In 2002, Arlo Guthrie contacted the brilliant luthiers at Gibson Acoustics and asked for help in reconstructing a guitar his legendary father - Woody Guthrie - had given him as a present in the early 1950s. The guitar was an old Gibson LG-2 3/4 that was literally in pieces, yet Gibson decided to undertake the delicate task of restoring this instrument so dear to Arlo's heart, and his father's legacy. Several months later, after completing the restoration and presenting the rebuilt guitar to Arlo, Gibson decided to reissue the Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 as part of its Signature Series line of acoustics. It is a painstaking reproduction of a classic Gibson guitar, yet remaining true to Arlo's original in every way including an aged-like vintage replica finish.

Nickel Gotoh White Button Tuners
Gibson’s Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 features Gotoh's SD91 white button tuners. With a gear ratio of 15:1, the Gotoh's deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage, and a special lubricant inside the gear box provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.

Pickguard
The tortoise pickguard on the Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 is a small teardrop shape designed especially for the 3/4-size acoustic guitar. As with all Gibson's pickguards, the coloring, inlay, binding, and engraving are all done by hand.

Rosette
A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the soundhole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 is a single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Dot Inlays
The fingerboard of Gibson’s Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The LG-2 3/4's dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge - instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck, Gibson Acoustic's rolled edges are slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of the Arlo Guthrie LG-2.

Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)
The Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 is based on the body design of Gibson's legendary L-00 small body. The top is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from Honduran mahogany, giving the Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 a combination of tonewoods and features that produce a mellow, resonant instrument, capable of delivering a broad range of dynamics and bright, ringing tones. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson's guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with "the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities," and today's guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.

Bracing
Every acoustic guitar made by Gibson features hand-scalloped, radiused top bracing inside the body, a feature normally found only in limited run, hand-made guitars. By scalloping each brace by hand, the natural sound of the acoustic is focused more toward the center of the body, enhancing the instrument’s sound projection. The body of the Arlo Guthrie LG-2 3/4 is fitted with a historic ladder bracing pattern used on Gibson's early 19th century acoustics, capable of delivering a broad range of tight, balanced dynamics and bright, ringing tones, and faithfully producing the classic small-body Americana sound.