1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty Vintage Electric Guitar W/ Case
Item History & Price
Up for sale, a 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom, lovingly played and in perfect working order. A quintessential '70s Black Beauty, this Custom has a clear, ringing quality that translates well through the original humbuckers. It's a very resonant Les Paul, and the pickups have no shortage of punch and power, with ample articulation and detail in the top end, as well as bass frequencies that stay taut and defined. The neck pickup actually predates the guitar, and is a patent sticker Gibson T... Top ostensibly from earlier in the decade with original windings, untouched solder on the cover, and a rich, ripping quality. The bridge pickup in contrast is a modern Gibson PAF reissue, likely a '57 Classic, which pairs well in terms of output and tonal characteristics. The guitar weighs 10lbs 4oz, and the combination of a carved maple top and solid mahogany body has the classic Les Paul tonal profile, with the warmth and fullness of the mahogany balanced by the top end and snappy attack provided by both the maple top and the ebony fretboard. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, we've dialed in this Les Paul Custom with fresh 10-46 strings, optimal intonation, and low action.
The three-piece maple neck has a modestly slender C shape at the nut, with limited perceivable increase in profile depth and just a hair more shoulder and roundness as you travel up the fretboard. The neck has a quick, effortless quality in every register, measuring .827" deep at the 1st fret and .970" at the 12th. The original wide fretwire is intact showing notable wear on frets 1-9, particularly beneath the plain strings. The ebony fretboard boasts multi-ply binding and pearl block inlays, and the nut has been upgraded with a hand-carved piece of bone measuring 1 11/16" in width. The headstock retains the original gold Schaller-made and Gibson-branded tuning machines with metal tulip buttons. These tuners hold pitch well and have the exceptionally smooth and reliable gear ratio. On the back of the headstock, the guitar sports its original serial number and "Made in USA" stamp as well as a volute, consistent with the era of production.
The "pancake" (two-piece) mahogany body is capped by a three-piece maple top, and all body routes are original and untouched. The pickups are wired to the original harness which features a quartet of CTS pots which date to the 25th week of '77. The hardware consists of an original gold Nashville bridge and original tailpiece with patina through the plating on the tailpiece studs and bass side edge of the bridge. The plastic parts include the stock stock truss rod cover, pickguard, switch ring, and reflector cap knobs, while the gold jack plate is a modern replacement.
In terms of cosmetic wear, the guitar shows heavy buckle rash on the back, with wear down to the bare mahogany on the bass side upper bout and deeply ambered body binding. It's one of the more soulful and honestly played vintage Customs we've had in some time, and the response of the instrument is notable as a result, with both an acoustic and electric presence and power that only comes from a guitar that's been consistently played for decades. This Les Paul Custom is structurally sound, professionally setup, and ready to be played.
A notably used yet viable Gibson USA brown tolex hardshell case is included.
Check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, " and please let us know if we can answer any questions!
Shipping in the continental USA will be $75, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.
International orders will be declared as “merchandise, ” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import. We have all necessary CITES paperwork in-hand to ship rosewood worldwide.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues.
The three-piece maple neck has a modestly slender C shape at the nut, with limited perceivable increase in profile depth and just a hair more shoulder and roundness as you travel up the fretboard. The neck has a quick, effortless quality in every register, measuring .827" deep at the 1st fret and .970" at the 12th. The original wide fretwire is intact showing notable wear on frets 1-9, particularly beneath the plain strings. The ebony fretboard boasts multi-ply binding and pearl block inlays, and the nut has been upgraded with a hand-carved piece of bone measuring 1 11/16" in width. The headstock retains the original gold Schaller-made and Gibson-branded tuning machines with metal tulip buttons. These tuners hold pitch well and have the exceptionally smooth and reliable gear ratio. On the back of the headstock, the guitar sports its original serial number and "Made in USA" stamp as well as a volute, consistent with the era of production.
The "pancake" (two-piece) mahogany body is capped by a three-piece maple top, and all body routes are original and untouched. The pickups are wired to the original harness which features a quartet of CTS pots which date to the 25th week of '77. The hardware consists of an original gold Nashville bridge and original tailpiece with patina through the plating on the tailpiece studs and bass side edge of the bridge. The plastic parts include the stock stock truss rod cover, pickguard, switch ring, and reflector cap knobs, while the gold jack plate is a modern replacement.
In terms of cosmetic wear, the guitar shows heavy buckle rash on the back, with wear down to the bare mahogany on the bass side upper bout and deeply ambered body binding. It's one of the more soulful and honestly played vintage Customs we've had in some time, and the response of the instrument is notable as a result, with both an acoustic and electric presence and power that only comes from a guitar that's been consistently played for decades. This Les Paul Custom is structurally sound, professionally setup, and ready to be played.
A notably used yet viable Gibson USA brown tolex hardshell case is included.
Check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, " and please let us know if we can answer any questions!
Shipping in the continental USA will be $75, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.
International orders will be declared as “merchandise, ” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import. We have all necessary CITES paperwork in-hand to ship rosewood worldwide.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues.
