NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

[AlexR]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Hey guys

thanks for all the great feedback. ya know, i didnt even look to see if it was a pancake or solid body. I am pretty sure its a maple neck, but again, i will double check. I have been working alot since i purchased it, but tomorrow night i will start analyzing it more in detail.

Anything from about mid 75 onward for a Custom will be maple neck. The pancake went in 77 at some point, and also the more modern 8 digit serial number impressed into the wood came in during 1977.

 

[Aceman]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Possibly Pancake, probably not out at that end of the decade. Likely Maple - but no guarantees. Strange things and odd combos did happen in that era...

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Those TP-6 are a tone suck. Id replace with regular stopbar unless the faded finish shows without it.
Les Pauls or 335's don't need fine tuners.
Id get rid of that Carvin humbucker in the bridge too.
Carvin never made Les Pauls.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Which Carvin pickup is that
Some of them aren't bad

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

The kind that need to be replaced.

 

[Aceman]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Those TP-6 are a tone suck. Id replace with regular stopbar unless the faded finish shows without it.
Les Pauls or 335's don't need fine tuners.
Id get rid of that Carvin humbucker in the bridge too.
Carvin never made Les Pauls.

The kind that need to be replaced.

Someone woke up on the wrong side of their Folgers....

No, they don't need them. Then again, those are Gibson tuners, not Grovers, so they suck. Fine tuners would be useful.

Duncan and DiMarzio never made Les Pauls either - what's your point? That Carvin Super 22 is a pretty sporty metal pickup if I recall.

All that said - yeah - A stop would look nicer unless the finish is messed up, and the Carvin just looks and feels wrong. Ya old grump! :lmao:

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

I have the S22s in my RG4 and they are thick wooly pickups

The m22 and c22 are awesomeness incarnate

Haven't tried their new lithium pickup
But it specs out like Duncans

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

That LP is begging for an SH-5 & 59' combo.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

No doubt a custom 5 and 59 would be awesome
As would a JB/JAZZ set
Or some alnico 2 pros
A2P sounds real good

But the OP said he has a set in mind

 

[EmiAba]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Possibly Pancake, probably not out at that end of the decade. Likely Maple - but no guarantees. Strange things and odd combos did happen in that era...

Norlin era. You really never know what you have in those guitars. But some of them sound really good. Anyway pancake bodies started somewhere in 1969 and ended in late 1976, early 77. While maple necks have been introduced in 1975 till 1980. Even if my guitar tech has a white custom with a maple neck dated June 1981.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

My '83 Custom has a 3-piece maple neck.

 

[Mincer]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

I've always liked the fine tuning tailpiece- I think Gibson's version is the TP-6. I don't know what problem it is solving, but I always thought they looked cool

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Norlin era. You really never know what you have in those guitars. But some of them sound really good. Anyway pancake bodies started somewhere in 1969 and ended in late 1976, early 77. While maple necks have been introduced in 1975 till 1980. Even if my guitar tech has a white custom with a maple neck dated June 1981.

Some of the Norlin LPC's can weigh up to 13lbs.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Some of the Norlin LPC's can weigh up to 13lbs.

Even my aforementioned '83 Custom feels heavy as hell, and it's only 11 point something, IIRC. It's one of only two of my instruments that puts my right leg to sleep when I play it sitting down. The other is a "vintage" B00 bass, which feels even heavier.

 

[Aceman]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Some of the Norlin LPC's can weigh up to 13lbs.

Even my aforementioned '83 Custom feels heavy as hell, and it's only 11 point something, IIRC.

Which is why only real men can play them, and usually use them for heavy metal...:banana:

 

[dystrust]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Some of the Norlin LPC's can weigh up to 13lbs.

Even my aforementioned '83 Custom feels heavy as hell, and it's only 11 point something, IIRC. It's one of only two of my instruments that puts my right leg to sleep when I play it sitting down. The other is a "vintage" B00 bass, which feels even heavier.

My '77 LPC was only 10.5lbs, but that thing was brutal to play for a rehearsal. My Explorer is a hair over 9 lbs, and that is my limit these days.

 

[AlexR]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

My '83 Custom has a 3-piece maple neck.

83 was the year that a lot of changes happened.....return to the 17 deg headstock angle, change to mahogany for the necks, reduced headstock size for some Gibson lines and I think the swiss cheese weight relief started sometime this year too.
Of course, there are examples of both in this year, and sometimes almost random with dates.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

I like the white pick up ring in the neck position and the black in the bridge. Leave the black pup in the neck and maybe an SD pick up in all cream colour in the bridge with the black pup ring. Have a custom pick-guard that is half white/cream and half black sort of like a Micheal Schenker theme.

;>)/

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

My '77 LPC was only 10.5lbs, but that thing was brutal to play for a rehearsal. My Explorer is a hair over 9 lbs, and that is my limit these days.

Strangely enough, the weight of my 11 lb. Custom is no problem when standing. It's when sitting that it's a real bear. I basically have to cinch up my strap such that the guitar isn't really being supported by my leg, but by the strap. Technically, it's a better playing position anyhow, so I don't mind.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: NGD: 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst

Well well, some pretty awesome discussion on my guitar here. Well, I finally had a day off today and decided to take the guitar apart basically and inspect everything about it. Well, what did i find? a 1 piece body (not pancake!), a very nice ebony fret board, 3 piece maple neck, which i cant wait to get new frets on.

Soooo.....I am trying to keep the whole "aged-well played/worn" thing going on with this guitar, i decided upon a set of SD Antiquity JB/Jazz set. I thought this would be perfect for the guitar.

I want to do 50s wiring. What do you guys recommend for a drop-in wiring/pot set? This guitar has ALL original pots and i plan to keep them for resale value but I definitely want 500k pots all around.