Vintage acoustic guitar strings martin 1964 martin acoustic strings EPIPHONE martin guitar strings FT-45 martin acoustic guitar strings "CORTEZ" martin d45 / GIBSON LG-3 Acoustic, G'd Cond. OCBC!

As you can see by googlingALUMPSTER’S GUITARS, I generally sell only Martin, Gibson, Guild, Taylor, Larrivee,and Alvarez-Yairi guitars. Most of these models are made so well that they tendto increase in value and improve in the complexity and resonance of their soundas they age, regardless of their appearance; I can therefore sell them withconfidence despite my lack of real expertise. This guitar, like all my guitars, is available at a negotiable Buy ItNow price with Free Shipping in my on-line store at any time. I will also considerreasonable offers in my store, even including installment payments andtrade-ins, but generally unusual deals must be unusually sweet. If you have a question about this guitar, or a particularmodel of any brand in which you are interested, please Google “alumpster’sguitars” to ask on-line or at 803-731-0515, and I will be happy to let you knowif it will be available soon.

I apologize in advance for telling youfolks what some of you already know and others of you don’t want to know, butit’s stuff which anybody who is considering buying this guitar ought to know,so here goes:

Gibsonintroduced the LG-3 in 1942 as a kind of junior partner to the famous J-45,with the same solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck, according toGeorge Gruhn’s Guide to Vintage Guitars. It had internal X-bracing, full3-ply body binding (one ply on the back), a three-stripe rosette, a straightrosewood bridge with pearl dot inlay and white bridge pins, a 14/20-fret (after1955) rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, a blackface headstock with ascreened gold logo, and three-on-a-side nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners with whiteplastic buttons. The LG-3 was a substantial upgrade both from its predecessor,the L-00, and the less expensive models in the series (LG-0, LG-1, and LG-2),both in its design and in its "specially selected" woods.

Thesmaller dimensions of the LG models (14 1/8” lower bout, with a 24 ¾” scale)allowed Gibson to use straight-across ladder bracing on the top as well as theback of the LG-0 and the LG-1, but for the LG-2 and LG-3 they used the moreresponsive X-bracing of the J-45 itself. Similarly, for the less expensivemodels Gibson used a single piece mahogany back with no center seam; the LG-3 hada book-matched two-piece back. It was usually in a natural finish, showing off thegrain of the fine spruce top--rather than covering up imperfections with asunburst finish, as on the less expensive ladder-braced LG-1 and X-braced LG-2.While it was itself succeeded by the B-25 by 1966, the LG-3 is perhaps Gibson’sall-time best small-body acoustic. 

However,in 1958 Gibson also acquired the Epiphone trademark and equipment, lock, stock,and barrel, and as the Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars says, “It was decided thatEpiphone would be re-established as a first-rate guitar manufacturer, so thatGibson’s parent company, CMI, could offer a product comparable in every way toGibson....Gibson was (in effect) competing with itself,” selling virtuallyidentical models of guitar. All were built at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo tothe same high standards, in many cases by the same designers and craftsmen, butwith different labels and model numbers. While this situation only lasted until1969, when most Epiphone production was shifted abroad, the Epiphone guitars producedduring this period look and perform almost exactly like their Gibsoncounterparts, and are therefore highly prized by players and collectors alike. 

TheKalamazoo era is when this particular guitar was made: the label designates itas an Epiphone FT-45 Cortez, but it was the spitting image of the Gibson LG-3described above. The serial number (166802) suggests that in the somewhatunreliable Gibson “system” it was produced in 1964. It had the tortoisepickguard which the Blue Book says was introduced with no logo in 1961, and atone time you could tell at a glance—as well as with a chord or two—that the DNAof this guitar was 98% Gibson; it looked like an LG-3, played and sounded likean LG-3, and was a truly cool little instrument. 

Ihope that you’re still with me—perhaps thinking that if it’s really like a 1964Gibson LG-3, this thing’s worth serious consideration, and you’re right. Thegood news is that the following parts seem to be original and in very goodcondition: the neck and headstock are totally sound, with no cracks or repairs;the finish on the solid back and sides is excellent for the era, and whatappears to have been a slight separation in the seam of the two-piece back andwhat may have been a small crack have been sealed; the original Kluson Deluxethree-on-a-strip tuners are in place and work well; the binding on top and backis in great shape and has that golden vintage patina; and the end pin is solidand original. 

However,this particular guitar’s top has experienced a lot of modifications, and sinceI didn’t do ‘em, I can’t vouch for ‘em. To start with, apparently severalcracks have been thoroughly glued and cleated—but it’s kinda hard to tellbecause the entire top has been carefully sanded and apparently clear-coated.In the process, the pick guard and rosette disappeared, the bridge wasreplaced, and a non-original tail piece was installed and then removed (leavingthree small screw holes above the end pin). Both the nut and the truss rodcover are also replacements. These modifications are essentially cosmetic in thegrand scheme of things, but they obviously reduce any collectible status, ifthat’s your interest. 

Structurally,there are other issues which still need to be professionally resolved but which arebeyond my skill set. It sounds and looks like there are several loose braces,and one might be missing altogether. No big deal. However, I suspect that thebridge replacement and the tailpiece experiment were an attempt to avoidre-setting the neck (again?). While the truss rod appears to be working, theaction is currently unplayably low judging from a straight-edge/visual check.My assumption is that the bridge/neck/nut relationship is gonna have to bedealt with by someone who knows what he’s doing, and my luthier says he can’tget to it for three months. “Maybe.” So opportunity is knocking for you to owna vintage X-braced Gibson which needs love—and which should respond with agreat sound for life. 

Thecase is a vintage chip board case—probably not original, but certainly adequatefor this guitar at this stage in its rehabilitation. It is in pretty good shapefor its age, inside and out, with all hardware intact, and a clean gold plushinterior. It’s a bit large for the smaller shape of the FT-45, but it affords vintageprotection for this quality vintage instrument. 

Buyerpays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states;shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal ispreferred; cashiers checks are acceptable, but checks must clearbefore the guitar will be shipped. 

Ihave tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintageguitar, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it wasegregiously misrepresented in this listing. It clearly is a project guitar andis explicitly being sold as-is. Please check out the pictures and ask anyquestions you might have before offering to buy. 

Thankyou for your interest in this potentially cool vintage instrument.