Gibson: LG-0 or B15

[nate_dennis]

I know they aren't the highest end gibsons. But I've heard some nice demos of the LG-0. I can't find a demo of the B15. So I'm curious which one you all would chose. Here comes the background.

I play americana type stuff. Folk, blues, country, rock. I lean more toward folk and country (old country, not new shit.) But I do need a guitar to play classic rock and blues stuff too. So what do you think?

Gibson LG-0 for $480

or

Gibson B15 for $450?

The big problem is . . . I can't test them out. I'm certain that if I don't like them I can probably get my money back (since they are Gibsons.) Thanks for the pointers guys.

(The guitar that is a close up of the body is the LG-0. The total guitar picture is the B15)

 

[nate_dennis]

I'm somwhat surprised that no one has chimed in. I know guitars are subjective, I'm more or less just asking for your thoughts on each one. If you've played one, what did you think?

 

[muttley600]

I've played a few of both and have quite a bit of knowledge of others like them.

For what you want I wouldn't touch either but it ain't my guitar dude it's yours. Thats why I never chip in to opinion threads except to correct factually incorrect info.

It's your choice no one elses.

 

[nate_dennis]

(This is why I hate living in the middle of fucking nowhere.)

Can you give me any suggestions on what you might chose for this type of music? Like I've said before, I know this is all subjective, and I don't expect you to tell me what to get. But you do know a helluva lot more about guitars than I do. I'm really looking to spend no more than $500 USD. I'm interested in older guitars (but I really don't know why.) Thanks for all your info, Mutt, around these boards.

 

[Milnoque]

I'm going to make some GUESSES about the two guitars in the pictures. There is not enough information in the pictures to be very helpful.

I suspect the LG-0 has been refinished. Judging from the bridge it was probably made prior to '62.

The B-25N is likely to be from the later '60s or early '70s.

Just playing the odds...

The LG-0 comes from a better vintage and may be the better sounding guitar, but it is likely to respond best to a softer playing style. If it has been refinished it is worth no more than its asking price,and you have to wonder if it was stripped to cover up some repairs. You also have to wonder about the finish job. You need more info before you pull the trigger on this one.

The B-25 is worth a little more. Some (but by no means all) of these are X-braced. X-bracing would be a big plus. This guitar is likely to respond better to a more robust playing style, but is unlikely to produce a big sound. It can be very cool for chunky acoustic blues.

There are quite a few modern instruments that are a better musical bang for the buck in that price range than the average examples of those models from Gibson, but some of those cheaper Gibbies are real honeys. Get all the information you can before you decide.

You're right about the re-sale issue.

 

[nate_dennis]

Milnoque,
Thanks for all that info. I am curious of one thing . . . .
You refer to it as a B25n. GC has it listed as a B15. Why do you believe it to be a different model? I do appreciate your help.

 

[pohaku]

Yeah, FWIW, a B25 is a different model and not what you have in the picture. I have one and it's a great guitar, but likely to be considerably more than the $500 you are looking at paying. I've never played a B15, but I've played a number of LG-0s. Fine for folk, country and finger style guitar. Like most small body Gibsons, lighter on the bass. I've played nice ones and some that were pretty bland. Hard to know without playing both. If I had to choose between the 2, I'd probably take the LG-0. It has a fixed saddle, while the B15 has the adjustable saddle that Gibson used on the B-25 and J-45 of that era. The B15 was the last B series guitar made by Gibson and was introduced in 1967, I believe. It was the bottom of the B line. I can't tell from the picture, but is the bridge wood or plastic? There was a period when the bridge for the B25 and B15 was made of plastic with an adjustable wooden or ceramic saddle. The plastic bridges tended to warp over time. Not one of Gibson's best moments.

Edit. I looked more closely at the picture with a better monitor - the bridge looks like it is wooden - the plastic ones were black. Also, maybe it's the lighting, but that B15 looks like it has a Mahogany top. It should be spruce.

 

[Milnoque]

My Bad,

It is in fact a B-15.

 

[chazba]

I have an LG-3 and I love it. It's the top of the LG models and has X bracing and primo spruce top. Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but I would NEVER buy a guitar without first playing it for several minutes. Both the guitars you mention were "entry level ". If you want some tone and playibility, go a little higher up the food chain.

c