Lets talk LG-2

[Rambler]

Checked out an Ari Eisinger clip on YT and kind of went wow. he was playing an LG-1 but he got me thinking re the LG series in general. Have been impressed from video clips Ive heard, but have only played LG-1s myself (good feel, different sound). Re the x-braced LG-2s, are we looking at a J45-ish sound in a small package, or a more limited box? (fwiw, my 000 works fine in that regard, so I don't personally need a huge sound).

 

For anyone with live experience, do you get enough of a pad behind your vocals? Any temptation to overplay to cover for the perceived absence of sound? Or in small ensemble work (string/jug band, not bluegrass) or acoustic jam: in there pitching, or lost?

 

Points of reference. The Ari clip got me started but yes is a different sound. The 46 impresses. Shines sounds a little compressed but he's damping and has a 60s B25 fwiw. Thanks for chipping in. J

 

Ari E doing Lonnie J (LG1)

46 LG2

Johnny Shines

[jt]

I'm a big fan of those little guitars. I've got a 1942 LG-1, the first year issue that was X-braced and featured multiple purflings and fancy rosette:

 

 

The Banner LGs --LG-1, LG-2, & LG-3 -- were all X-braced and had fancy trim. The LG-2 (sunburst) & LG-3 (natural) differed only in finish. The LG-1, of course, was all mahogany and had that unusual amber finish.

 

I think that LGs are really underrated guitars. They are a classical size (and, indeed, were built with Gibson's classical body molds), 14 fretters. The bAnner models have 1 3/4 nut widths, too.

 

The Banner LHGs are, imho, among the most underpriced guitars on the vintage market.

[wonderful remark]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought LG-0 was the all mahogany bodied guitars..?

[Paul E]

I have a 60's reissue LG-2 that I bought last year from Fullers. Mine sounds as I would call it as a generic J-45 sound but just a tad less in the bass. It doesn't have a fast decay, seems to ring out pretty good in the trebles. I play at a jam with it every week which is mainly old time country (pre blue grass), it competes well with banjo's and fiddles. I don't feel drowned out. I hope this helps with what your asking. By the way there is a guy over in Montana that used to work for Gibson that is building his version of an LG-2 called the Minstrel. His name is Daniel Roberts and as far as I know he can only be found on facebook.

[Jinder]

LGs are terrific guitars. I have only played LG0s and LG1s, but I have had some hands-on time with a '64 B25 which is essentially a rebadged LG2, and it blew my mind...absolutely fantastic guitar and probably the best all-rounder I have played to date. More than enough to get behind a vocal, but with the added bonus of tonal subtlety that doesn't overpower the voice or encourage you to oversing.

 

I personally love the ladder-braced LG0s and 1s...some really warm, woody, bluesy character in those boxes.

 

Having lived with my Blues King for a couple of months now, I am a fully fledged small-body convert...there's so much more versatility in there, all of which can be extracted by subtle variations in right hand technique.

 

Small guitars just seem more friendly to me, like a Golden Retreiver as opposed to a Bull Mastiff.

[jefleppard]

 

 

46 LG2

 

if you're looking for pad, look no further. this guitar is stunningly huge. wow. thanks for that.

[Tennroots]

Here's one if anyone is looking to add one to their collection, wish I had the extra $$$$.

 

 

http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=41120&query=retrieval

[jt]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought LG-0 was the all mahogany bodied guitars..?

 

During 1942-43, LG-1s were all mahogany and the disappeared, only to reemerge in different form post war. LG-0s did not appear until post war.

[Rambler]

This just in. Here's Mr. Jackson Browne with a CF100e (essentially an LG2 w/a cutaway/pup). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xePNvYJ5Lo

And here's the same tune on a Martin 000 (swaps the Smek for it). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ1bHCI8G3A

Allowing for circumstances (both guitars plugged in, different venues, etc), I'd say the Martin has a pretty tone (more bass, glassy top), but that Gibson just jumps right out at you.

[rustystrings]

My primary acoustic guitar for several years was a '60 LG-2. In hindsight, think of a Martin 00-18 or 000-18, but with a more fundamental, percussive Gibson tonality. Someone somewhere described the sound as like a J-45 without the presence, and I think that's pretty accurate. Less bass, too, obviously - but they record really, really well.

 

Mine was a little tone-monster - capable of very sweet fingerstyle stuff, good little strummer, surprisingly good for jazzier chord work, capable of a snarling,-tearing-sheet-metal growl if pushed really hard. It's the guitar I most regret letting go of, and I say that while owning a 2005 J-45 HC that is positively THE best overall guitar I've ever owned in my life. If I could afford to own two steel string acoustics, another LG-2 would be on my very short list.

[Taylor Player]

While I would love to add an LG2 to the collection some day, I am happy with my LG1. The LG2 and LG3 I played while searching for my LG, were both in a music store locally and neither had had much care. Both had high action and were candidates for neck resets (which my LG1 also was) but were priced soooo much higher than the LG1's arguably due to the X bracing vs ladder bracing. When it came down to it, I was actually looking for that ladder braced tone as it is way different than any of my other guitars.

 

It's still the one I almost always grab first to play when I walk into my music room.