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1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom

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SN#: 541343

Scale length 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Solid maple top; one-piece Honduras mahogany body and neck; solid ebony fingerboard; multi-ply cream binding.

Hardware: Original hardware includes twin Gibson Pat. sticker pickups, gold Tune-o-matic bridge, beveled 5-ply pickguard, switch ring, CBA pots, 'Custom' truss rod cover. Vintage 60's Gibson hardware includes Kluson Super 'waffleback' tuners, gold 'witch hat' volume and tone knobs. Vintage correct hardware includes hand antiqued gold stop tailpiece, twin 'bumblebee' capacitors, switch and tip.

Notes: Introduced in 1954, the Les Paul Custom was Gibson's upmarket version of their popular original gold top model. Borrowing the ornate inlay patterns of the Super 400 and L-5, the Custom also featured a solid ebony fingerboard and multi-ply binding. It was also Gibson's first solid body with a Tune-o-matic bridge, and the only one fitted with the short-lived Alnico pickup. Nicknamed the 'Fretless Wonder' and 'Black Beauty', the Custom sported an elegant ebony finish, which matched smartly with Mr. Paul's tuxedo.

By 1957, the Custom was upgraded with three PAF humbuckers, which the model retained when the body was converted to the SG style design in 1961. By 1968, intense demand led Gibson to re-introduce the Custom in the classic 50's body contour. By popular demand, the model returned to its original two pickup design, and was fitted with humbuckers, a full '50's style neck, and a solid mahogany body with maple cap. Wildly popular on it's debut, and now highly collectible, this first reissue Custom was built for less than two years, until a multi-laminate 'pancake' body was substituted, and the neck reinforced with a 'volute' bump at the peghead by 1970.

This handsome guitar was ordered in 1968, and has been kept in superb condition by its original owner since that time. It has all the right stuff: the one-piece mahogany body with solid maple cap, no-volute one-piece neck, and twin original Pat. sticker pickups. The instrument shows no cracks, and its gleaming all-original finish is remarkably free of pick, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from some light buckle worming and some incidental nicks and dings, the guitar shows very light playwear for an instrument of its vintage. An older Bigsby has been removed and the body returned to its original stoptail configuration. A set of genuine 60's Kluson Super tuners has been restored to the peghead, along with a full set of gold 'witch hat' knobs of the same vintage, and the nut is a fine older replacement.

The neck has effortless action, with fine pro medium jumbo fretwork over a generous "C" profile neck with full 1 11/16" nut. Both pickups retain their Patent stickers, and feature the smooth, creamy tone these vintage humbuckers are renowned for. All four pots are original, with codes (CBA-811-1053) dating to the mid-60's, and a pair of vintage correct 'bumblebee' caps have been restored to the original wiring harness. And all nestled in its original Gibson logo plush lined case, with gold plush lining.

Les Paul fans had to wait almost a decade for this guitar in the 60's. You don't have to. Just call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

Case: Original Gibson deluxe black arched hardshell case with gold plush lining.

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