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Where are they now...

clearmudd

Active member
Joined
May 26, 2016
Messages
499
Thank you for the reply, I purchased mine used in early 81 or 82, my memory is a little off. It was my main guitar for several years and had to sell it 89. That Leo was the only guitar that truly broke my heart to sell, and I wish I never did. :dang
 

Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
RL, I was asked to ask you if you knew anything about this beautiful 1985 Les Paul Standard.
LP2.jpg


SN#80595556

Mainly, was 2 piece is semi rare for then? The Dire Straits picture is '85ish? ..might this have been the birth of the "Prehistoric"?

And someone wants to know what "LBO" initials might in a 1980 LP Pro? Ebony w/P90s.

Thanks bud!:yah
 

Strings Jr.

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Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
RL, I was asked to ask you if you knew anything about this beautiful 1985 Les Paul Standard.


SN#80595556

Mainly, was 2 piece is semi rare for then? The Dire Straits picture is '85ish? ..might this have been the birth of the "Prehistoric"?

And someone wants to know what "LBO" initials might in a 1980 LP Pro? Ebony w/P90s.

Thanks bud!:yah

Kris,
I don't have that number in my ledger, but while I was looking I saw 80665512 with a note saying "Nice Top", so possibly something out of the ordinary happening around that time. It was rare for a normal LP Standard to have a two piece flame top. I've seen "re-issue" bodies that accidentally got drilled for a Nashville bridge, and had to be built as a normal Standard. Could be any number of reasons, but always a plus for the customer.

The LBO initials doesn't ring a bell. At that time, initials were used by operators and inspectors at several places in the process. For example, the initials you see under the TRC would be the guy who filed the frets.

IMO, the birth of the "Prehistoric" would be the 59/80. They were the first "re-issue" type LP's I ever saw.

If I remember correctly :hmm this beautiful Elite was the first one built in Nashville.

Thanks.

RL

 
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Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
COOL!
Again, thanks for the awesome info Randy!
Really appreciate it!

Keep 'em coming brother!:salude
 

Texsunburst59

Active member
Joined
Feb 15, 2004
Messages
765
Yes sir!

Here's the first one I have listed in my book (or maybe I should start calling it my "ledger". That word seems to get a lot of attention around here.)

Build #6 for me on September 15th, 1983.





Very cool!:jim I have one I bought brand new in Corpus Christi, TX in 1984. Ser # "1 0025" inked on. I still own it. It is one of the ones with the "tulip" type tuners and black knobs, natural Korina, and Shaw pickups. It is a great guitar.

George


Where did you buy the guitar?

Sound Vibrations, or Clawson's music. I

I bought my very 1st Gibson at Sound Vibrations in '80.

I still have my '80 Cream Gibson Explorer.
 

Breakrite

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Joined
Jun 25, 2016
Messages
13
The LBO initials doesn't ring a bell. At that time, initials were used by operators and inspectors at several places in the process. For example, the initials you see under the TRC would be the guy who filed the frets.


Thanks.

RL

Strings Jr.

Thanks for updates anyway. (I guess it would be hard to keep track of every initial of the employees who worked on them!)

The information and pictures you are providing is the ultimate in cool Gibson history and much appreciated. (and Kris Ford, thanks for asking brother)

Here is the "LBO" just in case someone else runs across it. 1980 Les Paul Pro, #81080551

2014-01-11%2011.23.39.jpg
 

AXE752

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Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
812
Where did you buy the guitar?

Sound Vibrations, or Clawson's music. I

I bought my very 1st Gibson at Sound Vibrations in '80.

I still have my '80 Cream Gibson Explorer.


Bought it at Sound Vibrations from a guy (I believe the owner) named Robert. Paid top dollar for it. He wouldn't come off the price any at all and I wanted it. I think I paid around $1100.00 for it in '84. That was a lot of cash at that time and probably WAY too much.:jim
 
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Strings Jr.

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Another one of my favorites, the Super Custom.

There has to be some Super Custom owners around here.

Here's a couple of nice ones, including one I believe to be
a "one-of-a-kind" three pickup.

Where are they now?



 
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Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
This one is on eBay right now:
$_57.JPG

Any idea what the sticker on the bottom of the headstock is?:hmm Too bad SN# is obscured, but you can probably figure it out.
$_57.JPG

I think they're beautiful!

Your handywork on this one Randy?:teeth
 

Strings Jr.

