Up for sale, a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with its original hardshell case. A quintessential “Black Beauty” Custom, this Les Paul features an early pair of Tim Shaw PAF humbuckers.

Offering rich sustain at 11lbs 3oz, the warmth and fullness of the mahogany body is balanced by the articulate top end and snappy note attack provided by both the carved maple top and the ebony fretboard. The Tim Shaw PAF humbuckers represent Gibson's first attempt at recreating the magic of their late '50s humbucker design. Offered for only a few short years, the Shaws are designed with unoriented, rough cast Alnico V magnets, plastic spacers, and poly-coated wire, achieving the harmonic complexity, power, and tonal clarity of the original PAF. This Les Paul Custom benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with fresh 10-46 strings, slinky action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Maple (3pc)
• Shape: Slender C, measuring .835” 1st fret, 1.020” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, block inlays
• Frets: Medium jumbo, light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-5
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”
• Tuners: Schaller-made, Gibson-branded
• Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to 1980

Body Specs:

• Wood: Maple, mahogany
• Pickups: Tim Shaw PAF humbucker x2 (baseplates date to December 1980/January 1981)
• Harness: Untouched solder, CTS pots date to the 21st week of 1979
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: Nashville bridge, stopbar
• Plastics: Black speed knobs, four-ply pickguard, switch tip

The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish shows a small area of very shallow buckle rash at the bass-side waist, and minor dings and finish scratches consistent with use, primarily concentrated at the lower bout on top and on the back. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with just a couple shallow marks along the profile length and a small spot on the spine at the 8th fret where the finish has worn away.

The original black tolex Gibson-branded hardshell case is included.