Introduced in 1958 as an inexpensive, good-souding student model, the Gibson LG-0 featured all-mahogany construction and ladder-bracing—both features that were intended to keep the guitar cost effective. In so doing, though, Gibson created something new: a warm-sounding, bluesy small-body guitar that filled a hole in their acoustic lineup.
Keeping the price affordable was so important to Gibson that they even opted for a plastic bridge in 1962. Unfortunately, these old guitars often fell into disrepair, either because of the ladder-braced design and plastic bridge or because the guitar's owner bought it at a rummage sale and figured it was just another old guitar that could be abused. Nevertheless, these old guitars are worth the effort. When you get one right, they can be as rich-sounding and inspiring as vintage instruments 100 times their price.
This 1965 Gibson LG-0 is in excellent structural condition, and fortunately, its original plastic bridge has been replaced with a solid rosewood bridge, which is a tremendous improvement sound-wise. Underneath the hood, its bridgeplate has been reinforced to improve stability and also accommodate an LR Baggs iBeam bridgeplate transducer. This active pickup also includes a volume control mounted on the bass edge of the sound hole. The headstock looks to have had different tuning machines for much of its life (someone actually drilled a pilot hole all the way through!), but it came to us with period Kluson style machines. There is small cosmetic repair to the edge of the headstock—not a break or anything that would compromise the neck's integrity, just a small cosmetic chip on the edge that has been glued back together.
This '65 LG-0 has been refretted, and its nut has been replaced. The result is an excellent vintage player that won't break the bank. Like a good ladder-braced guitar should, this one growls when you push it, and the all-mahogany body is rich, warm, and full for such a small body. Because of the new frets and setup work, it plays like a dream, and notes ring out clear and true all the way down the fingerboard. It includes a period chipboard case.