the player. I can hear the heavy breathing of fellow forum geeks lusting for a guitar like this. Enjoy! Also, there's a good chance it just needs a setup, but the fact that the 14th fret is where the tone flops could mean the neck needs to be brought into line in the appropriate way. Edited May 6, 2021 by jedzep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 19 minutes ago, Dave F said: It may be the angle, but the width of that guitar in comparison to the bridge has me wondering if it's an LG2. The J45 should be around 16" wide.. The LG2 is around 14-1/2" So I did some looking and I’m pretty sure it’s an Lg2 I did a quick google search and the compared the two models and the contours on the body of my guitar look more closely like that of the Lg2 I also know that my grandma had someone try and buy the guitars from her and offered about 7k according to her and I don’t think an Lg2 would fetch that price from what I saw online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 (edited) From what I read the j45 is know for having a very thick neck would a Lg2 have the same thickness of the neck? My guitar has a massive neck ,much larger than anything I’ve ever played before Edited May 6, 2021 by MFILTZ Typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 (edited) Dave knew what he saw. It's not merely that it's an LG2, a high qual guitar anyway, that jacks up the value, but it's the year/era makes it above 5-6K. As Dave said, it's the width of the body that determines these model differences. Both high dollar gits. Edited May 6, 2021 by jedzep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 It’s an absolute beaut! QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFILTZ Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 1 minute ago, jedzep said: Dave knew what he saw. It's not merely that it's an LG2, a high qual guitar anyway, that jacks up the value, but it's the year/era makes it above 5-6K. Ok that makes since The value doesn’t really matter to my ya know but it was important for me to figure out more about the guitar and to learn more about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 7, 2021 Share Posted May 7, 2021 Looks to be in great shape. Get a good setup, a better case and enjoy it. Keep it in the family. As mentioned, it's still a great valuable guitar. The bridges from that era are usually 1" x 6" so that gives you a visual ruler when looking at photos. I'd love to have a piece of my family in the form of a handed down guitar. Only thing I have like that is my first guitar, an almost 60 year old Kay guitar my Mom bought me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted May 7, 2021 Share Posted May 7, 2021 That looks like a Nice one. And a Banner LG2 at that. 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted May 7, 2021 Share Posted May 7, 2021 I'm sure that's not a dread....so not a J-45. But since it's a 'Banner', I'm sure John Thomas would have info on it. https://www.amazon.com/Kalamazoo-Gals-Extraordinary-Gibsons-Guitars/dp/0983082782/ref=asc_df_0983082782/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312030486371&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5388545734979166133&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031999&hvtargid=pla-465917726111&psc=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted May 7, 2021 Share Posted May 7, 2021 Yes, a Banner LG-2! Great guitar. Replaced bridge, but otherwise looks original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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