Lloyd Loar came to Gibson as an acoustic engineer in 1919. He is widely known for bringing many new innovations to Gibson guitars in the 1920s. Some of these innovations included elevated fingerboards, longer necks on mandolins, and the f-hole mandolins and guitars.These instruments were named Style 5, and designated the Master Model Series. Approximately 250 guitars and mandolins were personally inspected by Loar. Some guitars made since 1924 may have the virzi tone producer, which is an oval-shaped wood sounding board suspended from the top. Loar left Gibson in 1924, and the guitars he designed will command a premium in the secondary marketplace.
For organizational consideration, the category names and variations have been listed in alphabetical sequence. In the numbered series, models will start with the lowest number, and end with the highest. Named models will appear at the end of the categories whenever possible. The following categories appear in this order: B Series, Blue Ridge/Blues King Series, C Models, Centennial Series, CL Series, Dove Series, Everly Brothers Series, Folksinger/Gospel Series, Hall of Fame Models, Hummingbird Series, Jumbo/J and SJ Models, L Series, LG Series, Mark Series, Misc., Model O & U Series, Songbird Series, Songwriter Series, Super 300/Super 400 Series, Working Man & Working Musician Series. The current and recent Gibson Historic Collection models can be found after these categories. Acoustic electric models can be found at the end of this section, under the Acoustic Electric category. In some cases, acoustic electric models/submodels may appear as a variation in the acoustic section.
While the thought of a Sunburst finished Les Paul brings many players (and collectors) a case of the warm fuzzies, Gibson acoustic guitar collectors are more partial to a Natural finish acoustic over a similar model finished in Sunburst. As a result, there is a premium for Natural finished Gibson acoustics.
For organizational consideration, the category names and variations have been listed in alphabetical sequence. In the numbered series, models will start with the lowest number, and end with the highest. Named models will appear at the end of the categories whenever possible. The following categories appear in this order: B Series, Blue Ridge/Blues King Series, C Models, Centennial Series, CL Series, Dove Series, Everly Brothers Series, Folksinger/Gospel Series, Hall of Fame Models, Hummingbird Series, Jumbo/J and SJ Models, L Series, LG Series, Mark Series, Misc., Model O & U Series, Songbird Series, Songwriter Series, Super 300/Super 400 Series, Working Man & Working Musician Series. The current and recent Gibson Historic Collection models can be found after these categories. Acoustic electric models can be found at the end of this section, under the Acoustic Electric category. In some cases, acoustic electric models/submodels may appear as a variation in the acoustic section.
While the thought of a Sunburst finished Les Paul brings many players (and collectors) a case of the warm fuzzies, Gibson acoustic guitar collectors are more partial to a Natural finish acoustic over a similar model finished in Sunburst. As a result, there is a premium for Natural finished Gibson acoustics.