Gibson Les Paul Custom 1954 Reissue Solid Body Electric Guitar (1973)
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Item # 12337
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Gibson Les Paul Custom 1954 Reissue Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1973), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # LE896800, black lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This played-in but super vibey "Black Beauty" is an example of one of Gibson's earliest and most accurate "vintage reissue" instruments: the 1972-73 Limited Edition 1954 style Les Paul Custom. The original Custom was Gibson's top-of-the-line solid-body in the 1950s, with gold-plated hardware and deluxe appointments drawn from the company's flagship archtops. Introduced in 1954 it proved to be Les' personal favorite; he and Mary Ford performed for the rest of the 1950s on modified Customs. The Gleaming black top was Les' idea; he called it a "tuxedo effect" and insisted it made the player's hands stand out to the audience!
Gibson first re-issued the Les Paul Custom in 1968, but it was a hybrid model with two humbucking pickups and a maple cap body. Some players still clamored for the original style Custom as issued in 1954, and in 1972 Gibson obliged with this early "Limited Edition" reissue. The 6-digit serial number on the headstock carries a "LE" prefix denoting the limited edition status.
The guitar accurately replicates many features of the original 1954-7 Custom. The multi-bound carved-top solid-body is made entirely of mahogany, with no maple cap. The fretboard is ebony with pearl block inlay, and originally carried the original small "Fretless Wonder" wire that Les himself preferred. The elaborate split diamond inlay on the headstock was borrowed from the Super 400, Gibson's most expensive guitar. All hardware is gold-plated.
The Custom was actually the first Gibson to feature the then-new Tune-O-Matic bridge, although this was no longer a novelty in 1972! More uniquely, it was the only solid-body to carry the "Alnico V staple magnet" pickup designed in 1953 for the company's high-end instruments. Mounted only in the neck position, this unusual pickup has a very powerful magnet structure and gives a distinctive "snap" to the sound -- in 1954, 1973, or now. The bridge pickup is a standard P-90. This combination gives the instrument an excellent range of tones quite different from the common humbucker-equipped Les Pauls.
The two original pots are dated to the 3rd week of 1973, indicating this guitar was built that year. Only 1,150 total examples of this model left Kalamazoo in 1972 (60) and '73 (the rest, except for 4 stragglers shipped later) and it has since become one of the most sought-after Les Pauls of the era. Gibson has done many "historic" re-issues of older models since, but this early example of the company's re-creating past glories still stands as one of the best.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 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.)., 9.05 lbs.
This 50+ year old guitar shows noticeable wear but is a fine player and generally well-preserved, a Rock'n'Roll veteran with a bit of a "real relic" feel. It appears to have been well played over the past 45 years; the finish shows checking, dings, dents, scuffs, and substantial wear to the back of the neck down to the bare wood over part of its length. There is an odd deep wear spot (from a metal pick?) into the top edge of the pickguard and the finish just above it. The back has less buckle wear than some but several areas of "strap burn" where something caused slight crazing to the lacquer.
The finish is original except for some overspray on back of headstock, apparently done to cover marks from re-installation of the original tuners after a "Groverization" early on. The serial number is somewhat obscured by this but is legible under close inspection. We looked VERY carefully to confirm there was never any headstock break, just some touchup. The pressure rings from the Grovers are still visible on the headstock face, which was not sprayed over but shows a couple of touchups over the pearl inlay.
The pickups and most wiring including the tone pots and unusual large tone caps made by TRW dated 1969 are original; the volume pots were changed some time back. The neck pickup cover has the initials "RMB" discreetly etched twice. The other hardware appears original except for a gold metal jackplate and the Kluson "waffleback" tuners, which are exactly correct although we can't guarantee they are original to this particular guitar. The gold plating has heavy loss on some areas, most notably the top of the bridge and tailpiece.
The original "fretless wonder" frets have long ago been replaced with MUCH larger wire. The bulk of these have been refretted over the years as most players prefer a meatier wire for bending. These could be crowned down somewhat if desired, we leave the choice of this up to the next owner. The ebony fingerboard has some feelable divots but nothing too distracting. As it stands the guitar plays very well and is much more a "Rock Machine" than it was originally. The original fretwire and an extra truss rod nut are in a baggie in the case pocket. This Custom sounds killer and includes the original classic '70s black Tolex shaped hard case with a purple lining, with one broken latch but still fully solid. Very Good + Condition.
