NGD for me on Saturday, with the addition of a 1994 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Classic
It had the designation "Heritage" after the description in the shop, though I can't find any record of such a model (?)
Spec:
- Five digit (4 xxxx) inked-on serial number, but no 'Made in USA' identation.
- Custom Shop decal at the heel.
- Small headstock.
- 496R neck humbucker
- 500T bridge humbucker.
- Gibson Deluxe tuners.
- Nickel hardware.
- Single ply cream pickguard.
- ABR-1 bridge.
- Amber top hat knobs.
- Rosewood fingerboard.
- Wine red.
The only thing I'm guessing is not original is the chrome jack socket plate.
As a 'Classic', AFAIK it's supposed to be all mahogany body and neck, but it's a little confusing. I was told to look for a round hole between top switch and pots cavities, as this indicated a drilled hole and therefore one-piece body (as opposed to a square routed channel on guitars where a top was added later) but, as I can see a centre join I am pretty sure a top has been applied to mine. It still looks like mahogany rather than maple though. Will have to get the pickups out...
I think, therefore.... I... ummmm........
Comments
Some will prefer the existing open coil ceramic pick-ups (99% certain they are not 496/500 pick-ups) and I can't argue with that thought, but to me a set of pickups with a paf flavour will move improve the guitars tonal character if you want a vintage voice - nice LP - a 60's flavoured slimmer neck
Note yours still has the vintage style push in 'bushings' on the tuners
I assume when you say a centre join, you mean on the top or the body
A nice guitar - not sure what you paid for it but I think they are a better LP than many Traditional and Classic models today
Not sure about the Custom Shop decal you mentioned though !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it is all-mahogany, but with the two-piece mahogany top added in the same way a maple top would be. (pic below)
The Custom Shop logo (pic below) is beneath the lacquer, so I presume it's all genuine.
Interestingly, I just found an almost identical 1995 listed in the States... http://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-Gibson-USA-Les-Paul-Classic-Custom-Shop-M-hogany-Top-All-Original-OHSC-/262514303405
...but the CS logo is different.
Looking at the link you supplied, it has paf based p/ups - have you checked yours to see what they are
The serial number has me thinking at this stage - many Custom Shop models start with a CS serial number sequence - yet 4 9081 would normally be found on a vintage replica like Historic Collection etc in which case 4 would indicate a 1954 reissue - That is clearly not the case with your LP so at this stage I can't recall coming across this sequence before - But no worries as it all look genuine - maybe another FB member might be aware of this serial number format
That might also tell me whether or not I have a long tenon neck. Plus, sometimes these Classics have a model designation stamped in the cavity.
It is a strange serial numbering, but appears correct from others I've been finding online.
The cable is an old George-Ls!
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Bridge first. No stamp, just the remnants of a small black sticker. Has a small wood spacer (second pic).
Again, no markings, just the patch where a sticker once was. The same wood spacer....
It's also initialled "VL" or "VC" - presumably the guy/gal who made the neck?
One problem with these is that they have occasionally been confused with Pre-Historic guitars, either deliberately by the seller, or innocently. It was probably a mistake for Gibson to use the * **** serial format on a non-Reissue guitar.
I picked it up for £1,200
Which links partly in with the comments above from Skipped - Gibson have undoubtedly had a checkered history of clarity at times which can cause confusion and raise questions at a later date
It seems to me that Gibson were just a bit careless with the use of the Custom Shop Edition logo and that it may be that the Marketing dept were driving this. The first Les Paul Re-Issue guitars appeared in the early to mid 80's (after a few dummy runs) and they had a very similar stamp on the back of the headstock. (For example Mark Knopfler's Re-Issue that you can hear on Brothers in Arms.)
You may recall a thread on this forum about the guitar in the link below. I am sure it is a very nice Les Paul with an unbound neck but I would be surprised if it was made by the guys in the Custom Shop and I would be surprised if he gets £3k for it. (Now reduced to £2,700.)
https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/gibson-les-paul-custom-shop-edition-one-off-/1175725462