Gibson LG-0 Acoustic

Gibson LG-0 1968

Small & sweet sound. very warm and sparklin!

I do some work on it

1964 lg-0 flat top student model. paid 350 dollars. once we got the old strings off and straightened the neck, it became the best feeling acoustic ever. close action, no fret wear, stays in tune and great vintage tone feel and smell. alligator chip board case and dearmond acoustic pickup really added to that vintage package. very pleased. no made in usa stamp but 6 digit sn makes it a '64. tortoise shell pickguard and binding. tuners are kluson deluxe. neck is thin

Mines a mid 60's. All original with plastic bridge.

Sounds great.

The guitar has checking all over it. Action is at a typical gibson acoustic hight. The guitar is tight N' solid with no warping, cracks, repairs, ect. Havent fooled with the truss rod, dont think I will unless I need to.

Very solid player.

I bought this guitar at a local junk shop for $45. I couldnt believe what a find I stumbled on. The tunning pegs are pretty shot and need to be replaced. I can only get the guitar to tune up a whole step befor pitch, then I really cant turn to many of the pegs without great difficulty. I threw a capo on at the second fret and im good to go until I get some replacement tunners on it. Stays in tune fine. My guitar's tone is not "even" as some guys claim theres is. Mine has an uneven/ bass heavy tone that is very woody. All I can say is what a gem! They say that tone is all in the fingers, but man all the "old time" blues and folk tones are in this guitar. I love it!

1964 Mahogany, Mahogany. Mahogany, but in very good shape--minor wear and checking. Someone in the past had a fret job done on it. It is a solid, even if little, thing. Everything on it is cheap and screwed on, but, heck, the open Klusons don't go out of tune easily, even after swatting flies with it! (Just Kidding)

I picked it up just to kill some time and ended up having to have it. The bluesy, balanced, and tight sound I have always wanted. I agree with the fellow who wrote that it was made to be fingerpicked. Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, even my puny attempts at the Carter Scratch sound wonderful.
One must remember what it is.

Plays like an electric. . . Considering the thing's older than I am . . .I was just blown away by an honest-to-goodness ivory nut.

Live playing? Seems like it would withstand nuclear holocaust (Heck, it was in the cheapo "alligator" all these years and is fine).

Had dealings in other areas, and found them to be super

I have been playing for 18 years. My other guitars are a Fender Telecaster, a Ric 330/12, an Epi Korina Vee, and an Epi short-scale EB-3. Amplification: Fender Twin, Hartke 3500 bass head with Peavey 2x10
If it were stolen, I would cry, and would unlikely be able to afford another one, this seemed to be a real deal.

$900.00 us.
!967 68 LGO All mahogany little guitar with a bright punchy sound. Nothing fancy, binding on the front only but 30 or so years of breaking in are evident as the guitar sounds bigger than it looks and rings.

Mid 60 gibsons are the best in IMHO. Original case, alligator style, pretty much useless.

Nice jazzy sound. Good if fingerpicked. Lacks the projection needed for bluegrass though.

it has held up well especially considering the crappy case. Binding a little off in one spot. Other than than, no cracks or structural repairs anywhere.

No front strap button. Funny eh? Guess you used to put the strap around the head. I will not use it live, it is in retirement mode and will stay near my home recording studio for when I need to use it to develop musical ideas.

Never needed to deal with them. Always had at least one gibson around.

Been a pro for 20 uears. Play less now. Use a beneteau cutaway, a 60's J50 and this as acoustic instruments. There is nothing that sounds like this one, it is a keeper . Action is good playability is excellent. Not very loud but heck it was an entry level guitar. Prices are shooting up on these on Ebay.!Get one now.

Year: 1966-1969 (unsure); Made in USA
Wood: all mohogany
I had to replace the tuners, as one of the originals cracked, but after 30 some years of heavy use, a little wear is expected

I noticed quite a bright sound from this guitar, which suits me fine. I play a lot of alternative, which doesn't involve acoustic use ordinarily, but it's quite nice for the classic rock moods I get in from time to time A little more bottom end would be nice for some alternate tunings I play in occasionaly, but that's my only complaint on the tone.
I've noticed that it is a bit quieter than many acoustics I've tried, and while I have tried various pickups to amplify it, it really sounds best mic'ed or just played without an amp in my opinion

I've played this guitar in every alternate tuning I know of, and some I made up along the way, and I have never had a problem with it staying in tune or buzzing whatsoever..... it's the best action I've experienced on an acoustic guitar yet.

I was given this guitar by a neighbor of mine who used to play at social halls and clubs around my area in the 60's and 70's. He's put quite a lot of mileage on this guitar, and I have taken it almost everywhere I've gone for the past two years. The finish isn't what it was new, but it's still in decent condition, and I have no doubt in my mind that this guitar will last me quite a long time

I just recently contacted Gibson because I had no clue what type of guitar I had recieved from my friend. Within two emails, they had narrowed the year down to within 3 and had identified the guitar for me.

