Gibson LGO Acoustic

This guitar was my brothers and was bought from Lees Music in Yakima Wa around 1961. I bought it from my brother in 1973 and played it literally thousands of hours. First three frets have had work done, as they were dished form years of constant playing. Rose wood fret board has been filled once, and is going to need it again. I???ve played this lots! Finish is crazed and scratched some, but is all stock original, nothing changed. Shines great with a little Martin wax at string changes. The LGO is stamped inside the sound hole about ?? in high with black die. Numbers on neck block are T5378_14. Black pick guard, turtle shell looking binding, rosewood wood bridge came on this guitar from the store. Black plactic pegs to hold the strings, open klusons original tuners. Missing one tuner sleeve. This is a mahogany small box guitar with a mahogany neck with tress rod, and the neck is perfectly straight. Plays great, I love the string spacing and the nice round neck, very comfortable close action (been tuned,) I play lots of bar chords on this box. All wood is solid, 20 frets, good to play to fret ten. Made in USA, no electronics, small box, a simple well made guitar.

The small box does not project like a jumbo or dreadnaught, but that is not what it is designed for. It can be moderately loud, however I mostly finger pic this box, sometimes use a flexible pick. Strumming is sweet as well. I have used all kinds of strings, but think that for the wood used and the size of the box, Elixirs light gage are great. DAderio Phosphorous bronze lights are very good as well. Highs are just awesome. Mids strong and mellow, smooth, defined, the lows are good, not great, not what you would get from a big box. I like the sound better then the Martin 16 and Seagull my niece has by far. No comparison. Bluegrass, Jimmy Page style finger picking. Ian Anderson would love this thing. Country, folk, rock.

My guitar is sterling in its construction. The tuners are not the best, but once in tune it stays in tune. Neck is excellent, and fitted to the body perfectly. Absolutely no gap or seam anywhere. The two-piece back is perfect. The seam is so tight that it is barely discernable. I don???t think I have seen a new Martin or Gibson anywhere that is nicer period. Wood is nice tight-grained Mahogany. There are no workmanship issues with this guitar. The pick guard is black plastics, and though durable, I wish it were tortuous shell. At this point I would not change it. I have had the action tuned, and it is almost as good as a electric with good action. Bar chord away!No flaws.

The LGO is a tank. I have been careful with mine, bit this thing is tough. All the hardware is original and works great. Like I said above the tuners are open and somewhat hard to turn, but rock solid and stays in tune. Nothing has even loosened up on this thing. If you miced or put a pickup in this thing it would be a gigging wonder.
I have been picking over 35 years with this, my only box. I want nothing more from this ol' girl. Yes I always wanted a big jumbo box, .J45 Gibson, but I just couldn't stop playing this thing, she???s my lifelong companion. Nice size, great action, love the neck; don???t have to do anything to keep it playing good and the sound just amazes me. Stolen or lost. My two most valued objects, my bible and this box.

The LGO is a tank. I have been careful with mine, but still droped it a couple of times, and it is scratched up some, but this thing is tough. All the hardware is original and works great. Like I said above the tuners are open and somewhat hard to turn, but rock solid and stays in tune. Nothing has even loosened up on this thing. If you miced or put a pickup in this thing it would be a gigging wonder. Though the finish is almost fifty years old, I still get remarks like "Pretty box", and it is still really nice looking. I don't need no stinkin' backup!

Havn't nededed it. Will email and try to find out when this was made.

I have been playing sisce 1972. Had a Hagstrom, Aria, National Montgomery Wards Mandolin from the 20's and while this other boxes were good, this is the one I still have and will never part with. I kept the mandolin too! I do have an old 1965 Decca Garagemaster, (just love that name,) and it plays amazingly well. Vintage is hard to beat.I have been picking over 35 years with this. I want nothing more from this ol' girl. Yes I always wanted a big jumbo box, .J45 Gibson, but I just couldn't stop playing this thing, she???s my lifelong companion. Nice size, great action, love the neck; don???t have to do anything to keep it playing good and the sound just amazes me. My two most valued objects, my bible and this box. My little brunette baby is irreplaceable. I will take this somewhere and try amping it, but would never voilate anything on her to gain electronics.

