MikeSlub
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- Jul 15, 2001
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Okay, well, so I've never seen a Les Paul I didn't like! 
I went into a Music-Go-Round for strings, and this guitar had just come in - and I couldn't resist. It's got some scratches and some checking, but it's all original.
This is a 1970 Les Paul Professional, one of the short-lived low-impedance Les Paul models introduced in the late 60's. There aren't many photos available of this model - most of the books include photos of the Les Paul Personal, which was a more ornate model with the microphone input jack on the upper bout, and the Les Paul Recording.
It is a single cutaway, carved top, 3-piece mahogany body with a center strip of maple laminate, Gibson embossed low impedance pickups, pickup selector switch on upper bass bout, 4 knobs (volume, decade switch, two tone controls), slide switch for in/out phase, 3-position slide switch for tone, rosewood fingerboard, trapezoid inlays (how about that color), chrome hardware, walnut finish. This model was introduced in 1969 and discontinued in 1971. The model changed from a contoured back and 3-prong jack to no contour and a standard 1/4 inch jack by 1970.
Note that the body is LARGER than a normal Les Paul, and the case was specially designed for it. The guitar has a one piece mahogany neck, and no volute. It is a hefty 11 1/2 lbs. (I'm playing this baby sitting down! ). The neck is nice and fat, and the frets are big. It has a substantial and solid feel to it. Fit and finish are excellent.
These guitars came with a transformer cord (from low impedance output to high impedance), but many have long since separated from this original equipment accessory, including this guitar.
The guitar has a rich, full sound, and lots of tonal variations with the switches, tone controls, and decade control. It is a polite sounding guitar without a lot of volume, even if converted to high impedance output for a standard amplifier.
Gibson shipping records say that 2 were shipped in 1969, 781 in 1970, and 116 in 1971, but given the poor sales of these guitars almost no historian believes that the 781 production total for 1970 is correct (probably a typo).
The 2005 VG Price Guide puts the value of these guitars in excellent condition at about $1,200. (a bargain!)
A very interesting part of Gibson history; hope you enjoy it! :wail
I went into a Music-Go-Round for strings, and this guitar had just come in - and I couldn't resist. It's got some scratches and some checking, but it's all original.This is a 1970 Les Paul Professional, one of the short-lived low-impedance Les Paul models introduced in the late 60's. There aren't many photos available of this model - most of the books include photos of the Les Paul Personal, which was a more ornate model with the microphone input jack on the upper bout, and the Les Paul Recording.
It is a single cutaway, carved top, 3-piece mahogany body with a center strip of maple laminate, Gibson embossed low impedance pickups, pickup selector switch on upper bass bout, 4 knobs (volume, decade switch, two tone controls), slide switch for in/out phase, 3-position slide switch for tone, rosewood fingerboard, trapezoid inlays (how about that color), chrome hardware, walnut finish. This model was introduced in 1969 and discontinued in 1971. The model changed from a contoured back and 3-prong jack to no contour and a standard 1/4 inch jack by 1970.
Note that the body is LARGER than a normal Les Paul, and the case was specially designed for it. The guitar has a one piece mahogany neck, and no volute. It is a hefty 11 1/2 lbs. (I'm playing this baby sitting down!
). The neck is nice and fat, and the frets are big. It has a substantial and solid feel to it. Fit and finish are excellent.These guitars came with a transformer cord (from low impedance output to high impedance), but many have long since separated from this original equipment accessory, including this guitar.
The guitar has a rich, full sound, and lots of tonal variations with the switches, tone controls, and decade control. It is a polite sounding guitar without a lot of volume, even if converted to high impedance output for a standard amplifier.
Gibson shipping records say that 2 were shipped in 1969, 781 in 1970, and 116 in 1971, but given the poor sales of these guitars almost no historian believes that the 781 production total for 1970 is correct (probably a typo).
The 2005 VG Price Guide puts the value of these guitars in excellent condition at about $1,200. (a bargain!)
A very interesting part of Gibson history; hope you enjoy it! :wail
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