A very cool 1956 Gibson LG-2 ¾, formerly owned by Martin Barre of Jethro Tull, complete with its original Gibson crocodile card case. Gibson’s three-quarter-size flat-tops are far less commonly seen than their full-size counterparts and offer a distinctive combination of vintage tone, compact feel and quirky mid-century Gibson design.

The LG-2 ¾ model was introduced in 1949 as a scaled-down version of Gibson’s popular LG flat-tops. Measuring approximately 12¾ inches across the lower bout with a 22¾" scale length, these guitars feature mahogany back and sides paired with a spruce top, producing a lively, woody response with plenty of boxy midrange character. Unlike the larger LG-2, the three-quarter model utilised ladder bracing, giving it a slightly more direct and punchy tonal character that suits fingerstyle playing particularly well.

This 1956 example is finished in Gibson’s classic sunburst. The body retains its original finish, which has aged attractively over the decades. The spruce top is fitted with the correct teardrop tortoiseshell pickguard, the mahogany back and sides are paired with a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, giving the guitar the familiar Gibson LG look of the period.

Hardware includes the correct rosewood bridge with pearl dots, fitted with a fixed saddle and white bridge pins with black dots. The headstock carries the traditional Gibson silkscreen logo, the tuners are replacement Kluson Deluxe. As is often the case with well-played vintage acoustics, this guitar shows signs of honest maintenance and repair during its lifetime. The headstock features a non-factory 'stinger' having suffered a break in the past. The repair is good and the finish work is limited to the stinger area only. The guitar has been refretted, the nut replaced, and there is visible play wear on the back. Structurally the guitar is solid and presents as a lively and usable vintage instrument.

The neck itself is quite distinctive, with a relatively slim nut width but a chunky, rounded profile, giving it a comfortable and substantial feel in the hand despite the smaller overall dimensions of the instrument.

This guitar has a wonderfully intimate voice, the ladder-bracing, and tonewoods offer a particularly charming vintage tone that is dry, woody and responsive, with a strong harmonic fundamental, punchy midrange and sweet highs that works beautifully for blues, folk and fingerstyle playing.

Overall this is a very cool, rare and unusual vintage Gibson that offers both historical interest and plenty of musical character, not to mention the artist owned provenance. Comes complete with the correct 'croc' case.