Up for sale, a 1992 Gibson Pre-Historic ‘57 Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty,” complete with the original hardshell case. Faithful to original 1957 specs, this Black Beauty hails from an increasingly heralded era of Gibson production colloquially known as the “good wood” era, featuring a solid mahogany body (including a carved mahogany top) and a mahogany neck capped with an ebony fingerboard, loaded with a pair of early ‘57 Classic PAFs.

This Les Paul Custom delivers plenty of midrange warmth and fundamental richness thanks to the all-mahogany construction, and these qualities are balanced by the glassy treble cut and note attack of the ebony fingerboard. Offering plenty of punch, detail and ample sustain, the medium-wind ‘57 Classic PAFs have spongy lows, detailed treble growl, and a midrange scoop that interacts well with high gain. This Les Paul Custom weighs 9lbs 9oz, benefitting from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: Slender 60s-style C, measuring .815” 1st fret, .975” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, block inlay
• Frets: Medium jumbo, light wear favoring the plain strings until the octave
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”
• Tuners: Grover Rotomatics
• Serialization: Five-digit inked (50s-style) dates to ‘92

Body Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Pickups: ‘57 Classic PAF humbucker x2
• Harness: Full-size CTS pots date to ‘92 (neck Volume replaced w/ 500K CTS)
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: ABR-1 bridge (modern), stopbar
• Plastics: Four-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs

There is a minimal, professionally-addressed repair at the headstock extending from the edge of the nut, with limited finish touch-up in the area. There is also a small area of impact on the treble-side lower bout edge, and the finish is stable in this area. Further cosmetic wear on the gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish includes buckle rash along the bass side of the back and some minor dings spanning the body. The smooth gloss on the neck profile has a few shallow marks.

The original brown Gibson USA hardshell case is included.