Gibson Original Collection Les Paul Custom ’70s

The Les Paul Custom was first introduced in 1953 as an upscale version of the Les Paul model. The model was requested by Les Paul himself, who wanted a black version of the guitar that “looked like a tuxedo.”

In 1961, the single-cutaway Les Paul Custom was discontinued in favor of a new double-cutaway model that would later become known as the SG Custom. The original single-cutaway model was reintroduced in 1968.

During the 1970s, production of the Les Paul Custom transitioned from Kalamazoo to Nashville, and the model received various changes that further refined its design. These included replacing the original all-mahogany body with a multi-piece maple top, as well as introducing a new maple neck. Today, '70s-era Les Paul Customs are among the fastest-appreciating guitars on the vintage market.

Now, after 20 years of offering the Les Paul Custom only through Gibson Custom, Gibson is proud to release the Les Paul Custom '70s. It features classic 1970s specs, including a mahogany body with a three-piece maple top. The body is bound with 5-ply top binding and 3-ply back binding. The maple neck has a '70s profile with a volute and is topped with a bound ebony fretboard featuring 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays.

The bound headstock is also adorned with mother-of-pearl, including the famous Custom Split Diamond headstock inlay. Originating with the Gibson Super 400, this detail has become synonymous with the Les Paul Custom. The Les Paul Custom '70s also features gold hardware, including an aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge, an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, and smooth-turning Grover Rotomatic tuners with Keystone buttons for reliable tuning stability.

Even the smallest details have been recreated, such as Posi-Lok strap locks, a 5-ply pickguard, and 70s-era Witch Hat control knobs. The electronics are also era-appropriate, with a pair of Calibrated T-Type humbuckers and individual volume and tone controls hand-wired to Orange Drop capacitors.

The Les Paul Custom '70s is available in four gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finishes: Ebony, Tobacco Burst, Wine Red, and Buttercream Top. Each comes with a hardshell case for protection during storage and travel.

The wait is over—the Les Paul Custom has returned to the Gibson USA lineup and is ready to rock your world!