Gibson VINTAGE Les Paul Custom '73 Ebony Black

The Les Paul Custom, released in 1954, was a Les Paul model aimed at jazz musicians and boasted the luxurious looks of the high-end archtop guitars of the time. Despite some twists and turns, it eventually evolved into a classic instrument beloved by rock musicians, and remains a model that remains unwaveringly popular today.

This latest arrival is a guitar shipped around 1973, which has undergone minor changes since its re-release in 1968. It is a wonderful guitar that clearly conveys the history and character of its use, with the sound and presence that only a vintage guitar can offer.

【body】

The overall weight is approximately 4.4 kg. The body is made of a maple top and a pancake mahogany back. When you think of a Les Paul Custom, ebony black is the first color that comes to mind, and its bold, tight look is truly exceptional. The moment it's bathed in stage lights, it's easy to tell it's a true custom. The body binding shows signs of age, including weather checking and dents, belt buckle marks on the back, and slight plating peeling and tarnish on the gold parts. The realistic aging further enhances its rock gear look. The control knobs and pickup covers have been replaced, and the bridge has been replaced with a historic ABR-1.

【neck】
The neck is made of three-piece mahogany with a volute, and the fingerboard is made of precious ebony. There's a peeling mark on the fingerboard near the first fret, but we've thoroughly repaired it in our shop, including a clear coat touch-up. There's weather checking around the headstock inlay, and dents on the back of the headstock and neck are moderate, giving this guitar the feel and character it deserves from a well-played instrument. The serial number and "MADE IN USA" are engraved. The tuners have been replaced with Grover 102s, with the original waffle pegs retaining their locking holes. Functionality is stable, and tuning is effortless, making this a truly playable instrument. The frets and nut were replaced in our shop, and playability is excellent. The 43.3mm nut width and relatively clean neck shape provide a comfortable feel, supporting smooth fingering from chord work to lead playing.

[Electrical system]
The controls are the familiar 3-way pickup selector, 2 volume controls, and 2 tone controls. While the pickup covers have been replaced, the original T-top numbered pickups with decal stickers remain. The capacitors are Spragg Black Beauty, and one of the pots has been replaced. The natural sound combines a pleasant overtone with the thickness of the wood, resulting in a crisp, lustrous sound when played clean, and a solid, driving sound that leaps forward when distorted. From tight bridge-mute riffs to singing leads, this guitar will respond gracefully to the player's right hand.

Case included: Gibson wine red inner black hard case

Weight: 4.4kg
Body Material (Top/Back): Maple 3 piece/Laminate Mahogany
Neck Material/Scale Length: Mahogany 3 piece w/Volute/624mm (24-1/2inch)
Bridge/Tail: Gibson ABR-1 Gold (replaced)/Stop Tailpiece Gold
Fingerboard/Fret Marker/Radius: Ebony/Pearloid Block/304.8mm (12inch)
Nut Width/Fret Width: 43.3mm(replaced)/2.8mm(replaced), 22F
Neck Thickness (1F/7F/12F): 19.6mm/23.0mm/25.3mm
Capacitor: Sprague Black Beauty .022μF 400VDC
Pickup (Neck/Bridge): Gibson PU-490 Humbucker T-Top Stickered Numbered w/Gold Cover (8.0kΩ/7.9kΩ)
*The DC resistance of the pickup is measured through the control section.

-------Heartman Vintage Guitars is Ikebe Music's vintage guitar and bass specialty store-------