This guitar was my brothers and was bought from Lees Music in Yakima Wa around 1961. I bought it from my brother in 1973 and played it literally thousands of hours. Gone through a few frets, and have had the nut replaced once. Mahogany fret board has been filled once, and is getting to the point that it needs it done again. The work was done by someone that Taylor music recommended. I like Taylor; he's honest and has always been square. Finish is crazed some, but is all stock original, nothing changed. The LGO is stamped inside the sound hole about ?? in high with black die. No numbers any ware. Black pick guard, turtle shell looking binding, rosewood wood bridge came on this guitar from the store. Black pegs to hold the strings, open original tuners. Missing one tuner sleeve. This is a mahogany small box guitar with a mahogany neck with tress rod, and the neck is perfect. Plays great, I love the string spacing and the nice round neck, very comfortable.

The small box will not project like a jumbo or dreadnaught, but that is not what it is designed for. It can be moderately loud, however I mostly finger pic this box, sometimes use a flexible pick. Strumming is sweet as well. I have used all kinds of strings, but think that for the wood used and the size of the box, Elixirs medium gages are great. DAderio Phosphorous bronze are very good as well. Highs are just awesome. Mids very mellow, smooth, defined, the lows are good, not great, not what you would get from a big box. There are few guitars that I have heard that I like the sound better, a custom Taylor Rosewood and Spruce that cost $3000.00. Also a big black custom Jumbo at Boogieman music in Ellensburg, (great store,) 2000.00. However I think the action (mine has been tuned,) was close to these two all time fav guitars. Rich and bright, bit not huge bass.

This is a well-done guitar in almost every category. The tuners are not the best, but once in tune it stays in tune. Neck is excellent, and fitted to the body perfectly. Absolutely no gap anywhere. The bookmark on the back is perfect, and the seam is so tight that it is barely discernable. I don???t think I have seen a new Martin or Gibson anywhere that is nicer period. Wood is nice tight-grained Mahogany. There are no issues with this guitar, the workmanship is superb. The pick guard is black plastics, and though durable, I wish it were tortuous shell. At this point I would not change it.

The LGO is a tank. I have been careful with mine, bit this thing is tough. All the hardware and finish is original and works excellent. Like I said above the tuners are open and somewhat hard to turn, but rock solid and this really stays in tune. Nothing has even loosened up on this thing. If you miced or put a pickup in this thing it would be a gigging wonder. A 10 it not high enough. I own nothing that is as solid and faithful as this guitar.

Gibson is reputed to have good customer support. I have toyed with the thought of driving to Boseman and dropping it off and having them do the next tuneup, but I think I will just take it to Black Bear in Yakima WA. I have talked with Gibson a time or two about refinishing, and they were great.

II have been picking over 35 years with this, my only box. I want nothing more from this ol' girl. Yes I would like that big black jumbo box at Boogieman music, ...but I just couldn't stop playing this thing. Sounds too good. Stolen or lost, irreplaceable I have not seen any nicer LGO, and I have looked. Other then a few great dog, and one fine girl, this is my best friend. My two most valued objects, my bible and this box.

1965 LGO. This is one great guitar. I bought it on ebay a few months back. Looks brand new, came with the cheap aligator case and the original hang tag. One top crack that was repaired very well, and one ding on the front are the only cosmetic blemishes. One very interesting aspect of this guitar is a black strip about 1/2 inch thick on both side of the body where the neck joins. I was told that union guys would do different things every now again depending on who the shop steward was. It looks pretty cool however it got there.

The sound is amazing, now. It had the cheap plastic bridge which was, of course, pulling up. I had it replaced with a rosewood bridge, and a bone nut and saddle took the place of their plastic counterparts. Those improvements coupled with a minty set of Elixer custom lights, and this thing sounds amazing. Stays in tune suprisingly well considering the old open Kluson tuners. I have tried plugging it in with a soundhole pickup that I borrowed from a friend. It does pretty well through my Crate. I haven't had much time to play around with it though.

With the new bridge, the action is perfect. The neck is straight as an arrow, and I get comprable sound no matter where I play on the fretboard. Contrary to other posts, this guitar has very good projection and sustain. Of course it won't sound like a $1500 Taylor like one guy mentioned, but it holds its own for a 42 year old guitar.

This guitar is an absolute tank. I don't bang it around, but I also don't keep it in a glass case. This guitar was meant to be played, and It gets alot of time.

