Video! 1980 Gibson Les Paul Limited Edition Super Custom Heritage Cherry Sunburst - Neal Schon Model

The Trogly's Guitar Show
See, Hear, Learn about and experience your new guitar... before you buy!

youtube.com/watch?v=aefDI4zt79A
(This video was done a little over a year ago when I sold this guitar the first time. I plan on doing an updated video soon. The plastic was taken off the pickguard and it has a few more player's scratches now)

The Case...
This guitar comes in it's original Gibson hardshell case. The case is in better shape than most, but still does show some signs of scuffing and storage associate wear and tear. Inside the compartment lid sleeps the original bill of sale for this guitar as well as a vintage Gibson strap and warranty card.

The Guitar!
You've likely never heard of this model before unless you've been following my YouTube channel, so let me educate you. When the run of The Les Pauls were finished, Gibson had some left over parts so Gibson created the Les Paul Limited Edition in order to use those up. These guitars were later nicknamed the 'Super Custom.' There were 31 of these guitars built in very late 1979 and in 1980. Neal Schon famously used one of these for year and you can see him play his in the 'Any Way You Want It' music video. This isn't HIS guitar, but it is from the same original run as his. 

Due to Journey's popularity, in 1984, the 'Super Custom' was reissued in a Japan exclusive run. The specs were a little different on that one with a one piece maple neck instead of 5 piece and they had Tim Shaw PAFs and a limited edition decal and serial number. There were around 50-60 of those made so that makes for a total between the two runs around 100. Most of these guitars are held in private collections in Japan.

This is a crazy rare guitar! These are essentially 'The Les Pauls' but with slightly different specs. They have the same 'Mahogany Core Construction' though are are surrounded by flame maple on all sides. It is in very good condition all things considered, but has a few 'issues' that keeps the price from being 15k. At one point in time - likely early in this guitars life - a different set of pickups was in this guitar (original Ttops back in now.) This other set of pickups must have had a thicker cover on it as some additional routing to both pickup cavities was done to accommodate them. This was originally routed for humbuckers at the factory and the routes weren't necessarily 'enlarged' just slightly deepened. The original route line from the top is still the same and this is not visible unless you have the pickups out. There also appears to have been an added ground wire as this example has both a ground wire AND a shielding tin set up. The last 'sin' to go over is there is an extra screw hole underneath the toggle switch. Someone that was checking this guitar over likely did this when trying to reinstalled it.

Otherwise, this guitar is the same as it was from the factory. The lacquer has ambered as it was likely on display somewhere for most of it's life. The frets show minor wear and the neck is straight with a functioning truss rod cover. There is some finish worn on the bass side of the binding, but not on the neck itself. There are picking scratches and other light player's wear, but nothing that would turn most collector's off. There is a sizable ding by the toggle switch though. The back has some light wear and tear as well.

Conclusion
These rarely show up. I had sold this one to a buddy of mine a year ago and when he needed to buy the car of his dreams, I was happy to buy this rarity back! Don't wait too long to snap this one up!