The Gibson LP Custom – the Les Paul  Custom – appeared in 1954 and aside from 1963 to 1968 has been part of the Les Paul Lineup since then in various forms. Aside from specialty models like the Supreme, it’s always been the top of the Les Paul line, with gold plated hardware, extra binding and more Mother of Pearl inlays.  Some versions after the 1957 introduction of the new humbucking pickup,  sported three pickups.   The current Gibson LP Custom is available in Ebony Black or Arctic White, and can be seen here on the Gibson website.

From 1954 to 1960, the Gibson LP Custom differed from the ‘Standard’ and ‘Goldtop’ Les Paul models in more than appearance – the carved top was Mahogany, not Maple. For 1961 to 1963, the entire LP lineup was radically changed to what became the ‘SG’ once Gibson’s endorsement contract with Les Paul expired. At Les Paul’s request – due to legal issues around a divorce settlement – the contract was not renewed until 1968, when the original Les Paul design was re-launched. While the Custom was re-launched along with the Standard and new Deluxe, it now had the same carved Maple top as the other models.

The 1984 Gibson Les Paul Custom

This is a Gibson LP Custom dating to December 14, 1984 and built at the Gibson Nashville plant. It’s in very nice, clean and original condition and sports a translucent Cherry finish, as also seen on many SG related models. There is no weight relief on this guitar!
The body is a three-piece Maple cap on a Mahogany slab body, with Mahogany for the neck and Ebony for the fingerboard. The head is wider and more elaborate than on Standard or Deluxe models, with binding and split-diamond Mother of Pearl inlays and Gibson logo. The position markers are Mother of Peal blocks. The neck does not have the Volute behind the nut, a feature intended to provide a bit more strength.

The hardware is gold plated, and includes the Schaller-made but Gibson branded tuners with flip-out ‘speed cranks’ for faster string changes. That concept has been superseded by locking tuners, which dramatically reduces the number of turns required to mount a string. The plating is in good condition with some wear-through in the places where the player’s hand would rest. The strap buttons are the original ‘Diamond’ or ‘Posi-Lock’ design, used from the late 1970’s into the 1980’s. Fret wear is light. The fret wire is a medium-low wire, not quite the ‘Fretless wonder’ style. The pickups are Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers.

There is one bit of finish damage, visible on the rear treble bout edge. The guitar clearly dropped a short distance onto the edge, chipping the lacquer on the binding.

Overall this guitar is in good condition, and plays well and cleanly. And it definitely sounds like a Les Paul Custom, with the extra bit of attack from the Ebony fingerboard compared to Rosewood models.

The original molded Gibson hard shell case is included.