1978 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe......Or Is It?

[mac75 0]

Guys, just picked up the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Was described as a 1978 model, however, serial number comes back as a 1977(serial stamped into back of headstock). I know Gibson made a model called the "Pro Deluxe" that had the P90s, maple neck and top(like this does)starting in 1978. Can I assume that they used a leftover neck from 1977, or is there another explanation? I have seen other Pro Deluxe models, but they say "Pro" instead of "Deluxe" on the truss rod cover. The guitar appears all original with no extra holes or funny business. Any help would be appreciated. It is a great guitar, that's one thing I'm sure of!

[mac75 0]

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[Grog 56]

It looks to be all origonal except for changed pickups, I think they might be DiMarzio Tone Zone P90's.

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/soap-bar/tone-zone-p90

[mac75 0]

I think you're right, they are Tone Zones, does this affect the value at all? I saw some original Gibson 1978 P90s on Ebay for around 200.00, would it be worth changing them back?

[pfox14 111]

I would agree that you should change the pickups, but I would go with twin humbuckers as they are just better pickups than the 1970s P-90s.

[mac75 0]

I think I have the model narrowed down, as someone told me this was a regular Deluxe that had the pickups changed from the mini humbuckers to the DiMarzio P90s. Apparently, I could re-install mini humbuckers in it with no modifications needed.

[JimR56 40]

I would agree that you should change the pickups, but I would go with twin humbuckers as they are just better pickups than the 1970s P-90s.

mini-humbuckers, yes.

[Grog 56]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Mini-Humbucker-chrome-NEW-WW-ship-MH-R-Neck-/380342786084?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item588e325824

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Mini-Humbucker-chrome-NEW-WW-ship-MH-T-Bridge-/380349220778?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item588e9487aa

[RaceBurley 0]

It looks to be all origonal except for changed pickups, I think they might be DiMarzio Tone Zone P90's.

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/soap-bar/tone-zone-p90

[RaceBurley 0]

Guys, just picked up the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Was described as a 1978 model, however, serial number comes back as a 1977(serial stamped into back of headstock). I know Gibson made a model called the "Pro Deluxe" that had the P90s, maple neck and top(like this does)starting in 1978. Can I assume that they used a leftover neck from 1977, or is there another explanation? I have seen other Pro Deluxe models, but they say "Pro" instead of "Deluxe" on the truss rod cover. The guitar appears all original with no extra holes or funny business. Any help would be appreciated. It is a great guitar, that's one thing I'm sure of!

 

I believe Dimarzio's first replacement pickup for the P90 was called a DLX-1 (available only in creme)and were advertised as a "twin humbucker replacement for the Les Paul Deluxe"... they were comparable to a super distortion....Now they make several P90 sized replacements (the DLX-1 had the same specs as a DP154)... The Les Paul Pro models were ebony & had creme P90's vs Deluxe's chrome mini-humbuckers.

[LarryUK 339]

It's not a pro deluxe. They had an ebony fretboard.

[ESPguy 2]

One thing is certain, that is one badass guitar, I would probably change the pickups back to original. Sweet guitar.

[Tokai4ever 0]

Those are DiMarzio DLX-1 pickups. Basically Super Distortions in a P90 size. I have the same setup in my 72 Deluxe.

Edited November 21 by Tokai4ever
added photo