1942 Gibson LG3 Banner

Earlier this year at the 2013 NAMM show, Gibson announced a new series of reissue Banner guitars . At the same time John Thomas released his book about the Kalamazoo Gals who built the original Gibson Banner guitars during World War II http://kalamazoogals.com/. Consequently the profile of Banner Gibsons has never been higher and it’s become difficult to keep up with the demand as I continue to get inquiries for Banners we’ve sold. I’ve made it a mission to locate and bring back as many of these historically significant and important guitars as I can for players and audiences to enjoy.

I am so very pleased to offer this mythical guitar, the absolute rarest of all the Gibson banner headstock guitars, the classic Wartime LG-3 model from 1942. FON 7717 H red 21. Only 130 of these guitars were built during the war and not many are known to still exist, and especially not in the condition of this example. According to Gibson records, only 130 were built and all were started in 1942, that’s all!

Besides being the most rare of Banner Gibsons, they are certainly among the most rare of any Gibson flat top model guitar ever made.

Features include a high grade and scarce for the day natural finish spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides and a single piece easy to play medium profile yet comfortable (not baseball bat size) solid mahogany carved neck measuring ~ 1 11/16″ at the nut. This wartime LG3 has the knife sharp bracing with a fully functional adjustable truss rod and a square neck block.

Found in amazingly clean condition with the finish intact, what restoration work needed was lovingly performed by luthier David Hatchard to bring this LG-3 back to optimal playing condition. David closed an open top seam separation and repaired a few hairline cracks and re glued a few of the typical loose braces and performed a complete refret to make the playing surface a dream. David’s fretwork is a thing to behold – intonation is precise, notes ring true, your bends are clean and easy. Action is set to 3/32″ low E and 2/32″ high E. All work to ensure the guitar will be maintenance free with no compromises for the accomplished player or collector.

The LG series guitars remain an exceptionally versatile instrument for performing and writing, whether you strum, play finger style or accompany a singer.

When you’ve got a Banner you’ll always have a story to tell…