Up for sale, a circa 1943 Gibson "Banner Logo" LG-2 in collector-grade condition, complete with a vintage chipboard case. A stunningly well-kept 80+ year old Gibson, this LG-2 is one of sparingly few acoustics produced during the Second World War, unique for numerous reasons, chief among them a solid mahogany top. Due to wartime shortages, Gibson acoustics saw a great degree of variety in their tonewoods in the Banner era, with the mahogany-topped LG-2s being a rare and desirable variant with a distinctive tonal color. Very easy-playing with a straight neck, the other feature which sets this LG-2 apart is its ebony reinforced neck in lieu of a standard truss rod, another factor in wartime shortages with all possible metals going to the war effort (even truss rods).

Paired with mahogany back and rims, a fairly massive mahogany "baseball bat" neck, and a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, this LG-2 benefits from all the maintenance due its vintage, with a professional neck reset, tall carved bone saddle, reseated bridge, a few small crack repairs, and minor fret dressing on the original slender "banjo" fretwire.

A miniature cannon with tons of projection and sweetness, this LG-2 offers an airy, sparkling quality with great liveliness and dynamic range, qualities not typically associated with a mahogany top. Trebles are punchy and round, the wound strings have a burly bark, and there’s a nice woody, percussiveness to the tone that makes for satisfying strumming and fingerpicking. This LG-2 is featherweight at 3lbs 8oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Honduran mahogany
-Shape: Massive C, measuring 1.035” 1st fret, 1.095” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, dot inlay
-Frets: Slender "banjo" fretwire, leveled/crowned, decent meat remaining (no wear)
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 3/4", bone
-Headstock: Banner logo
-Tuners: Golden Age Restoration strip tuners (modern, aged)
-Serialization: 2xxx Factory Order Number on heel (correct for 1943-44)

Body Specs:

-Wood: Honduran mahogany, one-piece top
-Bracing: X
-Bridge: Brazilian rosewood, tall bone saddle
-Bridge plate: Maple, original

The Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original, exhibiting no touch-up or overspray and accented by the original tortoise pickguard. There is one very slight repaired crack on top behind the bridge, just to the bass side of the center on the one-piece top, and the top sits very flat with minimal deflection behind the bridge. There are a couple additional repaired cracks on the bass-side lower bout on the back, while the rims are crack-free. Cosmetic wear is otherwise limited to some isolated areas of lacquer checking and some small nicks and scuffs from very careful use.

A circa 1950s Gibson faux alligator chipboard case is included.