color options for '73 deluxe?

[Rico Deluxe]

have a '73 LP deluxe according to the serial and pot numbers... thing is, its black (or ebony) . as far as I can tell, it was offered in goldtop, cherry, cherry sunburst, and tobaccoburst in '73. never seen or heard of an ebony deluxe, at least not till '77, and then I think it was the pro deluxe anyway.

anyone know any different?

 

thanks

[charlie brown]

GIbson Les Paul Deluxe

 

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe ( 1969-1985 )

 

The gibson les paul deluxe electric guitar was originally released in 1969 , it was a renamed guitar and originated from the gibson les paul standard ( goldtop model ) . The main feature of the gibson les paul deluxe was its mini humbuckers .

 

The humbuckers produced a nice tite crunch and the result pleased many guitar players including pete townshend who used them in several concerts . The guitar appeared on the gibson price list in 1969 for $425 and was fairly succesful .

 

In 1969 the gibson lp deluxe featured 2 mini humbuckers ,maple top , mahogany body , a goldttop finish , pantograpgh logo and a 3 piece neck . During the mid seventies regular sized humbuckers were optional and few were also produced with p-90 pickups.

 

From 1970 to 1985 features basically stayed the same accept for minor detail changes and were produced in various beautiful colors such as cherry red sunburst , red wine , goldtop , blue sparkle in 1974,76 and 77 , red sparkle in 1975 . ( custom sparkle colors are worth more and are highly in demand by collectors ) . Discontinued in 1985

 

In 1978 gibson also introduced the gibson les paul pro-deluxe which featured 2 p-90 pickups , chrome hardware and were made in various colors .

 

In 1991 and on gibson made several other models of the deluxe such as the les paul deluxe hall of fame , and the deluxe 30th anniversary....

 

Vintage Guitar Price Value For 2009 :

1969 > $4700 to $5500 ( Goldtop )

1970 > $4000 to $5000 ( Goldtop )

1971 - 1975 > $3500 to $4300 ( Goldtop )

1971 - 1975 > $2500 to $3000 ( various colors )

1976 - 1985 > $2000 to $2700 ( various colors )

 

1978 - 1982 > $1500 to $2100 ( pro-deluxe with 2 p-90 pickups )

 

1969 - Avg Upward Trend Of 15% a Year since 2000

1970 - 1985 Avg Upward Trend Of 11% a Year since 2000

 

( in 1975 and 1977 red and blue sparkle finishes are estimated at $3900 to $4500 , they made them only in those years and are very rare , hard to find . )

 

Buying Advice For Used & Vintage Gibson les paul deluxe Guitars

 

If you want to buy a deluxe , on several occasions you can find used or vintage gibson les paul deluxe for sale on ebay ... However, before you bid or buy I suggest you read the descriptions carefully...

 

CB

[charlie brown]

Maybe it was refinished, or even special ordered? Hard to say. Does it have just a black top,

only...or, is the whole guitar black? Not that it makes much (if any) difference, as it could have

still been refinished or special ordered, that way. It is curious, though.

 

I haven't found any mention, of original "Black LP Deluxes," but...that's not to say they didn't

make a few. There was a black "re-issue," offered, for a period of time, in the very recent past.

 

CB

[mildperv]

NEVER seen an early black Deluxe, and I've seen alot. Gotta be a refin. Common practice to refin after routing for humbuckers if they messed up the routes or it had goof rings or even miniswitches at one point. All of the above for my Deluxe...

[KL]

Well this is essentially a Les Paul Deluxe and a very beautiful one at that (It's actually a Les Paul Pro) . . .

 

http://forums.gibson.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=31686

 

Is this what you have?

[Rico Deluxe]

This is the beast ... black all over.

I was leaning toward the idea that it might have been refinished but who knows

[KL]

Hard to be sure from that shot, but I think there is a good chance that is a refinish as it has a kind of matte appearance, not the high gloss I would expect. also it looks like the tone and volume knobs are non original. A nice LP though.

[KL]

You could try looking in the pickup cavities to see if there is evidence of an original colour under there.

[Rico Deluxe]

didn't realize how fuzzy that pic was till I posted it

thats a good idea... next string changing I'll pull the pickups.

for years I've been dying for a goldtop... wouldn't it be something if I had one under my nose all along. ha

 

thanks for the input!

[KL]

Yes maybe you've already got a goldtop!