C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE

ARCHIVED • SOLD

C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE

FON 301-8. As the Second World War dragged on into the 1940's the supply oftropical hardwoods dwindled as shipping lanes to and from the major NorthAmerican ports were unsafe and vulnerable to German U-Boat attack. As aresult, manufacturers had to look to other, more locally available,materials. Many Gibson instruments from this era, which were typicallyconstructed of Honduran Mahogany, are built of maple - a wood locallyavailable to the Kalamazoo, Michigan company. Earlier during the war,spruce and steel were rationed for the war effort and instruments withMahogany tops and no truss rods can be found from that period. However, asthe war drew to a close, the supplies of these materials again becameavailable; but the supply of South American Mahogany would take a few monthsto restock. It is during this period that the LG-2 pictured here is mostlikely from.

There was almost no Mahogany used in the construction of this instrument-only the kerfed linings are of this wood. The back and sides are maple,stained dark to match the catalog description of the LG-2. The neck is a 5piece laminate of maple and rosewood, stained dark as well, and capped witha Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. The instrument's top is bookmatched RedSpruce, its bridge is Brazilian rosewood which (typical of Gibsons frompre-'46) is lacquered over. The truss-rod equipped neck features a 1-3/4"nut width, and sports original open-geared Kluson tuners and the famous"Only A Gibson Is Good Enough" headstock logo. The instrument is inexcellent condition despite heavy lacquer crazing. There are no cracks andno loose braces, however there is some minor damage to the pickguard's topcorner where it was previously lifting. The back of the neck sports someworn-away finish in the first position, and there is a small patch ofcase-wear on the upper-treble bout's side. The original frets have somemild wear, but are still very playable, and the action measures 5 to 7 64thsat the 12th fret. The tone is all LG-2, but with the brightness and snap ofmaple. A very rare and interesting instrument.
With period chip-board case
SOLD
C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE
  • C. 1945 Gibson LG-2 MAPLE

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