I've been playing the guitar for about 7 years, and also own a Gibson Les Paul Studio Double-Cutaway and A Fender American Standard Telecaster (both late 90-s models I believe).
I am 100% happy with this guitar. It adds a much need acoustic presence to my style, and it still fits into my general rock/alternative preference.
I wish it had some sort of built-in electronics, but that's more a matter of preference than necessity.

I read on one of the other reviews that a better sound can be achieved by sanding off the finish and staining the wood.... if whoever wrote that or whoever knows how to go about that would contact me with some detail on that, I'd appreciate it.

See other reviews for features -

I play mostly "heavy wood," similar to the style of Don Ross and I have been playing for over 20 years. I also play a wide variety of other styles, both fingerpicking and flatpicking. I was looking to buy an acoustic (without electronics) for practicing, lugging around, and possibly recording - but I was looking for a true deal, hopefully around $500. I played a few chords on the LG0 at my local GC and it immediately stood out from the others. I had to play a new $1,600 Taylor to get comparable sound quality. Nothing in the price range I was looking at even came close to the LG0. Plus, an older/used guitar like the LGO has soul, character, and history - priceless to me in a world of mass-produced half-plastic guitars. This guitar has an uncomparable sound for the money.

Guitar looks like a Mahogany Mutt that was dragged across the backroads of Alabama. I love it. Action is great, especially for a guitar ten years older than me. Tt's fast with no buzzing - and although it's very weathered, the neck/body are solid and in good shape. Tuning pegs are crusty like Death Valley but hold the guitar in tune very well (I frequently use alternate, sometime extreme, tunings). Action/Fit are a 9, Finish is about a 7 to me, although most would rate it a 1 or 2.

This guitar has withstood the test of time and has maintained its integrity with grace - mahogany obviously goes a long way when it comes to durability. Sooner or later those pegs may present a problem, but until then it's a 10.

NA

I would definitely replace this guitar if stolen/lost. I can't over-emphasize the sound quality from this little bugger when compared to other new models. It's not even close.

MY BEST GUESS IS THIS INSTRUMENT WAS MADE I THE EARLY '60S. ALL MAHOGANY CONSTRUCTION. THE FINISH IS ORIGINAL WITH FINE CHECKING THROUGHOUT. THE BRIDGE IS THE ORIGINAL ROSEWOOD AND (AS I'VE READ HERE) HAS THE NORMAL SLIGHT LIFT ON THE BODY. . I REPLACE THE ORIGINAL TUNER LONG AGO WITH INDIVIDUAL SCHALER TUNERS AND WHILE THIS MIGHT HAVE DEMINISHED THE COLLECTIBLE VALUE I FIND THEM MUCH MORE USER FREINDLY. ORIGINAL CASE LONG GONE AND NOW USING WELL PADDED GIG BAG.

THIS WAS MY ORIGINAL "REAL" GUITAR THAT I PURCHASED USED BACK IN THE LATE '60S. I LEARNED TO FINGERPICK ON IT AND IT IS A GREAT GUITAR FOR THAT STYLE. AFTER A WHILE I GRAVITATED TO BLUEGRASS AND OF COURSE MOVED INTO THE BIGGER DREADNOUGHT STYLES (I HAVE A NICE 25 YEAR OLD WASHBURN D-26S AND A 10 YEAR OLD TAYLOR 810) AND THIS LITTLE GUITAR SPENT MANY YEARS TUCKED IN THE CLOSET AND WAS RARELY PLAYED.
RECENTLY I FIND MYSELF PLAYING SOME FINGER STYLE AGAIN AND I HAVE REDISCOVERED WHAT A NICE CLEAN,BALANCED SOUND THIS GUITAR HAS. BECAUSE MY OTHER GUITARS HAVE A BASS HEAVY SET-UP, THE BRIGHT SOUND IS GREAT FOR BLUESY FINGER STYLE. NOT GREAT VOLUME, BUT THATS TO BE
EXPECTED.

ACTION: SLIGHTLY HIGH, BUT ACCEPTABLE. BUT NECK IS SMOOTH AND FAIRLY FAST.
FINISH: 40+ YEARS SHOWS ON THE WELL CHECKED (BUT VERY FINE) FINISH AND IT HAS SOME DINGS< THOUGH ALL MINOR

A SOLIDLY BUILT GUITAR THAT I AM NOT AFRAID TO TAKE ANYWHERE. IT'S ALREADY BEEN VERY WELL TRAVELED AND NOW IS PAMPERED AS AN OLD FRIEND

NEVER DEALT WITH FACTORY

OVERALL RATING: 6 OUT OF 10 / SENTIMENTAL RATING: 10 OUT OF 10
IF STOLEN OR LOST: PROBABLY WOULDN'T PAY TO MUCH TO FIND ANOTHER
LOVE ABOUT: I FIND THAT WHEN I JUST WANT TO PLAY WHILE ON MY COUCH THAT I'M GRABBING THIS GUITAR MORE OFTEN. AFTER YEARS OF BEING HOLED AWAY I RECENTLY CLEANED AND POLISHED IT. PUT NEW LIGHT GAUGE STRING ON IT AND REALLY ENJOY PLAYING IT AGAIN

1964 Gibson LG-0. Made in Nazareth, USA. All mahogony body, 14 frets to body, thin standard-scale neck. Added Takemine piezo pickup, no controls on guitar. I chose this guitar on playability and sound; it sounds like a spruce-toped Martin, for 1/3 of the price.

