The Blue Book Says:
LES PAUL CUSTOM LITE
– single sharp cutaway multi-bound mahogany body with carved top, raised bound black pickguard, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, multi-bound peghead with pearl split diamond/logo inlay, 3-per-side tuners with chrome buttons, gold hardware, 2 covered humbucker pickups, volume/tone control, 3-position switch, mini coil tap switch, available in Black finish, mfg. 1987-1990.
Gibson Says:
A new addition to Gibson USA’s 120th Anniversary celebrations, the Les Paul Custom Classic Light pays tribute to the timeless elegance of the Custom, while nailing classic Les Paul tone—all in a light, comfortable guitar that’s superbly easy to play. A thinner mahogany body with traditional 9-hole weight relief secures an ergonomic experience in the hand, while a solid carved maple top assures that legendary maple/mahogany sound. Add a pair of Gibson’s most popular humbucking pickups, coil splitting for single-coil tones, and that sweet Custom trim, and it’s a guitar that covers all bases.
The Les Paul Custom Classic Light begins with a Grade-A mahogany body with a Grade-A maple top finished in high-gloss nitrocellulose in Vintage Sunburst. Seven-ply binding, a multi-ply pickguard, and gold hardware and pickup covers make it a Custom through and through, as do traditional pearloid block inlays on a bound Grade-A rosewood fingerboard. The mahogany neck is carved to a fast, comfortable profile that measures .818” at the 1st fret and .963” at the 12th, while a “120th Anniversary” banner inlay at the 12th fret marks this guitar as something special. A 490R humbucker in the neck made with an Alnico II magnet and a hotter 498T in the bridge made with Alnico V take you from smooth to mean and everywhere in between, while modified wiring offers individual volume controls, a master tone, and mini-toggle switch for coil splitting. A Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece lock it all down for solid sustain, while a set of Grover™ keystone tuners on the decorative Custom headstock offer smooth, precise tune-ups. Pack it in an Historic Brown Gibson USA hardshell case and you’re ready for the gig!
I Say:
If you want a Gibson, but don’t like weight, this could be your baby.
A thinner than usual body WITH BELLY CONTOURS!!!
Standard Gibson hardware and electronics- all in great condition.
If I’m honest the guitar doesn’t sound as rich as a standard Les Paul. But . It has a great sound and the coil taps make it super adaptable.
I see this for someone who wants “close to” Les paul tones without the back ache, and a wider range of tones. If you’re going through a digital system, and doesn’t need the “CHUNK” of a heavyweight Les Paul I guess it’ll be indistinguishable from a full Les Paul, so for all the “events” or “weddings” that you’re into it’ll do the job without breaking your back.
Personally – it’s a really comfortable and satisfying guitar to “noodle around with” on the sofa, the belly contours really do make it more “embraceable” than usual.
The Gibson 490/498 pickup combination is a standard for Gibson tone – and yes it’s there – I’m just ultra picky because I can be!
Case and Guitar in great condition.
