Original 1978 Cherryburst Gibson Les Paul

Description: Wednesday, September 6th 1978 . . .President Jimmy Carter hosts Middle East peace talks with Sadat and Begin at Camp David, The Who drummer Keith Moon dies from an overdose of prescription drugs, Boogie-Oogie-Oogie is the #1 Song in the country and . . . early that morning, a blank mahogany body starts its trip down the assembly line at Gibson Guitar Corp's then recently completed factory in Nashville, Tennessee.Only the 7th instrument produced that day, the guitar would go through more than a hundred individual manufacturing steps before emerging as one of Gibson's all-time classic instruments, a brand new "Cherry Sunburst" Les Paul.More than just a pretty face, serial #72498507 was also fitted with Gibson’s "T-Top" humbuckers which (perhaps second only to their legendary PAF's) would become one of the most sought after 'vintage' pickups ever. Produced only through the late 1970's, T-Tops provided great clarity, bright but not shrill, with well defined gain and crunch.#72498507 was acquired from a collector in Arizona who'd purchased the guitar many years earlier directly from a working professional musician by the name of Duane Pursley (the name stenciled on the case). Research shows that Pursley was the frontman for a country rock band in the 1980's and 90's called Hot Pursuit. Hailing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, their group actively toured through the mid-west (including, per one found playbill, in St. Louis, Mo. on September 27th, 1989).No modifications or prior repairs, today this iconic Les Paul remains strikingly handsome including a fair amount of well-earned 'patina' in the form of some small bruises and a couple of areas where the finish is checking and/or worn through. (See photos).ORIGINAL:The Cherry Sunburst finish, T-Top pickups and bezels, Indian Rosewood fretboard, pearloid bindings, pearl trapezoid marker inlays, Gibson Deluxe tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge, stop tailpiece, strap buttons, volume and tone control knobs, pickup selector switch, strap buttons and input jack all appear to be original to the guitar. The frets show very little wear suggesting perhaps that the guitar may at some point have been refretted?NON-ORIGINAL:The pickguard and nickel pickup covers.DATE CODES:Serial # - #72498507 identifies that the body was assembled on 9/6/78. (After decades of arcane and/or inconsistent serial number sequences, in 1977 Gibson finally adapted a standard numbering system - still used today - for all of their guitars)Pickups - The T-Top pickups are both date-stamped 1978. The neck pickup is dated 7/20 & the bridge pickup 10/3.Pots - All four matching original pots are date-coded June of 1978.Fabulous look with just the right amount of vintage patina, virtually all original and, best of all, this is a terrific playing and sounding guitar. Great to show/display though, better yet, this will be the perfect axe for a “new” frontman.

Price: 3500 USD

Location: Redwood City, California

End Time: 2024-12-07T22:54:06.000Z

Shipping Cost: 139 USD