Any Gibson L-00 fans

[Dan R]

I enjoy any good sounding, well made acoustic, but I have been a life long Gibson acoustic fan. I am seeing the L-00 at some attractive prices now. Are there any fans of this model? Anything I should know about this guitar?

I have a much loved Hummingbird, which is great for strumming and singing songs, but I have been curious about getting something totally different in sound and feel.

 

[Boreas]

I enjoy any good sounding, well made acoustic, but I have been a life long Gibson acoustic fan. I am seeing the L-00 at some attractive prices now. Are there any fans of this model? Anything I should know about this guitar?

I have a much loved Hummingbird, which is great for strumming and singing songs, but I have been curious about getting something totally different in sound and feel.

You will definitely get a different tone and feel - but it may not be something you like. Try to play one or two and at least make sure you get a good return policy. This isn't to say it is a bad guitar, but it is night/day vs. a Hummer. It will still feel like a Gibson, but how it sounds I cannot say. Likely a great blues guitar. Possibly good for slide as well.

I currently own a '56 LG-1, and have owned a new L-1 Limited Edition, and two pre-war Kalamazoos - a KG-14 and a KG-11. The KG-14 may be the closest to the L-00 in body shape. Loved the playability, but it sounded like a Kalamazoo - very tight due to heavy-handed bracing (ladder-style if I recall correctly). They sounded pretty good with a bottleneck slide. The 1991 L-1 sounded very nice and was of decent build quality, but I never bonded with it. I still have the LG-1 because I preferred it to all of the others.


KG-14:




KG-11:




L-1

 

[Bryan A]

Where you seeing the attractive prices? I’ve a/b’ed an L-00 next to an L1 and L2, I prefer the L1 and L2. not as tiny sounding. I imagine the LG also has a fuller sound.

Also agree with the above poster, worlds different from a Hummingbird, not necessarily in a great way. A Hummingbird or Martin D41 are “Grand piano-do anything” guitars, small guitars like the L00 are very much niche guitars. If you’re into old pre-war blues or old timey music go for it. I have an L2, and it’s fine for old blues etc, but it pales in comparison to my 000-28, and I would only consider it a very distant cousin of my HD28

 

[Boreas]

Where you seeing the attractive prices? I’ve a/b’ed an L-00 next to an L1 and L2, I prefer the L1 and L2. not as tiny sounding. I imagine the LG also has a fuller sound.

Yeah, I think the L-1/L-2 have a better bracing pattern and a better sounding top shape. May also have a bigger sound hole. But this is all from memory.

I think they all are braced more heavily than they need to be for a small top. But they were sturdy. It is difficult to find the right amount of bracing/top thickness on a small or parlor-sized guitar, Martin excelled in this respect. You get pretty good at it after 150+ years!

 

[Bryan A]

Yeah, I think the L-1/L-2 have a better bracing pattern and a better sounding top shape. May also have a bigger sound hole. But this is all from memory.

I think they all are braced more heavily than they need to be for a small top. But they were sturdy. It is difficult to find the right amount of bracing/top thickness on a small or parlor-sized guitar, Martin excelled in this respect. You get pretty good at it after 150+ years!

when talking about the attractive prices, are you talking about the newer issues or the ones from the 20s and 30s? If it’s the old ones, I’d be careful. I imagine there was A LOT of variance in quality. And before I’d spend $2000-3000 on a guitar just for being old, is absolutely look at a Martin 000-28 instead. They can do everything the L00 can do, plus more, and much better IMO.

 

[Boreas]

Frankly, I would shop for a pre-war Gibson or Kalamazoo. Many are in or under the price range you are looking at for a new one - especially the Kalamazoos. Nothing like the MOJO of a pre-war guitar - even if it is a cheapie. The blues was born on these guitars!

 

[Boreas]

when talking about the attractive prices, are you talking about the newer issues or the ones from the 20s and 30s? If it’s the old ones, I’d be careful. I imagine there was A LOT of variance in quality. And before I’d spend $2000-3000 on a guitar just for being old, is absolutely look at a Martin 000-28 instead. They can do everything the L00 can do, plus more, and much better IMO.

My guess is OP was speaking new stuff. The old stuff certainly isn't getting more affordable!

 

[Boreas]

I enjoy any good sounding, well made acoustic, but I have been a life long Gibson acoustic fan. I am seeing the L-00 at some attractive prices now. Are there any fans of this model? Anything I should know about this guitar?

I have a much loved Hummingbird, which is great for strumming and singing songs, but I have been curious about getting something totally different in sound and feel.

Just wondering - is the L-00 a Bozeman guitar?

