Video! 1979 Gibson Les Paul "Super Standard" Iced Tea Burst

youtube.com/watch?v=3tbD7loUXp4&lc=Ugx6vsF86JqqypIvZJ94AaABAg

This is a brand new discovery - the existence of the fabled 'Super Standard.' To fully understand this guitar and it's condition, please watch the video on this guitar. I will briefly describe it here as well. The last two photos of this listing show the other guitars this guitar is a 'sibling' to. This listing is for the Super Standard only - the other guitars have their own separate listings. If you enjoy the finer things in life - these are for you. Functional pieces of art...and History!

A 'The Les Paul' is the fanciest Les Paul to ever walk this earth. The flame is crazy on these guitars - on the top, back, sides and on the neck. However, the key thing to know is that they still had mahogany cores. Towards the end of the run of TLPs, they started running out of the wooden appointments so there were a few 'left overs' that Gibson needed to do something special with.

In steps the super custom! The Super Custom (official name Les Paul 'Limited Edition') was Gibson's answer... or so we thought. There were around 31 super customs made. They are just like a TLP, but they don't have wooden parts (except the first one made had wooden binding.) They have the flame maple surrounding the mahogany core and they had necks from left over 25/50s. These are spectacular guitars are nearly impossible to find for sale. Neal Schon of Journey played one of these extensively and can be seen in the 'Anyway You Want It' music video. They were made in late 1979 and 1980. There was also a second run (less than 100 made) in 1984 due to Journey's popularity. This was a Japan market exclusive. The specs are a bit different, but the 'mahogany core' concept remains the same.

Now, I've spoken with the currently owner of the first super custom made... and I know it's serial. This guitar I'm calling the 'Super Standard' predates the first Super Custom by 3 months! This was likely a prototype for the Super Custom. However, once finished, they saw that with all the binding they might as well made it a full blown 'custom' model. This is my theory. I've never seen another Super Standard, yet so I'm inclined to believe - if there are anymore out there- that the numbers of these produced are very low.

This guitar has a 5 piece maple neck with wickedly wide flame - a body surrounded in crazy flame and the same mahogany core as the Super Custom and The Les Pauls - this 'mahogany core, surrounded by flamed maple' is the key characteristic that sets them apart from all other Les Pauls. The Super Custom and Super Standard were 'leftover' parts guitars. The Super Standard has the same pickups, TP-6 Tailpiece and neck as a 25/50. This means it has Series VII "Super Humbucking" pickups. These are coil splittable with a factory coil split switch (the same type of switch found on the Les Paul Artist.) The bridge is a rare-for-this-time-period Gibson ABR-1. The fretboard is ebony and the inlays appear to be abalone. The headstock veneer is the same type used for the crazily expensive L5 Citation models with Abalone Gibson logo and Flower Pot Inlay. 

This is a spectacular piece. It shows wear and tear from being played and the condition can be seen in the video. The worst of it is a small ding on the volute and at the top of the headstock. Other than that, you just have light polishing scratches and finger smudges as well as a few dings on the back. If you collect rare guitars, this is the one for you. 

The case for this one is extra special too. It is styled after a 50s/60s Lifton case. This is the first Gibson case I've seen from this time period with a yellow interior. It compliments this finish very well. The outside of the case looks just like any other 70s/80s Gibson case.