It came with the original 'tortoiseshell' card case - nice and historical, but no use for carting it around the country, so I retired it and transfered the guitar to a Hiscox flight case. I've had to cut a few foam-rubber wedges to go around the edge, as it's a bit small and rattled around at first.

I play mainly fingerstyle, with some hybrid picking, like the late, great Isaac Guillory. I usually use a Marshall 100W acoustic amp running through a Torque PA, with an Alesis Quadraverb as a preamp. I'm playing a mixture of folk, jazz and blues, and use an Epiphone 'Joe Pass' signature model alongside the Gibson during gigs, so the amp / PA setup have to be interchangeable between the two guitars.

The sound of the Gibson is just blissful; completely balanced between the strings, a wonderful 'hollow' sound to the upper strings and real depth of tone. The Takemine under-saddle Piezo pickup is also superb, capturing the acoustic properties of the guitar without sounding brash or too bright.Strummed, it sounds has a full, lush sound, and with a bit of chorus added through the amp, it feels like a complete orchestra.

This is a 1964 guitar, and I've owned it for 6 months; it's clearly 'been around', and has the usual dents and scratches that you'd expect for a 39-year-old instrument. The front table has 'pulled-up' slightly from string tension - I'm assured that this is not a problem and is quite usual. It has tortoiseshell binding round the body, but apart from that there are no additional finish features. It plays like a dream - the action is perfect, using .10 - .49 gauge strings, and the neck is fast and flawless. If you sound bad on this guitar, you've only yourself to blame - the guitar gives you all the help it can.

I use the guitar for live playing about once a week, lugging it all around the UK to pubs and jazz clubs. It feels indestructable, and at the risk of being too poetic, it actually feels as though it enjoys playing. I am copmpletely confident both in the guitar and the hardware fitted to it - I drive a Volkswagen, and this guitar feels like the musical equivalent.

No idea! I've never had any dealings direct with Gibson at all. I bought the guitar from Vintage and Rare Guitars in Bath, and they gave a 12 month warranty. When I had the pickup fitted by Ray Cooper in Hemel Hempstead, he offered the same warranty.

I feel completely at home with this guitar. I am usually playing with a jazz singer, as a duo, so the guitar has a lot of work to do...and it does - perfectly. Whatever the genre - and it could be jazz, boues, folk, reggae, whatever - it does the business in a completely reliable and unfussed way. I suppose I wish it had a spruce top - the sound of a Martin 00-18 is what I've always wanted, I guess - but for less than #1000, this is about as god value as anyone could wish for.

If it were lost or stolen, after crying for a long time, I'd probably try to fond either another LG-0 or an Epiphone Cortez - another completely underrated guitar that sounds superb. Or I'd buy the Martin 00-18 - and eat dry toast for a year while my bank balance recovered.

Mine is a 1960 LG-0 in dark mahogany. I've never seen another one in this color - they all seem to be natural (blonde) or sunburst. 20 frets joined at the 14th fret. Mahogany top, sides back and neck. Rosewood bridge with 2 pearl dot inlays. Rosewood fingerboard. Ladder bracing. Bound tortoise-shell body. Black pick guard screwed down. Original "alligator" case. It's the bottom of the line Gibson "starter" guitar, but it plays great. I wish the bridge height were adjustable, but that didn't come until later models. Over the years it looks like the string tension may ahve pulled the top up a little bit, but that doesn't seem to have affected the intonation at all.

It's got a very even sound - all strings resonate equally well. The sound is on the bright side and there's just enough bass to give the overall sound a nice flatness. Great for "chunking" rhythms. One could say the sound is amateurish and lacking in depth.

Action is average, but with some filing of the bottom of the bridge, it could be phenomenal. There are many scratches, but because of the dark wood, they are hardly noticeable. The dark wood is overpowering and it doubles as a beautiful piece of furniture. The neck is very rounded (i.e. small radius) which makes playing chords accuratelt a little harder than a flat neck. It also makes adjusting the bridge harder because you can't just file it flatly.

I plan to use this guitar as my "leave it in the corner to play anytime" guitar. I take very good care of my guitars so I expect it will last forever. Only 1 strap button on the bottom. I would expect I could play it anywhere without concern. After all, it's a Gibson! The wood doesn't feel all that solid, but that's the nature of mahogany.

I've never had to have a Gibson repaired... and I've owned plenty if them, mostly electric, in my 41 years of playing. Hence I cannot judge customer support. I did once ask a guitar-dating question and Customer Service responded promptly, friendly and in the detail I wanted.

When I bought it I was unsure of the year and several people told me it was from the 40's. Unfortunately that turned out to be inaccurate and I paid more than it may be worth. However, this guitar is as good as new and I absolutely love it, so it is worth the price to me. I don't see many 1960 guitars in nearly as good condition as this one.