Well-known member
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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
This one is on eBay right now:

Any idea what the sticker on the bottom of the headstock is?:hmm Too bad SN# is obscured, but you can probably figure it out.

I think they're beautiful!

Your handywork on this one Randy?:teeth

That sticker is not a factory sticker. Possibly something
to do with this guitar being in Japan??

I did a quick scan through my ledger for that date code.
Found six possible matches with the same date code and
003X number. (Four shown here, two on other pages)

So yes, very good chance this was one of mine.

Thanks for sharing Kris :dude:


Super%20Customs_zpsqxkjaubq.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Hey Randy when did Gibson stop making L5s guitars in Kalamazoo? I have a '75 and a '78, any chance you had a hand in either?
 

Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
That sticker is not a factory sticker. Possibly something
to do with this guitar being in Japan??

I did a quick scan through my ledger for that date code.
Found six possible matches with the same date code and
003X number. (Four shown here, two on other pages)

So yes, very good chance this was one of mine.

Thanks for sharing Kris :dude:


Super%20Customs_zpsqxkjaubq.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

No brother, THANK YOU!:salude
This is the coolest thread ever!

Those were beauties!
Any go out with black plastic?
Did this model morph into the LP Supreme (or something like that?)

I blew up the headstock pic, and DAMNED if it doesn't look like the 80824566, #0036... :hmm
 

Strings Jr.

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Hey Randy when did Gibson stop making L5s guitars in Kalamazoo? I have a '75 and a '78, any chance you had a hand in either?

I really can't speak to things that happened in Kalamazoo with much certainty.
I've seen L5s models as late as '80 or '81, so I would assume they were made
right up until the plant closed.

I only remember seeing one L5s in Nashville, and I'm thinking it came down
from K-zoo when they closed, along with all the other "leftovers".
So, pretty much no chance I had a hand in yours.

They were great guitars. I wish Nashville would have
continued to make them.

Thanks!

RL
 

Strings Jr.

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
No brother, THANK YOU!:salude
This is the coolest thread ever!

Those were beauties!
Any go out with black plastic?
Did this model morph into the LP Supreme (or something like that?)

I blew up the headstock pic, and DAMNED if it doesn't look like the 80824566, #0036... :hmm

No, they were all spec'd with cream plastic.

Glad you mentioned the Supreme. My Dad had a hand in the design of the Supreme.
In particular, the carved back without backplates was his idea.
The Supreme had a few similarities with the Super Customs, such as
the split-block inlays and gold speed knobs, but that was about it.

When the Supreme was launched, Gibson was very appreciative to
my Dad for his input. So much so that they gave him the first one.
I wish I had better pics, but then pics doesn't do it justice anyway.
This is one of the most beautiful Gibson's I've ever seen in my life.






And the back is just as nice.


 
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Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
No, they were all spec'd with cream plastic.

Glad you mentioned the Supreme. My Dad had a hand in the design of the Supreme.
In particular, the carved back without backplates was his idea.
The Supreme had a few similarities with the Super Customs, such as
the split-block inlays and gold speed knobs, but that was about it.

When the Supreme was launched, Gibson was very appreciative to
my Dad for his input. So much so that they gave him the first one.
I wish I had better pics, but then pics doesn't do it justice anyway.
This is one of the most beautiful Gibson's I've ever seen in my life.



Supreme%20Front_zpswjmnrud7.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]


And the back is just as nice.


Supreme%20Back_zpsjrhqa4j2.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
HOLY SHIT!!!:bug
Is that your Pops with that white Moderne earlier in the thread?
 

Ed Driscoll

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
4,691
No, they were all spec'd with cream plastic.

Glad you mentioned the Supreme. My Dad had a hand in the design of the Supreme.
In particular, the carved back without backplates was his idea.

Wow -- how do they drop in the electronics?
 

Strings Jr.

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
HOLY SHIT!!!:bug
Is that your Pops with that white Moderne earlier in the thread?

Yes it is. He started working at the Nashville plant in 1975.
He did sound booth inspections in Final Assembly the majority of the time he was there.
He retired from Gibson in 2002.
 

Thin_Lizzy

New member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
1,345
This is absolutely the best thread in years!

So, maybe you something about this one:
It's my brother's. Its a '83 Studio. Must be one of the first or maybe some pre-production run orso. It features a 'Custom Shop Edition' decal above the s/n.
It also features a thinner, Studio-esque body, but a bound fingerboard with trapezoid inlays. Headstock is Studio-correct.

So here it is; any comments on this one?





 
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