The LC-1 Cascade features Gibson's Advanced-00 body and bracing in a compact cutaway. The Cascade features an advanced Schertler Bluestick active guitar bridge transducer pickup that produces a natural tone and the full dynamic range of Gibson's concert acoustics. This pickup is capable of putting out 10 dB more before feedback than a standard piezo pickup Additional features include Cedar top, quilted Maple body , a Maple neck with a Rosewood fretboard, Mother of Pearl dot inlays and gold hardware.

In today's world, many acoustic guitar manufacturers have chosen to build their instruments more quickly, cheaply, and in greater numbers. Gibson acoustic guitars are made one-at-a-time, by hand. No shortcuts. No substitutions. They're made in Bozeman, Montana, where the climatic conditions are ideal for guitar building. Most importantly, Gibson acoustic guitars are built by master craftspeople who have dedicated their lives to building the world's finest acoustic instruments. These elements combine to create the difference that is the Gibson acoustic guitar. The difference is "MasterBuilt."

Environment
Even though they might get a little more snow up there, the environs of Bozeman, Montana are a guitar builder's dream come true. Extreme heat and high humidity are natural enemies of wood. Bozeman has neither. The fine spruces, maples, mahoganies and rosewoods are carefully cured and environmentally maintained during the building process.

There are other advantages to Montana… read more in addition to its ideal climate. Gibson's acoustic guitars rely heavily on its builder's sense of creativity and concentration. Living in "Big Sky Country" appears to nurture both of these needs. It seems that looking out over a range of snow covered mountains every morning makes for inspired guitar building -- which, in turn, makes for inspired guitars.

Artistry
Experienced builders and players understand that handmade quality, design and construction determine an instrument's ability to produce truly beautiful sound. Gibson's methods of handmaking guitars have remained unchanged for nearly a century.

The top brace of each guitar is carefully scalloped and arched to focus the sound to the center of the soundhole. The resulting distinctive "Gibson Tone" shares the same vibrance and fidelity as the sound from a fine audio speaker.

Instead of a cheaper bolt-on neck, Gibson's dovetail joint technique creates a cohesive bond between the vibrating neck and body -- almost as if the guitar were carved from a single piece of wood. This time-honored technique effectively transfers the strings' vibrations directly into the wood for superior tone and unsurpassed resonance.

Finally, unlike other manufacturers, Gibson still uses its famous "violin-like" lacquer finish. Over the years, the complex makeup of the lacquer merges with the wood, further sweetening the instrument's tone and providing an unmistakable "vintage" look and feel that players and collectors have come to cherish.

Each Gibson acoustic guitar is full of expression, character and exquisite beauty. None is ordinary, and no two are alike. When compared to a marketplace full of "lookalikes," the differences of a MasterBuilt Gibson acoustic are unmatched in quality and performance.

Experience
When a MasterBuilt Gibson acoustic is played, both the guitarist and the listener share in the resulting perfection. It's no accident that Gibson instruments have been the "artist's choice" for over one hundred years. Gibson not only understands quality -- Gibson understands what it takes to achieve superior quality. This is why each Gibson acoustic guitar is still MasterBuilt in the tradition handed down by a dynasty of Gibson builders -- a dynasty started in 1894 by Orville Gibson himself. read less