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Zombie thread, but I thought a couple things that may help someone searching out there could be noted. I picked up a LGB30 a couple months ago and I just love it. I love longer scale guitars but after playing one of these in my local shop I decided to go for one. I'm getting old and it doesn't hurt. For the $ it's a work of art for sure, but more importantly it a great playing guitar.
-it's a warm sounding guitar. It's the wood+construction and just the way it is. Not so much so that you can't get any bite on the higher strings. But definitely basically a warmish tone.
-The controls and pots work very well. It seems that having smooth tone adjustment is a rarity now days, but this guitar has a nice taper from bass to treble without jumps.
-The bridge is floating and you will have to do something about that or it will move a bit after a few hours of playing. At least mine did.
-The wood covered tailpiece is nice, but it is a bit difficult to get the ball end in the tailstock when changing strings. Not too bad though.
-The fretwork is great and everything is smooth. With a fret rocker I couldn't find any with more than maybe .001" height difference.
-The Super 58's are nice pickups. I replaced the neck one with a bit hotter pickup and Alnico ll poles. I'm not sure I improved anything but it allowed me to back the pickup down so I don't tap it with a pick.
My only real complaint, and it's just a personal thing, is I would like a bit more depth to the neck. I wouldn't call it real thin, but tends toward that. I like some fullness in the neck profile.
-To my surprise, the fingerboard radius is 10" which I love. I thought it would be 12" based on the specs. I have both plastic and metal radius gages.
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08-04-2019 09:45 PM
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it's a shame this review wasn't available when this dialogue was up and running.
I think it ends the debate as to whether the GB10 can deliver a thick, warm, snappy tone.
This is about as snappy as it gets..
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I was.. but now I'm looking at a Gibson L5 or similar.
Originally Posted by Lobomov
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I have a LGB30 coming in next week. I played it a couple of weeks ago in a bid store around the corner in cologne and was able to compare also to the GB10 SE and some Epiphones (Imperior, ES 335, Joe Pass) and some Gibson ES335
I hooked up to a Roland blues Cube and the LGB just stuck to my hands. It delivers exactly the Jazz Sound I am looking for. Warm, yet crispy, implacable intonation across the fretboard, rich harmonics and a super easy handling. A lot of that already unplugged. The neck was just amazingly easy, the action perfect for me.
The GB10 SE I’d say came along with a similar sound, a bit fatter maybe, and I almost fell in love with both of them. The final call for the LGB was due to the better handling. I just couldn’t get over how easy chord changes and melody flows came along.
similar experiences I had when I was purchasing my Duesenberg Double Cut.
so, I am looking forward to the Jazzbox coming in and keep the thread alive for any future buyers.
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I've owned an AG75, and have been playing a GB10em for the last few months. Both are great cheap guitars, and the GB10em plays exactly how I like, low action and slim neck (the AG75 had a slightly fatter neck). This week I got a LGB30 and WOW, I love this guitar! Neck & action feel identical to the GB10em, but the tone is fatter and deeper, exactly what I was hoping for. Played it on a gig last night and got a bunch of compliments on my sound. It is a beautiful looking guitar. I have never played a proper GB10, but I am satisfied with the LGB30 and wouldn't want to go back to what I'd assume would be a thinner tone from a smaller body & floating pups.
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UPDATE; curiosity got the better of me and last week I bought & returned a GB10se. It is a higher quality version of the GB10em I had (duh). I am just not a fan of the tone of the floating mini hums and smaller body. I do love the ergonomics of the smaller body, but my larger LGB30 has a deeper rounder tone that is fantastic. Last year I replaced the goofy looking stock wooden tailpiece with a normal looking one from Guitar Fetish (my tech did it, as the holes didn't line up). I will never sell this guitar!
PS - I've been told on another forum that the GB10 is the best sounding model, but I am satisfied w/ my LGB30. And TBH, with the ~ retail prices being GB10em $700, LGB30 $1200, and GB10se $1400, and the GB10 jumping up to $3600, it's not in my budget to find out
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UPDATE - Curiosity got the better of me again, and I just got a 2000 GB10 from Japan ($2400 shipped from GC.com). It is beautiful!! Heavier than I expected (7.4 lbs). Removed the flatwounds (not a fan), and put .11 Elixers on (my fave string for jazz). Adjusted the truss rod & action & played it for a few hours. It has a thick mid focused tone. Then I pulled out my trusty LGB30. Its slightly larger (15.75" vs 14.5" at the lower bout), and comes with full sized Ibby Super 58 set in pickups (vs the floating mini hums). As much as I wanted to love the GB10, my LGB30 just sounds better to my ear; deeper bass with a chime to the top end (reminds me of Kenny Burrells tone). Action (& weight, 6.6 lbs) is better too. The GB10 is going back to GC (after I play it for a week or two).
