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Gibson L-00 Original
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
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Playability
75
Sound
84
Build
89
Value
73
Score
83
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Playability
78
Sound
86
Build
94
Value
71
Score
86
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson L-00 Original vs Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western

Reasons to Get
Gibson L-00 Original over Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western

Number of Frets
19 vs 20
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Acoustic Slim Taper vs Acoustic V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Body Shape
Parlor vs Concert
Very small body with prominent mid tones
Value Score
73 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western over L-00 Original

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Acoustic V vs Acoustic Slim Taper
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Number of Frets
20 vs 19
Allows to reach higher notes
Body Shape
Concert vs Parlor
Compact body with balanced tones

Other Key Differences
Gibson L-00 Original vs Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western

Bridge Material
Rectangle, closed slot vs Rectangular, Closed Slot
Different Bridge Material

Shared Features
Gibson L-00 Original vs Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western

Back Material
Mahogany
Same Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany
Same Sides Material
Saddle Material
Bone
Same Saddle Material
Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Nut Width
1.725'' (43.8mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Nitro
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western is probably the better product overall with its final score of 86 compared to the Gibson L-00 Original's 83 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Gibson L-00 Original has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Gibson L-00 Original is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson L-00 Original
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson L-00 Original Overview

  • From Gibson's 2020 Original Acoustic series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs VTC (Preamp/Active)
  • Rectangle, closed slot bridge
  • Acoustic Slim Taper Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Golden Age tuners
  • Weight around 3.7lbs (1.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Overview

  • From Gibson's 2021 Artist Collection series
  • Nathaniel Rateliff Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Adirondack Red Spruce top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs VTC (Preamp/Active)
  • Rectangular, Closed Slot bridge
  • Acoustic V Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gotoh Keystone tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Winner: Tie.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson L-00 Original
Sustain 90
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 84
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Sustain 90
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 86

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson L-00 Original compares to the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gibson L-00 Original's are Golden Age while the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's are Gotoh Keystone

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson L-00 Original
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson L-00 Original
Quality of materials 86
Features 85
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 89
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Quality of materials 96
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 94

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson L-00 Original Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43.8mm (1.725'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Gibson L-00 Original and Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson L-00 Original Neck Profile
Gibson L-00 Original's neck profile
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Neck Profile
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Gibson L-00 Original has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson L-00 Original Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Gibson L-00 Original and the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western favors large hands more than the Gibson L-00 Original.

Gibson L-00 Original:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson L-00 Original and Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson L-00 Original
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson L-00 Original vs Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
General Gibson L-00 Original Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Brand: Gibson Gibson
Year: 2020 2021
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Original Acoustic Artist Collection
Colors: Black Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Sitka Spruce Solid Adirondack Red Spruce
Sides Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Back Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Rectangle, closed slot Rectangular, Closed Slot
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Golden Age Gotoh Keystone
Fretboard: Rosewood Indian Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Mother-of-pearl dots Pearloid Parallelogram
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Acoustic Slim Taper Acoustic V
Frets: 19 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 43.8mm (1.725'') 43.8mm (1.725'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: LR Baggs VTC (Preamp / Active) LR Baggs VTC (Preamp / Active)