Steve Hoffman Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I purchased what was called a 1952 LG-3 from a local vintage shop. After further inspection I noticed it was latter braced which would suggest it was an LG-1. However, the top is a natural spruce finish and is identical to all the photos I have seen on google and reverb for that year of an LG-3. At first I thought it was a fake but it checks all the boxes with the serial number format which matches the correct year and other indicators. I have never seen a photo of an LG-1 with a natural finish online. Thoughts on what I have anyone?!?! Thanks!!! I have included photos of the guitar and the latter bracing under the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) You been gipped, I think. Unless you paid only around a thousand bucks, fair for a ladder-braced Gib, and love the thing, you have a real gripe with the shop. Read up here...http://www.guitarhq.com/gibson6.html#lg Edited February 19, 2022 by jedzep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 http://www.guitarhq.com/gibson6.html#lg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) The side supports do indicate a pre-1953 build date. So that "vintage shop" which sold you the instrument at least got that right. Look to see if there is an interior center strip running down the back. My guess is it ain't there meaning you were not only sold an LG1 but one which has lost its burst. I agree with an above comment that how badly you got spanked will depend on how much of your hard-earned loot you laid out for the guitar. Edited February 19, 2022 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 Right...change my figure to maybe 600 bucks, since someone stripped the finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 On his second photo you can see the back seam without the strip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) It’s an LG-1. Ladder bracing, no back center-seam reinforcement, and another tell-tale marker is that from what I can make out in your photo, it has single-ply top binding. Both the LG-2 & LG-3 had multi-ply top binding, while the LG-1 had single-ply. This is pretty basic stuff, so the “vintage” shop either doesn’t know much about Gibsons, or they’re pulling a fast one. The guitar was clearly misrepresented as an LG-3, which means the situation should be easily rectified unless they are completely dishonest. Hope a resolution to the matter is quick & straightforward. Edit: Regarding the finish, the guitar was either stripped of it’s original sunburst, or perhaps special ordered in natural. But the basic key factor remains - it is ladder braced rather than X-braced, which takes a huge chunk out of the guitar’s value as opposed to a true ‘50s LG-3. Edited February 19, 2022 by bobouz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 4 hours ago, bobouz said: This is pretty basic stuff, so the “vintage” shop either doesn’t know much about Gibsons, or they’re pulling a fast one. The guitar was clearly misrepresented as an LG-3, which means the situation should be easily rectified unless they are completely dishonest. Hope a resolution to the matter is quick & straightforward. That was my thought. When I first started buying old Gibsons there was no internet nor any kind of source to even clue you in on FONs. These days though, I do not see how it is possible for a shop not to be able to tell a 1950s Gibson LG1 from a can of tuna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbiii Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 If it is 1953, the leading character in the FON should be a Y. 52 was Z, 54 was X, .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 I am, as always, in awe of the massive Gibson brain power here. rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hoffman Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 Thank you everyone! Took it back to the shop and was able to get my money back. I really appreciate everyone’s response and insight. And yes…I am also in awe of peoples knowledge of old Gibsons. Thanks again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 Hey good deal Steve Hoffman. I hope you find one that fits the bill! rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Glad you were able to get your money back. I'm curious as to what the "vintage shop" had to say for themselves. Oh it was just a mis-print, or we really can't tell an LG-1 from and LG-3? How did they react when you told them they misrepresented the item? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.