For sale - extremely rare, and wonderful condition, Gibson Les Paul Signature model in tobacco sunburst. Only c. 84 of these models were ever made, and this must be one of the best condition examples around today.

Hardly any wear at all bar a bit of lacquer checking (the most pronounced bit as per the photos on the upper bout, but even that is hardly egregious considering this is guitar is roughly 50 years old now).

I bought this from Chicago Music Exchange in the USA in 2017 and have owned it since then; it's been used a bit in the studio, but never toured.

The electrics all work perfectly - I originally thought that the one on the bottom of the body was faulty, but it's actually designed to go straight into a console so just needs a lot of gain. I was set right on this by another Signature owner! The main output to use as a normal guitar into an amp etc is the one by the tone pots though.

I'm looking for serious buyers only and would greatly prefer collection due to the value of the instrument. However, if you're serious about purchasing, do get in touch and I can give you a price for postage.

Comes with a hard case - I think it might be the original but I can't guarantee it. Either way it fits perfectly.

Feel free to ask any questions, I'm a long term Reverb member and nothing but good feedback so you can buy with confidence.

Below is a bunch of information about the model that I've nabbed from a Reddit page:

The Les Paul Signature

The Les Paul Signature was conceived and designed by Les Paul himself. Prototypes started in late 1972 but full production didn’t go underway until 1973 and ended in 1979 or so. Under Norlin -- a conglomerate that owned Gibson guitars between 1969 and 1986 -- a wide range of new Gibson models arose, including at least four Les Paul models which featured low-impedance pickups designed for clean, clear tones by Les Paul himself.

Close-ups of the Les Paul Signature and a shot of the Les Paul Signature Bass

This set of Les Pauls included the Les Paul Personal, Professional and Recording which were rather traditional Les Pauls guitars in that they were solidbodies with a single cutaway. Where they varied was in the configuration of the pickups and the electronics. The fourth Les Paul to feature these low-impedance pickups is the Les Paul Signature model.

Specifications and Electronics

Featuring many of the Norlin era accoutrements, including a three-piece maple neck, a volute, and a wider headstock, this guitar had other interesting features of note. The bridge was made by Schaller and was wider than the normal ABR-1 featured on most models until 1975. Touted by many as an eyesore, the bridge is made very well and has a wider range for the saddle position.

The Les Paul Signature also features two input jacks: a low impedance jack on the side of the instrument as well as a standard jack on the face of the guitar. The controls are also non-standard. There is a three way impedance knob, allowing the player to switch from 50, 250 and 500 ohm. This changes the resistance in the circuit, altering the output levels and overall tone.

There is also a switch for taking the guitar pickups out of phase when it’s in the middle position. This changes the tone of the instrument dramatically, thinning it out and giving it that almost Stratocaster-y quacking sound. Jimmy Page and Peter Green’s tones are easily attained, with the right rig, using the toggle in this position. The other two knobs are a master volume and master tone.

The lion’s share of these guitars were gold tops. A rare few, 84 give or take, were given tobacco burst finishes. This guitar also shared it’s shape with a bass line-up, of which most were also gold top and even fewer were made into tobacco bursts.

Here are the rough numbers produced each year during its run:

• 1973: 3
• 1974: 1046
• 1975: 118
• 1976: 150
• 1977: 123

Notable Players

Michael Ward, from the Wallflowers, has successfully used one for many years. Robert Plant’s guitarist in his backing band The Strange Sensation uses a tobacco burst Les Paul Signature in a recent concert. Brandford Cox, frontman of Indie Rock band Deerhunter, can also be seen with a Signature in hand. The late great comedian Bill Hicks, who was a very good guitarist in his own right, also played a Les Paul Signature when he wasn’t using his Telecaster.

Love it or hate it, these guitars are a unique piece of Gibson history. Gibson Les Paul Signatures heralded from a time of experimentation and change in the guitar industry and exemplifies the best of what could have come from such an era.