❌SOLD❌ Gibson Les Paul Deluxe GoldTop, 1970

Please Note! This 1970 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe has been sold and is no longer available. This post is maintained for historical purposes only.

Built from 1969 to 1985, the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe GoldTop was a renaming of the Les Paul Standard, but used the original P-90 body route and a pair of mini-humbuckers mounted in modified P-90 covers. This allowed for a low cost refresh of the model, co-incidentally using up parts Gibson had on hand.

Initially introduced in 1952, the Gibson Les Paul carried the GoldTop finish, a pair of P-90s, and a trapeze tailpiece. The tailpiece and neck set were quickly changed to allow use of more practical bridges, and in 1958 the model received the new humbucking pickups and the name ‘Les Paul Standard’. This design lasted until 1960 when poor sales prompted a complete redesign, soon known as the SG. The original single cutaway model was not produced again until 1969, with the Les Paul Custom restored but the Standard appearing as the Deluxe. At its initial return, the Les Paul Deluxe used a ‘slab’ Mahogany back, but by 1969 the ‘Pancake’ body with two thinner layers of Mahogany forming the full thickness under the Maple cap. At this point, the back of the neck at the headstock also received a Volute, a ridge intended to provide more wood and support in this potentially weak area.

Here we’re looking at a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe GoldTop dating to 1970 and built at the historic Kalamazoo, Michigan plant. It’s in overall good and largely original condition, including original frets. There is a wear mark on the back of the neck. There is some expected lacquer checking on the back, but very little on the top. These metallic gold finishes can sometimes turn greenish over time, but this one has retained its tint.

The Gibson Les Paul Deluxe brings back a lot of memories for me. Pete Townshend used many during Who tours, with some even surviving. Some of my peers at the time used the Les Paul Deluxe while studying Thin Lizzy albums as ‘How to Play Guitar’ methods.

Sold with the original Gibson hard shell case.