This played-in but super vibey "Black Beauty" is an example of one of Gibson's earliest and most accurate "vintage reissue" instruments: the 1972-73 Limited Edition 1954 style Les Paul Custom. The original Custom was Gibson's top-of-the-line solid-body in the 1950s, with gold-plated hardware and deluxe appointments drawn from the company's flagship archtops. Introduced in 1954 it proved to be Les' personal favorite; he and Mary Ford performed for the rest of the 1950s on modified Customs. The Gleaming black top was Les' idea; he called it a "tuxedo effect" and insisted it made the player's hands stand out to the audience!
Gibson first re-issued the Les Paul Custom in 1968, but it was a hybrid model with two humbucking pickups and a maple cap body. Some players still clamored for the original style Custom as issued in 1954, and in 1972 Gibson obliged with this early "Limited Edition" reissue. The 6-digit serial number on the headstock carries a "LE" prefix denoting the limited edition status.
The guitar accurately replicates many features of the original 1954-7 Custom. The multi-bound carved-top solid-body is made entirely of mahogany, with no maple cap. The fretboard is ebony with pearl block inlay, and originally carried the original small "Fretless Wonder" wire that Les himself preferred. The elaborate split diamond inlay on the headstock was borrowed from the Super 400, Gibson's most expensive guitar. All hardware is gold-plated.
The Custom was actually the first Gibson to feature the then-new Tune-O-Matic bridge, although this was no longer a novelty in 1972! More uniquely, it was the only solid-body to carry the "Alnico V staple magnet" pickup designed in 1953 for the company's high-end instruments. Mounted only in the neck position, this unusual pickup has a very powerful magnet structure and gives a distinctive "snap" to the sound -- in 1954, 1973, or now. The bridge pickup is a standard P-90. This combination gives the instrument an excellent range of tones quite different from the common humbucker-equipped Les Pauls.
The two original pots are dated to the 3rd week of 1973, indicating this guitar was built that year. Only 1,150 total examples of this model left Kalamazoo in 1972 (60) and '73 (the rest, except for 4 stragglers shipped later) and it has since become one of the most sought-after Les Pauls of the era. Gibson has done many "historic" re-issues of older models since, but this early example of the company's re-creating past glories still stands as one of the best.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 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.)., 9.05 lbs.
This 50+ year old guitar shows noticeable wear but is a fine player and generally well-preserved, a Rock'n'Roll veteran with a bit of a "real relic" feel. It appears to have been well played over the past 45 years; the finish shows checking, dings, dents, scuffs, and substantial wear to the back of the neck down to the bare wood over part of its length. There is an odd deep wear spot (from a metal pick?) into the top edge of the pickguard and the finish just above it. The back has less buckle wear than some but several areas of "strap burn" where something caused slight crazing to the lacquer.
The finish is original except for some overspray on back of headstock, apparently done to cover marks from re-installation of the original tuners after a "Groverization" early on. The serial number is somewhat obscured by this but is legible under close inspection. We looked VERY carefully to confirm there was never any headstock break, just some touchup. The pressure rings from the Grovers are still visible on the headstock face, which was not sprayed over but shows a couple of touchups over the pearl inlay.
The pickups and most wiring including the tone pots and unusual large tone caps made by TRW dated 1969 are original; the volume pots were changed some time back. The neck pickup cover has the initials "RMB" discreetly etched twice. The other hardware appears original except for a gold metal jackplate and the Kluson "waffleback" tuners, which are exactly correct although we can't guarantee they are original to this particular guitar. The gold plating has heavy loss on some areas, most notably the top of the bridge and tailpiece.
The original "fretless wonder" frets have long ago been replaced with MUCH larger wire. The bulk of these have been refretted over the years as most players prefer a meatier wire for bending. These could be crowned down somewhat if desired, we leave the choice of this up to the next owner. The ebony fingerboard has some feelable divots but nothing too distracting. As it stands the guitar plays very well and is much more a "Rock Machine" than it was originally. The original fretwire and an extra truss rod nut are in a baggie in the case pocket. This Custom sounds killer and includes the original classic '70s black Tolex shaped hard case with a purple lining, with one broken latch but still fully solid. Very Good + Condition.