 

[Bryan A]

Frankly, I would shop for a pre-war Gibson or Kalamazoo. Many are in or under the price range you are looking at for a new one - especially the Kalamazoos. Nothing like the MOJO of a pre-war guitar - even if it is a cheapie. The blues was born on these guitars!

If I were going that route, I’d also consider pre-war Regals. Same quality, same or MORE blues history, and cheaper because Robert Johnson never used one as a prop in a photo shoot.

 

[LiveTransmission]

You might want to take a look at the Martin CEO7 as well if you're in that ball park.

 

[Dan R]

Just wondering - is the L-00 a Bozeman guitar?

Yes, I have been impressed with the guitars from Bozeman. However, I've never played this model.

 

[Boreas]

Yes, I have been impressed with the guitars from Bozeman. However, I've never played this model.

My L-1 was a Bozeman. It was a special edition of 100 guitars supposedly made by Ren Ferguson. I felt the finish was kinda heavy, but well done. Sounded quite good, but the body was still a little bigger than I wanted. I just didn't bond with it. I have never been much of a fan of 12 fret necks even though I rarely venture past the 7th fret. Probably should have kept it, but I couldn't find any mojo in it. It had a really snazzy pink satin lined case!

 

[Bryan A]

Yes, I have been impressed with the guitars from Bozeman. However, I've never played this model.

I would highly HIGHLY recommend playing one before buying. They are definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. And even similarly sized, they sound a lot different than an L1, L2, or LG. What price range are the ones you’re looking at? And I know it’s different strokes for different folks, but I have an L2 and played an L1. I didn’t like the L00 at all. And somebody else mentioned the Martin CEO7, I didn’t like that one at all either. Too teeny tiny sounding for me.

Also, the L00 you’re looking at...12 frets or 14? Most or all of the L1 types have 12 frets. This IMO, gives it more growl which leads to a fuller sound, whereas the 14 frets of the L00 give a brittle snappier sound which make it sound more tiny.

again, my opinion only. But those types of guitars more than any other...you need to play first. Probably in the same price range, you could get a used Martin 000 or OM, and (again, my opinion only) those guitars are at a totally higher level

 

[Old Smokey]

I don't think these are niche guitars or prewar-blues-only guitars at all. Frankly, I think they are much more balanced and versatile that the ubiquitous spruce-top dread, banjo killer.

 

[Bill]

Yes, definitely a fan.

Mine is a 1930 L-1. I found it much louder, "looser," with more bottom end than a new one. It is an amazing guitar for old, Robert Johnson stuff and awesome with slide. I have a couple of small-bodied old guitars--this and a 1927 Martin 0-28K (koa). And the greatest misconception is that these old guitars must sound boxy, small, and quiet. They aren't--or at least mine aren't. Completely different to new models I've played.

For comparison's sake, I also have a 1950 J-45. Which is also louder, looser, and with more lows than a new one. Played hard, it's a really loud guitar.

They both sound quite related to each other, not surprisingly. I'd call their sound woody, warm, and organic. Not tight or modern at all. They have a big sound, kind of enveloping. Think "about as far from a Taylor as you can get." So if you want a very quick attack with tons of focus, it's not the guitar for you.

Naturally my L-1 when flatpicked, is not as loud as my J-45 played with a pick, but my L-1 is still louder than most new dreadnoughts. But the weird thing is the J-45 when fingerpicked, isn't really any louder, or even as loud as my L-1 fingerpicked.

So my L-1 really wants to be fingerpicked and the J-45 flatpicked. Even though you can play anything on either, I don't think either guitar is the Jack of all trades. They definitely have a particular voicing, which happens to be one I love.

 

[985plowboy]

I really want to like them, but I don’t care for the tone.

 

[Dan R]

I really appreciate the responses. I guess I'm just trying to scratch an itch. I've never owned a guitar like that. I've owned many different electric guitars and got them all out of my system. I've only owned dreadnought acoustics. I was wondering about the smaller Orchestra models. It seems like they would be comfortable in the lap for playing. I just was looking for something other than the dreadnought. A Gibson Jumbo is also to my liking, but that's another story.

 

[Bill]

Not to side-track it on Gibson Jumbos, but the Gibson SJ-200 is a guitar that really befuddles me. It looks phenomenal, easily one of the coolest looking acoustics ever, which makes me really want one. But whenever I try one, I can never get a good sound out of them. The ones I've tried are all really quiet guitars that belie their huge size. I guess that's why their nickname is "The Whispering Giant."

 

[zombywoof]

I also own an L1, Mine rolled out of the factory in 1932 and was one of the last of 12 fretters. It has what I would describe as a raw sound where the notes leap off the strings and then quickly get out of the way. Extremely resonant guitar. Amazing hand rubbed finish to boot. It resides comfortably with my 1920 L3 and 1942 J50.