Magnum Force Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I've had my late grandfather 's Gibson now for over 35 years. It's a little weathered, but it was just like this when he used to play it during the holidays for the family all through the (possibly late 50s), 60s, 70s and early 80s before he passed. I'm pretty sure it's a J45. For some reason, which I can't recall, I came up with 1946 a couple of years back on just my own online sleuthing. I did have, what I feel now was a big mistake, some work done to it about 15 years ago when I paid someone to re-string, fine tune and clean up a couple of my guitars. When I got it I really didn't take notice of the possibly of and 'changed out' vintage parts. It wasn't until a few years later that I noticed the that the original tuners might have been swapped out and as well as the string pegs. Then again I never really paid much attention to the tuners, so while they definitely looks 'newer' they could have easily always been there from a previous time when my grandfather had it. Rumor was that he bought from a thrift store or found out in a trash bin. ( He was always known to be of the thrifty and extreme 'penny pinching' type, and never ever made unnecessary or 'expensive' purchases. Anyway, aside from possibly missing the original tuners and pegs, the to small holes in the from and the pick guard slightly coming up, it's on pretty nice shape and still sounds really good. I'd just really love to know the date on this. Hopefully some your expertise could give me some insight. Thank you Sorry for the low picture quality. The site only allows for 500mb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Looks like a ‘46 to me. That’s the only year they kept the script logo but took off the Only A Gibson Is Good Enough logo from the war years. Yes, those are the wrong tuners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Force Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Force Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Would there be much value, price-wise, with the condition and non-stock tuners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 You can get a nice era correct set of tuners for a couple hundred. you need to take it to a luthier who knows what he’s doing to find out condition. The pictures are not detailed enough to look for obvious items or what mods or repairs may have been done. let us know where you’re at and maybe someone can recommend someone. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Force Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 That would be great. I'm in Jacksonville, FL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Man Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I know you think its a J-45, and its kinda hard to tell from the pics, but it looks more like an LG of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) 34 minutes ago, G Man said: I know you think its a J-45, and its kinda hard to tell from the pics, but it looks more like an LG of some sort. I totally agree. The pictures aren't great, but I blew up the one of the front view and laid the bridge (6") across the body a couple times. With the choices being 16" or 14.5" or there about, it looks to be the 14.xxx" Edited January 9 by Dave F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) 1 hour ago, G Man said: ........it looks more like an LG of some sort. It does. The waist is too pinched to be a 45. As Dave mentioned, best to take it to a knowledgable tech for ID and evaluation. Edited January 9 by Buc McMaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Force Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 It is 14". Just measured it. I'm really not familiar with the LG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Force Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 (edited) Ok, just looked it up and it it measures and looks every bit to be an LG1, as is ladder braced. Thanks for noting that difference. Edited January 9 by Magnum Force Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 All clues point to '46 LG. The photo in the upper right makes it look to have unusually high action? It's ladder braced, you say. . . They don't support the top as much as cross bracing, and over time have the tendency to pull up on the top around the bridge, and the area around the soundhole can lower. Or is that just an optical illusion I'm seeing? ps- most here use imgur.com for free photo hosting- you can direct embed multiple photos from there to your posts here. Nice looking guitar, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) 6 hours ago, Magnum Force said: I've had my late grandfather 's Gibson now for over 35 years. It's a little weathered, but it was just like this when he used to play it during the holidays for the family all through the (possibly late 50s), 60s, 70s and early 80s before he passed. I'm pretty sure it's a J45. For some reason, which I can't recall, I came up with 1946 a couple of years back on just my own online sleuthing. I did have, what I feel now was a big mistake, some work done to it about 15 years ago when I paid someone to re-string, fine tune and clean up a couple of my guitars. When I got it I really didn't take notice of the possibly of and 'changed out' vintage parts. It wasn't until a few years later that I noticed the that the original tuners might have been swapped out and as well as the string pegs. Then again I never really paid much attention to the tuners, so while they definitely looks 'newer' they could have easily always been there from a previous time when my grandfather had it. Rumor was that he bought from a thrift store or found out in a trash bin. ( He was always known to be of the thrifty and extreme 'penny pinching' type, and never ever made unnecessary or 'expensive' purchases. Anyway, aside from possibly missing the original tuners and pegs, the to small holes in the from and the pick guard slightly coming up, it's on pretty nice shape and still sounds really good. I'd just really love to know the date on this. Hopefully some your expertise could give me some insight. Thank you Sorry for the low picture quality. The site only allows for 500mb Looks like a Gibson LG2, approx 46, 47.....LG1 not out as a ladder braced guitar just yet, around 48 with block Gibson logo??? If it is the LG2, it is worth quite a lot more than the LG1 - do a search on Reverb.com and look at the high price shop, Retrofret. If you are in Jacksonville, there use to be some great vintage guitar repair people locally - you need a vintage Gibson acoustic specialist, no know-alls - ask this forum for someone - get it back to working order and sell it for $5 - $7.5K at Retrofret! LG1, not as much.... BluesKing777. Edited January 9 by BluesKing777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Also- weren't the 1946 Gibson acoustics unlikely to receive a stamp inside on the neck block? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Nice looking Gibson. Those pictures are like looking through a ships port hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 4 hours ago, Magnum Force said: Ok, just looked it up and it it measures and looks every bit to be an LG1, as is ladder braced. Thanks for noting that difference. Usually, but not always, the laddered braced LG1 did not have a center strip on the inside of the back. When you say ladder braced, you are talking about the underside of the top? All the backs are laddered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbiii Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I don't know if he is still working but there is a legendary luthier up in Saint Mary -- Ronnie Griffin. 912 816-0073. I have lots of vintage instruments and he is one of the few people qualified to work on them. There is also Randy Wood in Savannah. I have a 46 LG-2. Best, -Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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