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Interesting last post on the GB10 vs LGB30 comparison.
A matter of taste for sure, but I feel l may have the same opinion. I haven't owned a LGB30, but have owned a GB10 for a while. It was a superlative instrument, but didn't really bond with it.
What suprised me the most was its weight. For some reason it's quite heavy for a small archtop. The Chinese GB10se are lighter, which is strange since they're supposed to be a fac simile.
How are the pickup's on the LGB30? I know they're the Super 58, but doubt they're the same as the MIJ ones from the 80's?
These were super sweat.
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owning the LGB30 I can say I mostly play this one acoustical, as for plug-in I am more in love with my FGN masterfield and Collings I 35, but these are a different category and the throwbacks on my collings are just a different league. Originally Posted by Jx30510
anyhow, I think the super 58 on the LGB30 are really a great bang for the bug. The retail price of them is close to 500€ the pair and they really let the archtop tone shine. The LGB30 comes with both a wooden and a Gibraltar bridge and I have the impression the Pickups Match Great with the wooden bridge. They are a little prone to feedback and the neck pick-up can get a little muddy.
ah, and the box is heavy, too
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Thanks for your insights.
I know it (used to?) comes with the wooden bridge. Well at the time I got interested with it around 2015 or so. Not sure they still provide it today ?
One thing I don't like about the LGB30 is that golden flashy Gilbratar bridge.
And the wooden tailpiece.
If I purchase it, I'll swap them for sure
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Hi, I purchased a used LGB30 from a guy on Ebay who lived about 75 miles from my place in SW Montana. I drove to his place and he showed me his very slightly used LGB30 blonde. It looks brand new, not a scratch or blemish on it. I tried it and really liked it and he only wanted $750.00 for it with original case in perfect shape. H had cut his hand bad and can't play guitar anymore. I searched online for all I could learn about jazz guitars prior to buying one and wanted to try an LGB30. The nearest music store to me is 3 1/2 hrs. away so I never went there. Anyway purchased the guitar, it is as new, plays like a dream. I have smaller hands and the neck is just right and fast. The tone is great. I was thinking of maybe getting the GB10 but after seeing the price and looking online at the specs. of the LGB to the GB10 it didn't seem right. They are very much alike. I also purchased a like new D'Angelico Excel EXL-1 archtop jazz guitar with one neck pickup and like it a lot also. Recently just had to have an Eastman AR503ce guitar which is OK but not near the guitar of either of the others. I do not see how the GB10 could sound better after playing it thru my Roland 22 amp or my Henriksen Bud 6. I will be quite happy with the guitar I have. I Will be replacing the tailpiece with a gold tailpiece to make string changes easier and it comes with a wooden bridge you can exchange with the metal bridge. I do play out once a week in a dining room and sing as well. The LGB and Henriksen Bud 6 suit me perfectly. The build quality of the LGB30 from China is perfect, top shelf. Don't be afraid to go with the LGB30. Good luck!
HansLast edited by Hans Solo; 12-07-2025 at 10:40 AM. Reason: additional info
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Thanks ! When you say "I had to have an Eastman AR503 which was ok but not near... "
Do you mean it didn't compare well to the Ibanez LGB30 ?
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Yes, I was referring to the Eastman. I found a used one on Reverb and made an offer of $1000.00 on a "like new" model and it was excepted. The retail price at the time was $1,949.00. The guitar is made in China and arrived in like new condition. It is a 2025 model. The fretboard width is 1.75 which is wider than both my other jazz guitars and not that easy for me to play so I will no doubt sell it. The hand carved spruce top had me curious and for the price of the guitar new I expected great sound when unplugged but was not happy with that. Just my opinion. My other two jazz guitars sound much better unplugged. Plugged in the guitar sounded fine. Hope that helps.
Hans
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