I went to Black Bear Guitars in Yakima, WA to get the bridge and nut/saddle. I highly reccommend this place to anyone in the WA area. It is a great shop, and I only paid $100 for the work done. I contacted Gibson via their website to see how much the same work would cost at their repair shop, and the quote was around $350. Not to mention I would have to ship it and it would take a couple months.

I love this guitar. I would like to get my hands on another. Preferably one that is a beater that I can take out camping and such. This one is in such good shape that I don't like to take it outside. I would be extreemly pissed off if something happened to it.

I bought this Guitar about 13 year ago for 100.00. Its a 1966 Lgo Gibson. This guy said it was his first guitar and wanted it to go to a good home.I like the thin neck along with light mahogany wood. Tuners are cheap , body is light.

I like the sound because its different than alot of guitars out there. I play a Taylor which sounds so chrisp and loud and clear. but this one just begs to be played out doors near a camp fire or on a long road trip where you don't bring your 1500.00 or more guitars with you. It does play chords real well soft and smooth.

This guitar feels so good. It really becomes a part of you. Its not bulky or heavy. Its thin neck enable you to wrap your fingers around the neck and play with confidence.

This guitar looks fragile but it seems to have lasting over 40 years without much of any problems. playing live might not be the best for this one. This guitar is one that you pass around to a bunch of good friends and each play there classic favorite.

I do need to bring it in and have a little work done on her.

I think I'll keep this one. If I lost it I would consider another. It really has been a good ole friend. I think gibson has the best old guitars out there. There really also a solid investment. if you see one out there you like buy It! and enjoy!

late 60's with mahogany top. a small acoustic. mine is "weathered" with lots of finish/binding cracks and lines. structurally it is as sound as the day it was birthed. it had been well maintained (from a playability standpoint). it is compact and very light. i like it.

this guitar DOES NOT project. my Taylor 420R will blast into wimpering submission. HOWEVER,..it has a very sweet and gentle "singing" quality that articulates very well. it's soft and comforting,..kinda like yer grandma whispering into your ear. i really like the LGO for delicate finger picking and light strumming.

mine is set up perfectly. i guess i should thank the previous owner for that. the finish is "aged" (but that i expect..it is over 30 years old).

this guitar requires a gentle touch. i would only play live if seated comfortably on a stool. the tuners are pretty cheap. the bridge seems a bit cheap as well. i'd rather just keep it in the bedroom studio.

Gibson?? who are they? like most MEGA-HUGE companies i'd just rather own items from their "days of yore" than try to get an answer from them.

this is a sweet little guitar with a warm heart. i would miss it terribly if an asteroid crashed through my roof and pulverized it.

I've had this guitar for a week. It was made in 1966 and has the original vintage cardboard case and owner's documents. These identify it as a Gibson LG0 but it is in many ways atypical. Standard 14 frets at the join. A spruce top (the store called this a "rare" feature on an LGO) with white ivoroid type top binding material. The neck, back, and sides appear to be mahogany. I've read that the LGO's sides are laminates but,if so,these have held up very well and I'm not sure they are actually laminates. The fret board is rosewood, looks more like Brazilian than East Indian. The crumby adjustable bridge looks like rosewood too, unless it's actually faux-rosewood plastic (did they make 'realistic' faux wood-look plastic back in 1966?). Original cheap Klausen open, three to a side tuners on this short scale beater. I'm used to vintage, beefy Martin necks so this feels thin to my hands.

I bought it as a travel guitar and to have an acoustic Gibson to get that great old 30's - 40's cheap guitar blues sound. I do a lot of Robert Johnson, Gary Davis, etc. and this has the right sound. Unlike Martins, my reference, the LGO stresses the fundamental note(s) with little resonance and very little sustain. But the balance and purity of tone are superb. It is not a loud guitar, but very sweet and well suited to finger picking.

The action is great, good Gibson feel. The spruce top looks pretty good by today's standards, straight, medium spaced grain. The mahogany looks like older mahogany--better than what I see mostly today. There's some sloppy gluing visible inside, sort of a Gibson trademark I guess. All in all not bad for a cheapo student guitar.

This guitar has made it through forty years despite ladder bracing, tacky bridge, cheap tuners and all. The finish is dull (satin?) but I don't think that reflects age as much as cheapness. I don't gig anymore but, if I did, I would use this for certain styles (guess what!). My backup would be my 1971 000-18.

