❌SOLD❌ Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary Sunburst, 1974

Built during 1974 in Kalamazoo Michigan, this Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary sports a Sunburst finish and gold plated hardware. As a commemorative model, the 15th fret mother of pearl block position marker is engraved with ’20th Anniversary’.

This Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary is in overall good but not entirely original condition. The nitrocellulose lacquer sunburst finish is in decent condition, as expected for a 47 year old guitar that’s been used as expected. There is wear to the finish along the edges of the fingerboard and on the neck where it’s rested on supports in the case. In particular, there’s a mark from the support just on the neck side of the Volute. That mark has been identified as not being from a repaired break. The body finish has some expected light to moderate buckle rash and some small marks on the top. The lacquer finish is naturally sinking and some of the body laminations are more visible than when new. The frets are the original low, narrow wire of the ‘Fretless Wonder’ style and wear is moderate.

The original bridge pickup on this Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary model was replaced with a Seymour Duncan model in the bridge position. The volume and tone pots date to 1973.

A molded Gibson case of the ‘Chainsaw’ style is included. These cases started appearing in the later 1970’s so is not likely original to this guitar.

The Les Paul Custom appeared in 1954 as an upgrade to the Les Paul model, which as now featured a Maple cap on a Mahogany body and wearing a ‘Gold Top’ finish. The Custom came in gloss black with an Ebony fingerboard and gold plated hardware to simulate a Tuxedo – ideal for higher end establishments. Under the black finish, there was another significant difference. The 1950’s Customs had no Maple cap, but were all Mahogany. The original Les Paul design was dropped in 1960, and when it re-appeared in 1968, the Custom was given the same Maple and Mahogany construction as the other carved-top models.