1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom 3-Pickup Ebony

This 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom in Ebony is a Black Beauty from Gibson's mid-'70s Norlin era, carved with a maple top over a mahogany body and finished in nitrocellulose lacquer, with the multi-ply white body binding and purfling that define the Custom's dressed-up look. At 10.38 lbs., it has real heft on the strap, and its 8-digit serial number confirms 1978 production — corroborated by the partially visible potentiometer codes, which also date to that year. Cosmetically, it's in excellent vintage condition for its age, with scratching, finish swirl, a handful of dings, and some light buckle rash on the back, plus discoloration, pitting, and light tarnish across the gold hardware — all honest wear from 47 years of playing.

The set-neck, 3-piece maple neck carries a C profile (.820" at the 1st fret, 1.015" at the 12th) for a substantial, confident grip, joined to an ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays, white binding, and a 12" radius. 22 medium frets, a 24.75" scale length, and a 1.687" nylon nut round out the classic Les Paul Custom feel. The headstock carries the full Custom treatment — mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and split-diamond inlay, multi-ply white binding and purfling, and a Les Paul Custom truss rod cover — fitted with Gibson-branded Keystone tuners in gold. A Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, also gold, deliver the sustain and tuning stability this model built its reputation on.

Electronics are a pair of Gibson Pat. No. humbuckers at the neck and bridge, wired to independent volume and tone controls for each pickup and a 3-way toggle selector — the classic Les Paul Custom control layout, giving you everything from warm, woody neck tone to a cutting, high-output bridge voice for lead work. Whether you're a collector after a well-preserved Norlin-era Black Beauty, a working player who wants real vintage Gibson humbucker tone, or a rock and blues player drawn to the Custom's extra sustain and heft, this Les Paul Custom (Serial #70188512) includes its Gibson "Chainsaw" hardshell case. Order today from Brian's Guitars, your authorized Gibson dealer.