I've played since 1962. This guitar is what I was looking for to do and play what I want to do and play. I would not be my 'only guitar' but I'd replace it with a good-as-can-be match if anything goes wrong. It has that vintage Gibson sound and nifty low action that I've always loved. Hard to find anything else this old, this opened-up, and this sweet in this good a condition on the market at a reasonable price, I know, I looked--so laminate(?) be damned, it's a real sweetie.

1967 Gibson LGO Acoustic Guitar.
Solid Mahogany Top
Tuners are kinda cheap
Plastic brige

Great overall sound
Very rich sound although doesn't carry as well as I would like
I love playing country music with it.

Action was a little high, I had a professional sand down the bridge
Finish is great, it's a beautiful guitar for being almost 40 years old.

Guitar plays well.
I have played better and worse.
It's never had any problems, soldid guitar.

This guitar was bought by my grandfather for my mother. Passed down to my sister, and then to me. It's a great guitar. The sound is decent, and it's beautiful. I had it appraised with ideas to buy a new Alvarez which would have better sound and a pickup. It was appraised at $500.00 dollars at Daves Guitar Shop in LaCrosse, WI. The dealer told me to keep it and never sell it.

1965 LG0
Mahogany back sides and top
Solid wood Satin finish

The sound was dull when I bought it used 12 years ago. I bought it to learn to play. The neck is wide and flat with really nice frets.I had it in the closet for 10 years after my wife got me a Washburn for my birthday.Last week I took it to a shop and had the old plastic bridge replaced with ebony. I also had a bone saddle and nut installed. It sounds like a different guitar.Not loud, but really sweet.

My guitar tech did a nice job with the work.The LG0 always played easy with the style of neck it has.

It's a really solid guitar.Seems like it will last forever.

No need for support.

Been playing mandolin, fiddle,and guitar for about 12 years.If this were lost I would look for another.The neck, and sound of this baby are sweeeet.If you get one I would highly recomend changing the plastic bridge to wood.

First I want to tell this is a plain mahogany guitar that I turned into a spyder bridge, round neck, dobro for slide blues. This opens up a whole new realm of features to a guitar that really had little. For those who are interested. I put a perferated polished stainless steel screen under the original sound hole for half moon, cyclopse effect.

As a dobro it is fantastic. As a Guitar it was about a 6. That is why I took a chance and converted it. To my surprise it turned out great. It sings the blues or blue grass.

Bought this guitar used around 1973. Was a little rough then. I think my chop job is quite good and the intonation is exellant. It's not fair to rate your own work.

Built like a tank.

The company is either laughing at this or preparing to launch a new line. If they heard this they probably would

Been playing about 35 yrs. Own too much gear to list. I wish I hadn't waited so long to convert this to a dobro. This guitar set and collected dust for neerly 20 yrs. Went from the worst acoustic in my stable to one awsome dobro.

I'm pretty sure that my LGO is also 1964 or so. Never really been able to pin down the exact date. I pulled mine off a pile of dusty old acoustics at the great Chicago Store music shop in downtown Tucson Arizona back in 1993. I've played it consistently ever since. Travelled all over the place with it. Love it to death. Mine's solid top like the rest. Small yet bulky. Excellent sized fretboard for people with small hands. And the overall size has got to be 10-20% smaller than most guitars. My finish was natural. There were several old repairs. And I myself had overseen an installment of new support ribs in the body owing to a crack from a camping trip.

I play a lot of old-time folksy stuff... actually, a lot of the same kind of music this guitar was probably built for originally. And while I accept some of the comments of the others on this board I do have to say the my LGO has definitely become my primary instrument over the years. I love it for its size, compactness, and feel. I love it for its elderly style and simple grace. Sonically, to be fair, I've heard a lot of my friends play on it and they don't get much bite at all. Me, maybe cause of all the practice, I can get a lot of what I need out of it. Generally, I prefer the strings to be deadened anyhow. So I think it's solid, thunkness is good for me.

Tons of flaws from lots of action over the years. Kept having to replace the plastic saddle pegs. Had to replace a support rib on the inside as well.

Super durable. I backpacked for 11 months with this thing. The finish is good to last.

Too long ago to apply.

I've been playing over 15 years and have grown really attached to this guitar despite knowing that it was not a luxury piece. This guitar is eccentric and timeless, not like a lot of other ones out there.