1972 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Pete Townshend 'No.3' Goldtop Aged w/OHSC

1972 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Pete Townshend No.3 

This Guitar Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks

In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)

This Is An Original 1970's Les Paul Deluxe, Fully Customized To Exact Pete Townshend

'No.3" Specifications Including:

Complete Nitrocellulose Lacquer Refinish With Heavy Aging

Professional Refret With 22 Medium Jumbo Frets

Correct DiMarzio Super Distortion Dual Sound Humbucker In Middle Position, Two Original 70's Patent Number Mini Humbuckers In Neck And Bridge Positions

Pete Townshend Wiring With Gibson USA Harness Featuring Traditional Pickup Selector Toggle Switch, Individual Coil-Splitting And Middle Pickup On/Off Toggle Switches

Upgraded Grover Rotomatic Tuners

Chrome Nashville Tune-O-Matic Bridge And Stop Tailpiece

Gold Reflector Knobs

Made In Kalamazoo, MI

2-Piece Mahogany Body With Maple Top

3-Piece Mahogany Neck With Bound Rosewood Fingerboard And Trapezoid Inlays

24.75" Scale Length

1.65" Nut Width 

'D' Shape Neck Profile

Neck Depth At 1st Fret: 0.78"

Neck Depth At 12th Fret: 1.01"

Weighs 9lbs 6oz

Comes As Shown With Original Hard Shell Case With "GB" Sticker

Pete Townshend’s No. 3 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop is one of the most iconic guitars associated with Pete Townshend during the early–mid 1970s, a period when The Who were at their explosive live peak.

The instrument is a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop, finished in the classic metallic gold top with a darker back, and fitted with mini-humbucking pickups—a defining feature of the Deluxe line. These pickups gave Townshend a tone that was tighter and more focused than a standard Les Paul, yet still thick enough to drive his towering stage rigs, often paired with Hiwatt amplifiers.

“No. 3” refers to Townshend’s own numbering system, as he kept multiple nearly identical Les Paul Deluxes on hand during tours—partly due to the physical intensity of his performances, which often resulted in damaged instruments. Despite this, No. 3 became one of his most recognizable guitars, used extensively in live shows and helping shape the aggressive, percussive rhythm sound he’s known for.

Sonically, the guitar delivered punchy mids, controlled low end, and crisp attack, complementing Townshend’s windmill strumming style and chord-heavy playing. Visually understated but sonically formidable, No. 3 stands as a symbol of his shift away from smashed SGs toward a more refined—but still powerful—stage setup.