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LP Deluxe or Standard?


MickFromMunhall

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Posted

I have a friend who has a 77-78 Wine Red Les Paul Standard but he says that the word "DELUXE" on the back of the neck. I personally haven't seen it but I told him I'd ask the forum about it.

Thanks in advance.

Posted

I suspect the guitar is actually a year or two older than your friend thinks.

 

When Gibson re-introduced the production model "Standard" in 1975 they had just started using water-slide decals for serial number. They were preprinted with the number, model name, and "Made IN USA", and Gibson had no decals that said "Standard". I would suspect that many, if not all, Standards (600 or so) from the 75,76,77 serial number decal era were fitted with ones that said "Deluxe", but had a TRC that said "Standard"..

 

The defining (and only) difference between a Standard and a Deluxe is the pickups. If the guitar was fitted with full size humbuckers at the factory when built, it IS a Standard.

 

Here's a photo of the serial number decal on my 1975 Standard.

 

2327165392_d9fc958044.jpg

Posted

Quote: "Also, Some examples with normal-sized humbuckers." From (Golden pages, in The Gibson Les Paul Book by Tony Bacon & Paul Day, under sub-heading "Deluxe")

 

Those, were (most likely) "Special Order" versions. But, they were available.

 

CB

Posted

Also, Mick...is your friend, the first/only owner, of that guitar?

Lots of folks had Full sized humbuckers installed, in their Deluxes,

over the years. TRC's can be changed, and often were/are, as well.

So...???

 

Larry, may be correct, as well, regarding the decal. Hard to say,

with things like that.

 

CB

Posted

Also, Mick...is your friend, the first/only owner, of that guitar?

Lots of folks had Full sized humbuckers installed, in their Deluxes,

 

Very very true, I had a 73 deluxe that someone routed out for full size humbuckers... It was very common for persons to do that... Don't ask me why...

 

I have an 80 deluxe with the minis and I prefer the sound of the minis over the full sized humbuckers... Call me weird I guess...

Posted

There were also many Les Paul Deluxe's issued from the factory with routing for full sized humbuckers. Gibson put additional plastic surounds to cover the extra routing holes.

Posted

Yeah, I love my '76 Deluxe, with Mini's too! Going to have the pots changed, though,

so the "Taper" is longer. Right now, you have all the changes being done, in the

lowest 3 numbers. So, I'm definitely going to "fix" that!

 

DSC_0008.jpg

 

DSC_0005-1.jpg

 

Sorry, I couldn't resist...[biggrin]

 

CB

Posted

I believe that he is the original owner. He also told me that he had the tuners changed, but I think that's it for mods.

I'm waiting for him to get back to me with the s/n and photos.

Posted

I believe that he is the original owner. He also told me that he had the tuners changed, but I think that's it for mods.

I'm waiting for him to get back to me with the s/n and photos.

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