1970 Les Paul Advice

[joel]

Hi!

i've got a 1970 les paul Deluxe.

at some point in its life the pickups have been changed for humbuckers.

i am wondering if i should restore it to it's original spec?

why would someone put humbuckers on it?

 

its really a lovely guitar to play but i might sell it if i get a good offer.

i've attached a pic,

id appreciate any advice on this,

regards

joel

[FennRx]

routing out the deluxe for humbuckers was common.

 

as for returning it to spec, do it if you want to. in terms of resale value the damage is done.

[BigKahune]

A bit of an echo of what FennRx said.

 

I personally like the sound/tone of the minis (I've got a set from the 70s in a MM), but a lot of people wanted a hotter, dirtier sound, and so a lot mini setups were modified for buckers.

 

I'm with FennRx, especially if you think you might sell it, IMO replacing the pups wouldn't be worth the trouble and expense.

 

But if you want to keep the guitar if you return it to its original mini setup, go for it. B)

[joel]

thanks guys, that's all i needed to hear really, glad to hear it's not unusual..

i love this guitar, i know i'll regret it but i'm broke and have bills to pay so it's gonna go on ebay as is! : (

i appreciate your responses

[charlie brown]

If indeed, it is a '70 LP Deluxe, then yeah, it's been modified.

However, some in the mid '70's were done with full sized humbuckers,

from the factory, as well as a few with P-90's. I suspect the latter

were special orders? There's info on the web (Google it), regarding

those factory mods.

 

Nice guitar...leave it alone, and play the Hell out of it! ;>)

 

CB

[ChanMan]

/chuckle

 

I'd put '57 Classics in it and call it a WIN. Fenn nailed it with respect to restoration value.

[btoth76]

Hello! Please consider what Charlie Brown said: some Deluxes came with full-size humbuckers. I would check the pickup cavity, if there's any sign of non-factory routing. Compare it with a guitar You're sure that it came with full-size pickups.

[ChanMan]

Hello! Please consider what Charlie Brown said: some Deluxes came with full-size humbuckers. I would check the pickup cavity, if there's any sign of non-factory routing. Compare it with a guitar You're sure that it came with full-size pickups.

 

 

Sorry... not sure why but I assumed it was already determined that it had mini-buckers.

 

 

oops.

 

[Franzi]

According to Gruhn's Guide to Vintage gutiars, the LP Deluxe was availalbe with full size humbuckers as an option 1972-1976. Are you sure about the construction year? Sometimes the codes on the potentiometers under the control cavity can give clues to the construction year also. Read more under http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gibsonPots.php

 

If it is a lovely guitar, why change it? And cavities can be made wider, but how do you make a cavity smaller?

 

Wouldn't that be like asking your hair dresser to cut your hair "longer"?

[Eracer_Team]

just my opinion but

 

Selling gear to pay for bills is a short term fix, once all the gear is gone you'll still have bills to pay.

 

You'll never get debt free by selling gear (unless its a pure 100% 59 les paul worth big bucks, but then why would you sell it?)

 

Debt will be there, work around the problem, there has to be a better answer.

[L5Larry]

According to Gruhn's Guide to Vintage gutiars, the LP Deluxe was availalbe with full size humbuckers as an option 1972-1976.

 

I will have to disagree with "The Guide" on this one (not the first time either, or the last). A Deluxe by design AND definition is a "Standard" body with mini-humbuckers. Once you put full size humbuckers, or P-90's in that body, it becomes a "Standard" by design AND definition. The minis are what IS a "Deluxe".

 

I can also tell you that when Gibson went to the serial number "decals" in 1975 (with the model name also on the decal) that for whatever reason (mistakes, stock shortage, order delay, etc) that some Les Paul Standards had serial number decals that said "Les Paul Deluxe", I own one. The decal does not make it a "Deluxe", it's just another Gibson anomaly, and I think this is what causes the confusion.

 

 

 

There is no "provenance" issues with this guitar, I bought it brand new from Mel Bay

[charlie brown]

Well, Gibson chooses, and has chosen, to name things, that are outside the "norm," more than a few times.

I have 2 Double-Cut LP's with 2 P-100's, that they chose to name "Les Paul 'Junior' Lite." By look, and their own definition, most often, it should have been called a "Special," (2 pickups). But, it's not the first time, they've done things like that, and won't be the last. Right now, they have a LP that's designated a '57 Reissue (Standard?), with Mini-humbuckers, in the old Deluxe special colors, of Gold-Top, Red Sparkle, and Blue Sparkle. Those, even with/because of, those colors, are clearly "LP Deluxes!" Yet, they chose to call them "57 Reissues," with Mini-humbuckers!" So...Gibson doesn't even follow it's own "rules!"

 

No wonder, it's hard to figure out, or keep track, of various models, incarnations, and/or proper names.

 

CB

[Franzi]

Allow me to put another quote, this time from Walter Carter's article "Keep the Flame Alive" on the genesis of the R9. It is an intersting read. With things like this the histroric perspective helps to understand the crooked ways of Gibson models and model names!:

 

"Until 1976 Gibson didn't offer a Les Paul Standard in the catalog, but the company made them anyway. All a dealer had to do was order a Deluxe with fullsize humbuckers and he got a Standard, complete with “Standard” on the truss rod cover. Judging from the numerous sightings today of standards with sixdigit serial numbers (1970-75), a lot of guitar buyers wanted a Standard like the old Standard.But what they were getting was a far cry from the original, thanks to Gibsons numerous “improvements” in the model, such as polyurethane-coated pickup wire, a wider peghead, a three-piece neck (instead of the original onepiece), a four-layer “pancake” body (instead of the original two layers) and a three-piece top (instead of two bookmatched pieces). These changes may have made sense at the time to engineers and accountants and maybe even to marketing people, but not to guitar players."

[T Bone]

I will have to disagree with "The Guide" on this one (not the first time either, or the last). A Deluxe by design AND definition is a "Standard" body with mini-humbuckers. Once you put full size humbuckers, or P-90's in that body, it becomes a "Standard" by design AND definition. The minis are what IS a "Deluxe".

 

I can also tell you that when Gibson went to the serial number "decals" in 1975 (with the model name also on the decal) that for whatever reason (mistakes, stock shortage, order delay, etc) that some Les Paul Standards had serial number decals that said "Les Paul Deluxe", I own one. The decal does not make it a "Deluxe", it's just another Gibson anomaly, and I think this is what causes the confusion.

 

 

 

There is no "provenance" issues with this guitar, I bought it brand new from Mel Bay

I think George (Gruhn) would be the first to admit that "the guide' isn't perfect, and that it was (and still is?) a work in progress. In fact though it's been some 15 years or so since I've looked at it (my copy is in storage), I believe there are words to that effect somewhere in it (I may be mistaken, after all, the memory is vague on it). No doubt revelations have been made that prove portions incorrect regardless. Still a great reference.

[gtrplayr1976]

Correct me if I'm wrong ,but aren't the bridge mounts wrong for a 70 ? The ones I have had the studs screwed directly into the wood. Love the color on that one though.

[charlie brown]

Well, seemingly, no matter which guitar one has, someone can/will find

fault, with it. Pancake bodies, 3-piece necks, volutes, whatever.

I have a '76 Deluxe, and a 1980 LP Custom, that both play, and sound

as good, or better, than any other LP I've played or heard. My band

mate, has a actual '68 LP (Black) Custom, and my 1980 Custom plays

and sounds just as awesome, as his. In all years, and all models,

there are great guitars, and some "turkeys," too. If the one the

original poster has, sounds great, and plays great...that's all that

really counts...IMHO. ;>)

 

CB