Up for sale, a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty” in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. This triple-pickup Black Beauty features a solid mahogany body with a carved maple top, three-piece maple neck, and bound ebony fingerboard.

Weighing 10lbs 6oz, this Les Paul Custom delivers plenty of midrange warmth and fundamental power, balanced by the glassy treble cut and note attack of the maple cap and ebony fingerboard. All three pickups are wired in-phase, and this Les Paul is a transitional example with a pair of the last T Tops (Bridge/Middle) and an early Tim Shaw PAF (Neck). The T Top in the bridge position has both bite and bounce, while the Tim Shaw PAF humbucker in the neck position is smooth and buttery, arguably one of Gibson’s best attempts at recreating the magic of their late '50s humbucker design. The middle switch position combines the T Top pair in the bridge/middle positions. This Les Paul Custom has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: Slender C, measuring .820” 1st fret, .980” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, pearl block inlays
• Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, no wear
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16” (replacement)
• Tuners: Speed Winder flip-out (Gibson-branded, Schaller-made)
• Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to ‘81

Body Specs:

• Wood: Maple, Mahogany
• Pickups: T Top humbucker x2 (1979 date stamps), Tim Shaw PAF x1 (Neck, June, 1981 date stamp)
• Harness: CTS pots date to the 45th week of ‘80
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector (B, B/M, N)
• Hardware: Nashville bridge, stopbar
• Plastics: Five-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs

There is a small doweled mini toggle hole on top between the bridge pickup knobs along with a small amount of finish touch-up in this area. The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish shows only light buckle rash on the back across the lower bout and some minor dings on the rest of the body. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with just a couple tiny marks in the upper registers.

The original black tolex hardshell case is included.