GIBSON THE LES PAUL Description
- single sharp cutaway body, rosewood bound carved 2-piece bookmatched flame maple top/back/sides, mahogany core, raised rosewood pickguard, maple neck, 22-fret bound 3-piece ebony/rosewood/ebony fingerboard with abalone block inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, pearl split diamond/logo peghead inlay, 3-per-side Schaller tuners with pearl buttons, serial number engraved pearl plate on peghead back, gold hardware, 2 Super humbucker pickups with rosewood trim rings, 2 volume/2 tone rosewood control knobs, 3-position switch, rosewood control plate on back, available in Natural (approx. 70 mfg.), or Wine Red (18 mfg.) finish, mfg. 1976-1980.
Since this variation, at the time, was perhaps Gibson´s most elaborate and ornate (not to mention most expensive) LP, most of these instruments were not played. As a result, remaining specimens are usually in 95%+ condition. A few early models had solid figured maple bodies. Ser. nos. 61-68 were made w/o rosewood parts. In 1978, Schaller tune-o-matic bridge/tunable stop tailpiece replaced original part/design. In 1979, Wine Red finish was discontinued.