Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Solid Body Electric Guitar (1969)

Gibson  Les Paul Deluxe Solid Body Electric Guitar  (1969)
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Item # 10633
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Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1969), 9.62 lbs., made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 850014, gold lacquer top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany body with maple cap, laminated mhogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

This is a truly superb 1969 example of a guitar that would become a perennial 1970's favorite, the Les Paul Deluxe. This particular gold top would be one of the first of these mini-humbucker Deluxes, made just after the switch from the "Standard" designation and P-90 pickups. It shows a host transitional features specific to mid/late-1969, when Gibson made a lot of rapid production changes to the newly-reintroduced Les Paul models. This one was likely made in the early fall of 1969 based on the confluence of the serial number in the mid-800,000s and the exact feature details.

Gibson's Les Paul models were re-introduced in their original single-cutaway form in mid-1968, after being discontinued in 1961. Overwhelming demand from rock players convinced Kalamazoo to re-create their original '50s designs, with new Custom and Standard models based on the originals. The "Standard" most players really wanted was a '59 style sunburst with PAF humbuckers; what Gibson offered was a 1956-style gold top with single coil P-90s. The new two-pickup Custom did have Humbuckers, but players and dealers soon made it known to Gibson that the Standard should be so equipped as well.

Gibson's response was one of those legendary moves that has caused head-scratching ever since. As they had tooled up to rout Standards for P-90s, management decreed the model could be upgraded to humbuckers IF they fit the existing routing! Seemingly impossible, but pattern shop employee Jim Deurloo worked out a nifty solution. The smaller humbuckers originally designed for the Epiphone line could be fitted using a P-90 cover as a surround and voila: a humbucking Standard! Conveniently, it provided an outlet for pickups that would otherwise become redundant as Epiphone production was slated to be moved to Japan. Talk about a two-birds-one-stone situation!

The revised model was renamed the "Deluxe" as it was considered an upgrade from the "Standard". The first examples appeared around June 1969, replacing (for a while) the Les Paul Standard. The specific features seen on this guitar are a mix of old and new. It is built with a one-piece mahogany body (with a maple cap) like 1950s models; later in the year this was re-designed as a multi-layer "pancake" with a strip of lighter wood sandwiched between the mahogany pieces. This is universally considered a downgrade. It also features a second generation control rout, meaning the maple cap top was affixed before routing out from the back.

The neck is a 3-piece laminate with the wider headstock and shorter mounting tenon also introduced around June 1969. This construction would be the norm in the '70s, but have a volute added in late '69 and a "Made In USA" stamp the next year. This first generation neck lacks those typically '70s features. The mounting tenon is the "transitional' style, not extending into the body as far as the first "long tenon" 50s style but more substantial than the later 70s version. The Gibson logo has no dot with the letters B and O are open on the top, also typical of 1969. The tuners are still marked "Kluson Deluxe" on the covers, with double-ring keystone buttons.

Fittings include the two Mini-Humbucking pickups in cream P-90 style mounting rings, affixed to a threaded aluminum bar mounted in the cavity. The chrome Tune-O-Matic bridge has Nylon saddles and is mated to the typical stop tailpiece. The 3-way switch has a cream Rhythm/Treble ring, the controls are amber capped 60's style knobs. Internally all wiring is original with pots dated the 34th week (in August) of 1969 and Sprague "Black Beauty" caps.

Les Paul Deluxes from the 1970s are still common guitars; many thousands were produced. This very early model is comparatively quite rare, only 2751 total gold tops shipped in 1969, and it is likely more than half of them were the older P-90 Standard. By the end of the year the one piece body was gone, and Gibson's attention to detail slid ever further into mediocrity. With its two strong mini-humbuckers this guitar offers a different sound, brighter and more cutting than Les Pauls with the full-size versions. We can confidently say that as Deluxes go, this is easily the finest we have ever had, and a cool piece of Gibson history as well.
 
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

This guitar shows some very light general wear but overall is very well preserved. It remains just about all original; only the nearly always broken cream plastic jackplate is a brushed gold metal replacement (We can install a cream plastic piece if preferred). All other hardware is fully original, showing very little wear for 50+ years. The finish is also all original and shows some minor checking, dings and dents with a few chips here and there, mostly to the top edges. The gold color is very well preserved but does show some typical "greening" from player contact in the armwear area and forward mostly below the pickguard. There is one isolated small ding in the middle of the top and a deeper chip just off the treble tone control. The back has only minimal buckle scuffing and the neck finish is very clean.

Structurally this is an truly excellent instrument with no repairs or alterations; it has never suffered any neck or headstock issues as many did. The D and high E string tuner shafts are slightly bent but still work fine. The neck angle is steeper than some later examples giving it a great response and resonance, especially combined with the single-piece body. The original frets have been crowned down just slightly with minimal subsequent wear and the instrument is a truly excellent player. This is as early and fine a first-generation Les Paul Deluxe as we have ever had. While this model would go on to be produced in the many thousands in the 1970s, this one from the first couple of months is a true gem. It resides in the original oblong HSC, also very clean (even the Gibson-logo neck retainer is still there) but with a replaced handle. Overall Excellent Condition.