1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Vintage Electric Guitar Natural w/ Maple Fretboard & Case

Up for sale, a 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom in excellent condition and in perfect working order with a rare maple fretboard, complete with a “chainsaw” case. A visually striking iteration of the Custom ostensibly only offered from 1976-77 in small quantities, this guitar features a Natural gloss nitro lacquer finish.

The tonewood complement includes a three-piece carved maple top, non-sandwich mahogany body, three-piece maple neck, and bound maple fretboard. Weighing 10lbs 5oz with plenty of natural punch and sustain, the maple neck and fretboard increase the treble detail and aggressive cut of the instrument, qualities which translate faithfully through a pair of substituted Gibson ’57 Classic PAF humbuckers. All three pickup positions are distinct, with more growl and articulate roar in the bridge position, while the neck pickup has ample oomph and thickness while still retaining clarity. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, we’ve dialed in this Les Paul Custom with fresh 10-46 strings, spot-on intonation, and low action.

The three-piece maple neck has a particularly slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut, with good shoulder in every register and appreciably more heft further up the fretboard, measuring .795″ deep at the 1st fret and .975″ at the 12th. The maple fretboard boasts multi-ply binding and pearl block inlays, refretted with flawless jumbo fretwire that has tons of meat. The guitar plays cleanly in every register with a straight neck and responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1 11/16″ in width, upgraded to a carved piece of bone, and the headstock retains the original set of Schaller-made and Gibson-branded gold tuning machines with metal tulip buttons. On the back of the headstock, the guitar sports its original stickered serial number and volute.

The electronics all function as intended, with the replaced pair of Gibson ’57 Classic PAF humbuckers wired to the original harness with a quartet of CTS pots which have visible date codes from the 25th week of ’77. Original plastics include the quartet of black reflector cap knobs (one of which has a chip in its skirt), the “Les Paul Custom” truss rod cover, pickguard, and switch ring. The gold hardware also is all accounted for with plenty of shine and modest patina through the plating on the stopbar and edges of the bridge pickup in particular.

The gloss Natural nitro lacquer finish is 100% original and extremely clean on top, with well-matched seams on the maple cap and light birdseye figuring behind the bridge. Cosmetic wear is limited to light buckle wear central to the back, and a few additional minor nicks and scuffs on the body as a whole, also largely relegated to the back. The gloss finish on the neck profile is nigh-flawless, and there is some finish checking on the neck binding at the fret nibs.

A vintage Gibson “chainsaw” molded hardshell case with red plush interior is included.