1977 Gibson “The Les Paul” # 34

One guitar always stood out. The extraordinary “The Les Paul”, in intensely grained red, has always been something special.

However, as the book also revealed, only about 65-70 of these instruments were ever produced between 1976 and 1979. Only 17 of them in my favourite colour ‘Wine Red’. So it seemed impossible to have such a guitar actually in your hand at some point.
Well, it happened now…

And then there is one of them, which combines all the specifications that make “The Les Paul” so special. Not all models of this model were comparably equipped. But more about this below…

Made in Kalamazoo by Gibson and a trio around Dick Schneider, they made the rosewood parts, the elaborate binding and the mother-of-pearl inlays, the effort was enormous. With this “mother of all Les Pauls”, Gibson wanted to show what they were capable of. Therefore, the opulently equipped instrument ended up with a more than juicy price tag.

The undertaking was torpedoed by the fact that the maple found by the then Gibson President in Austria for the top, back and neck as well as the corresponding rosewood was gradually used up for the remaining parts. The idea of using either beautifully grained maple or hand-carved rosewood for all components of the Les Paul became unworkable towards the end of the series due to a lack of wood. And so the last specimens were gradually slimmed down and no longer had much in common with the basic idea. 

This “The Les Paul” is, however, a prime example of what was conceived in Kalamazoo back then and does not lack a single detail.
Purchased from the previous owner in the early 2000s and carefully maintained, it is still in unbelievably good condition today. Also completely original down to the last screw.

Our Plek station did not show up any weaknesses either. Some of the “Fretless Wonder” frets common at the time are already quite flat, but this extremely rare collector’s item has a first-class set up and can be played really well with a rather slender neck, somewhere between a ’59 and a ’60.
The delivery includes the original case as well as all papers and accessories. This is a genuine “once in a lifetime” opportunity.

Due to the rarity and the high price we do not offer shipping for this instrument. But you are invited to test the Gibson in Paderborn-Schloss Neuhaus by appointment.