Bay Area Vintage Guitars is pleased to present this rare 1973 Gibson Les Paul Custom Limited Edition ’54 Reissue in its original-style Ebony “Black Beauty” configuration, offered from the Brad Gillis Collection.

Produced only briefly during 1972 and 1973, this was one of Gibson’s earliest serious attempts to recreate a historically significant Les Paul. It revisited the original 1954 Les Paul Custom with an all-mahogany body, set mahogany neck, bound ebony fingerboard, gold hardware and the distinctive combination of an Alnico V staple pickup at the neck and a soapbar P-90 at the bridge.

Unlike a modern Custom Shop recreation, this is a genuine early-1970s Gibson built in Kalamazoo more than 50 years ago. It has no volute, with construction details and unmistakable character of an early Norlin-era instrument while retaining the look and unusual electronics of the original 1954 Black Beauty.

The factory pickup combination is the heart of this guitar. The Alnico V staple pickup produces a clear, broad and articulate neck sound, while the bridge P-90 supplies the bite, midrange push and dynamic response for which vintage P-90s are known. Together, they give this Custom a dramatically different voice from the later humbucker-equipped Les Paul Customs.

This guitar has been played extensively and shows it proudly. The original-style Ebony finish displays substantial natural play wear, checking, scratches, edge wear, nicks and dings throughout. There are several localized touch-up areas, along with considerable finish wear on the back of the neck and around the body edges. None of this wear has been artificially created.

The low, wide “Fretless Wonder” frets remain playable. This will appeal to a player who appreciates the fast, distinctive feel of an original-style Les Paul Custom fretboard rather than someone looking for modern, tall frets.

The original black multi-ply pickguard is missing. The mounting holes remain visible, and an appropriate replacement could be installed without further modification.

Major period-correct features include the factory Alnico V staple neck pickup and P-90 bridge pickup, wired ABR-1-style Tune-o-Matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, black numbered top-hat knobs, gold hardware and Gibson waffleback tuners with metal keystone buttons. The electronics and cavities are documented in the photographs.

It includes the vintage five-latch fitted hardshell case shown, with maroon plush interior. The case displays age and exterior wear consistent with decades of use.

Specifications:

• Neck: Set mahogany
• Fingerboard: Bound ebony
• Inlays: Mother-of-pearl block inlays
• Headstock: Multi-ply binding with split-diamond inlay - no repairs or breaks
• Scale length: 24.75"
• Frets: 22 low, “Fretless Wonder” frets
• Neck pickup: Factory Alnico V staple-style single-coil
• Bridge pickup: Factory Gibson soapbar P-90
• Pickup Readings: Neck: 7.2 | Bridge: 8.4
• Weight: 9.5 lbs
• Tailpiece: ABR-1 Stopbar
• Tuners: Gibson waffleback tuners with metal keystone buttons
• Hardware: Gold-plated, natural patina
• Case: Vintage fitted, purple, five-latch hardshell case
• Factory: Kalamazoo, Michigan

Condition:

This is a heavily played vintage instrument, not a collector-clean example. It has extensive scratches, finish wear, checking, nicks, dings, hardware oxidation and several localized touch-up areas. The pickguard is missing. The gold plating has worn significantly from normal use.

The photographs are an important part of the condition description and document the guitar’s finish, hardware, neck, electronics, cavities and included case. With an instrument of this age, minor service work or small component changes may have occurred over its lifetime unless specifically identified as factory original.

Why Buy From Bay Area Vintage Guitars?

Bay Area Vintage Guitars carefully evaluates and accurately represents every instrument we offer. We believe the wear, originality and history of a vintage guitar should be documented honestly rather than minimized.

The photographs show the actual guitar and case included with this listing. Your instrument will be carefully packed and fully insured for shipment.

Please review all photos carefully, as they are an important part of the description and accurately represent the guitar's condition.

Why Buy From Bay Area Vintage Guitars?

Bay Area Vintage Guitars specializes in authentic vintage and collectible guitars, amps, and gear with a focus on originality, accurate representation, and player-focused instruments. Every instrument we sell is carefully inspected and evaluated in detail.

We are players and collectors ourselves, and we understand how important trust and transparency are when purchasing vintage instruments online.

A Note About Instrument Setup 

Guitars and basses are sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and movement during shipping. An instrument that is properly set up when it leaves us may arrive with slight changes to the action, neck relief, tuning, or intonation.

These changes are normal as wood adjusts to a new environment. We recommend allowing the instrument to acclimate after delivery before making any adjustments.

Because setup preferences vary by player, minor adjustments or a personal setup may be desired after arrival. If needed, we recommend having the instrument set up by a qualified local guitar technician. Any post-delivery setup or adjustment costs are the responsibility of the buyer.

Shipping

All guitars are professionally packed with extreme care and fully insured. We ship promptly and communicate throughout the process.

Please note that vintage guitars may require minor setup adjustments due to climate and shipping conditions. This is normal for vintage instruments.

We will consider shipping internationally. Please contact us before placing your order or making an offer to determine shipping costs.