1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty" — 3 Pickup, Original T-Tops

A rare chance to own a genuine piece of Gibson history. This is a 1976 Les Paul Custom in the iconic Black Beauty finish, loaded with three original T-Top humbuckers — the pickups collectors seek out. The 3-pickup Les Paul Custom was produced in very limited numbers in 1976 — believed to be approximately 150 units made that year — making this a genuinely rare find. I've owned this guitar for approximately 15 years, kept in a non-smoking home, and never gigged it. It has been a home tone machine its entire time with me.

Sounds: This thing is an absolute tone monster. Sustain for days. Three T-Tops means thick, harmonically rich output with that unmistakable PAF-adjacent character. Plugged in, it delivers everything you'd expect from a vintage Custom — warm, powerful, and full of life.

Condition — honest and detailed: This is a 50-year-old instrument and I want to be upfront about everything:

• Overall: Very good condition for its age — this guitar has held up beautifully
• Finish: Minor scuffs and the vintage checking/crazing that's expected and desirable on a guitar this age. No cracks, no major buckle rash.
• Neck: No breaks, no repairs — clean
• Frets: Has been professionally refretted
• Wiring: Professionally rewired by a luthier for full tonal flexibility — the lower tone knob functions as a dedicated volume for the middle pickup. Gibson's original 3-pickup wiring from this era was inconsistent from guitar to guitar; this setup is what most 3-pickup players actually prefer, giving you independent control over each pickup's output.
• Tailpiece/stopbar: Believed to be a replacement (non-original)
• Strap buttons: Replaced with locking strap pins
• Input jack: Does not appear original
• Case: Original or period case included — shows its age but functional and protective

Everything plays and functions as it should. The non-original parts are all cosmetic or easily reversible if you want to restore to spec. For a 50 year old instrument, condition is difficult to find any better.

Comes with: Original-era hardshell case

This is the real deal — a legitimate vintage Gibson that's been loved, respected, and protected. These don't come up often in this condition with matching numbers and intact T-Tops. Serious inquiries welcome, happy to provide additional photos of any detail.