The Blue book Says:
Gibson LES PAUL DELUXE (1969-1985 MFG.)
– single sharp cutaway Les Paul-style three-piece mahogany/maple body, deeper cutaway binding, bound carved maple top, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl trapezoid inlays, idened black headstock overlay with pearl Gibson logo inlay and “Les Paul Model” silkscreened, “Deluxe” engraved on truss rod cover, three-per-side Kluson tuners with plastic double ring buttons, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, raised cream pickguard, two mini humbucker pickups (regular humbuckers were optional from 1970-74), four knobs (two v, two tone), three-way pickup switch, nickel hardware, available in Blue Sparkle Top (approx. 230 mfg. 1975-77), Cherry (mfg. 1971-75), Cherry Sunburst (1971-disc.), Gold Top, Red Sparkle Top (rare, approx. 125 mfg. 1975 only), Tobacco Sunburst (1972-79), Walnut (approx. 112 mfg. 1971-72), Natural (1975-disc.), or Wine Red (1975-1985) finish, 13 in. wide, 17.25 in. long and 2 in. deep, 24.75 in. scale, mfg. 1969-1985.
I say:
Ok – it’s a Norlin Era Les Paul Deluxe. The serial number from this time is very unhelpful, giving it a range from 1970-75, but the potentiometer codes suggest that it’s 1975. The body is a “pancake” body, where Gibson decided that structurally a mid veneer cross-grained to the main body materials was a good idea – personally I can’t tell any difference – but it looks kind of cool.
Headstock is in good condition, the multi ply maple neck is also in good condition apart from one ding on the lower side around 12th fret (so you don’t even feel it….). I suspect that it’s been refretted at some time as the “nibs” for the binding are missing – but it’s a good job, smooth and easy low wide frets with very little wear. The rosewood fingerboard is in very good condition with little to no wear.
The body has a few dings on the front – but nothing unsightly, the rear shows some bucklerash and a couple of dings – again considering its age, nothing you’d not expect from a guitar that’s been used.
All electronics are original and crackle free. The Mini Humbuckers were quite a surprise to me – they drove my amp harder than I’d expected and sound amazing. Compared to modern Gibson Humbuckers they seem a little more dynamic, and possibly a little brighter – but that’s just my opinion….
The original Gibson case has all the clasps intact, and works just fine.
Philip,
Oh the memories!
I had an LP Deluxe Goldtop once! I had acquired it in a trade for a Peavey T series bass and a Peavey TNT bass amp at my local music store ( New Jersey, USA)back in 1986. According to the manager at the music store, it was a 1969. I called the famous Mandolin Brothers shop to verify and they couldn’t narrow it down with the serial number, but the gentleman on the phone said it sounded like it was a 1974. He would have to see the the guitar to verifyits year. Either way, ‘69 or ‘74, it was a great guitar, though not too pretty!
It had the usual worn finish and green “patina” where the right forearm rests on the body. The headstock must’ve broken at some point in time as there were two mini “skunk stripes” running from the neck through to the headstock. Someone also installed a PAF pickup in the bridge position with a split coil mini toggle switch in the middle of the volume and tone knobs. The pickguard had a crack near the neck where it screws in. It also had its original case. It played and sounded great! I owned it until 1991 when I “stopped playing”, and figured it was tied up cash, so I brought it back to that very same shop I got it from, and put it up on consignment. A few days later, I had a change of heart ( or clarity!), and I went to get it back but it had just sold for $400US! My heart sank! The money is long gone, and to this day it bothers me, and as I write this, I wonder where it is right now, or if it still even exists! I had many polaroid pictures of it that a friend borrowed, who has since passed so I never got those pictures back, now I just have a mental picture and memories. I great guitar obtained for almost free! I’m sure that guitar in its condition would command a premium in price today. Oh well, the proverbial one that got away!
Hello,
how much is the les paul?
Best regards,
Mathis