Strings Jr.
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2016
- Messages
- 673
One day in the fall of 1977, Gibson-Nashville received a piece of maple that was wide enough on one end to produce three one-piece top Les Pauls. The first top was run through the production process, and the guitar was routed for mini-humbuckers. After buffing and neck prep, management hung the guitar on the wall in the Manufacturing Office, where it was held. The other two tops were mated to a body, then stashed under a workbench. My Dad started to work for Gibson in 1975, and by now was ready to buy a Les Paul. He had seen the Deluxe hanging in the office and loved it, but he wanted one with regular humbuckers. So he contacted his buddy in the back of the plant that had the other two bodies, and promptly picked the one he wanted for his Les Paul. With such a special top, he wanted the rest of the guitar to be just as special. So he hand-picked an ebony fingerboard, and three pieces of curly maple for the neck. When his guitar was neck fit, the serial number was 39 days after the one-piece top Deluxe was made. I started at Gibson in December ’77 and my first job was installing tuners. My Dad gave me strict orders to make sure his Standard got drilled for the custom Schaller tuners when it came through. So I did. As soon as my probationary period was over, it was time for me to buy a Les Paul. The other two one-piece bodies were gone, so I inquired about buying the Deluxe on the wall in the office. After some discussions, they let me buy it.
My Dad passed away in 2012. My wish is for these two guitars to remain together as a set, and be passed down through many generations, with tops that came from the same tree.
My Dad passed away in 2012. My wish is for these two guitars to remain together as a set, and be passed down through many generations, with tops that came from the same tree.
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