I am offering a beautiful Gibson Les Paul Custom 25/50 Anniversary from 1978, a still manufactured in Kalamazoo, MI (USA), anniversary Les Paul model limited to 3,500 pieces featuring a solid mahogany body with flamed maple top, double rosewood-reinforced flamed maple neck with medium-wide “D” neck profile and 42.8mm brass nut, bound ebony fingerboard with rare Slashed block mother-of-pearl inlays and abalone side dots, two rich and warm Gibson USA Series VII humbucker pickups, sophisticated electronics with coil-split mini-switch, as well as a high-quality Gibson Tune-o-Matic bridge with TP6 Fine Tuning Tailpiece in a beautiful natural high-gloss nitro finish with shiny chrome & gold hybrid hardware in very good condition with original Gibson hardshell case and professional setup with 10-gauge Elixir strings.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Les Paul model and, at the same time, the 50th anniversary of Les Paul’s career in show business, Gibson came up with something very special in 1978. The result was the 25/50 Anniversary—a limited-edition model that is essentially a souped-up Les Paul Custom. It features a select flamed maple top, hot “Tarback” Series VII humbuckers, a coil-split mini-switch (an absolute novelty for the late ’70s), a Tune-o-Matic bridge, and the then-newly introduced TP-6 tailpiece (the fine tuners were also a novelty at the time).

As a tribute to the archtops Les Paul played before his signature model, the 25/50 Anniversary features the same slash-block inlay as the Super 400 from the 1940s—in fact, these are the only two models on which these inlays had ever been used up to that point. On the headstock, the 25/50 Paula features an elaborate mother-of-pearl logo inlay and is equipped with top-tier cosmetic details all around: side position markers made of abalone, body bindings on both sides with elaborate 7-layer purfling, creative hybrid hardware in chrome and gold, a brass nut, a gold truss rod cover with an anniversary engraving, and more—in short: a dream! It even has gold-plated tuners with chrome keystone buttons (so they won’t tarnish over time).

Sonically, this guitar is a knockout as well. Resonant and full-bodied with plenty of sustain, yet clear in response and articulation—a fantastic piece of musical history and simply a truly great instrument!

A sound sample of the model (only in the Ebony finish) can be found above at the end of the photo gallery.

If you’re looking for a high-end vintage Paula in original condition—whether as an investment or a collector’s item—you’ve come to the right place.

Technical specifications:

• Origin: Kalamazoo, MI, USA
• Year of manufacture: 1978
• Limited Edition: No. 1,112 of approx. 3,500
• Body: Solid mahogany
• Top: Arched flamed maple top, 2-piece
• Neck: Double rosewood-reinforced flamed maple, set-in
• Neck profile: Medium-strong “D”
• Fingerboard: Ebony with slashed block mother-of-pearl inlays and abalone side dots, bound
• Fingerboard radius: 12"
• Frets: 22
• Nut: 42.8mm, brass
• Headstock: Black Face with 25/50 mother-of-pearl logo inlay and engraved gold truss rod cover, 5-way binding
• Pickups: 2x Gibson USA Series VII “Tarback” humbuckers (The original neck humbucker was rewound by the German custom pickup workshop Holighaus and Essence Guitars)
• Electronics: 3-way switch, 2x volume & 2x tone controls, coil-split mini-switch
• Tuners: Gibson Schaller Keystone tuners
• Bridge: Gibson Tune-o-Matic
• Tailpiece: Gibson TP-6 Fine Tuning Tailpiece
• Hardware: Hybrid gold/chrome
• Bindings: Cream with 7-layer purfling
• Pickguard: Black, 4-ply
• Finish: Natural high-gloss, nitrocellulose
• Scale length: 628.6mm
• Weight: 5.28kg
• Serial No.: 733988040
• Includes original Gibson vintage hardshell case

Limited to 3,500 pieces, this special model is rare today—especially in this natural version.

This 1978 Les Paul 25/50 is in excellent condition and technically flawless. Apart from the newly rewound neck pickup, the instrument is in completely unmodified original condition. Visually, there is occasional superficial age-related wear, which blends seamlessly into the guitar’s vintage patina (see photos). The frets are still in very good condition.

The instrument has received a professional setup with 10-46 Elixir Optiweb strings, and I (a long-time guitar teacher) will ship it fully insured via DHL for €49.99 within Germany or €149.99 within the EU. Worldwide shipping available—individual shipping costs upon request.

All images shown are of the actual instrument for sale.