Gibson Les Paul Custom, Tobacco Sunburst (USED, 1978)

This early 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom in Tobacco Sunburst is probably the cleanest 70s Les Paul we've ever had in the shop - a true closet classic!

Made just months after the end of the "pancake" era, this beauty sports a genuine Mahogany body with a carved Maple top, a slim 3-piece Maple neck with a bound Ebony fingerboard and large block pearl inlays, and a pair of original Pat # stamped humbuckers. The original Tobacco Sunburst finish is sprayed not only on the top, but the back, neck, and back of the headstock. It's beautifully executed, and thanks to the lack of fading/wear remains very vibrant. The multi-ply body, neck, and headstock binding is also very clean with little yellowing, providing great contrast to further highlight the undeniably sleek LP silhouette.

The slim C neck is befitting of the era, offering fast, effortless playability with lower profile frets to match. The factory pair of Patent # stamped humbuckers are bright, articulate, and punchy, delivering more of the classic LP tonality than what would follow in some of the Tarback and Dirty Fingers humbuckers that followed into the end of the decade and into the 1980s. The original wiring harness is time-capsule clean, as it appeared that we were among the first to remove the factory harness cover to reveal the CTS pots all dated to the 1st week of 1978.

All of the factory gold-plated hardware - from the Gibson-branded Schaller tuners to the Nashville bridge and stopbar tailpiece, is impressively clean with very little wear or patina. Plastics follow suit, with just light pickwear on the pickguard and very clean rear control plates, toggle switch ring, and switch tip. There's a moderate ding on the edge of the fingerboard up around the 17th fret that has pushed the binding out a bit. It's structurally sound and shows no signs of movement.

A truly remarkable example in every way, this 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom checks a lot of boxes for the player who wants a smooth and fast playing Custom with near-NOS looks.

Priced with aftermarket LP hardshell case.

• Multi-ply bound Mahogany body and carved Maple top
• Tobacco Sunburst finish
• 3-piece Maple neck w/ bound Ebony fingerboard
• 1 11/16" nut width
• Slim C neck profile
• Original Gibson-branded Schaller tuners
• Original Gibson PAT # Stamped humbuckers
• Original tun-o-matic bridge and tailpiece
• Original wiring harness with 137 7801 pot codes (1st week of 1978)
• Weight: 10lbs