Gibson The Paul 1978

Developed in 1978 as a budget-friendly Les Paul style option for the era, The Paul went back to basics, but 70s style: set-neck, 24.75″ scale single cut with two humbuckers, four knobs, and a 3-way toggle. The idea was a tough, straightforward solidbody that still delivered the sustain and punch people expect from a Les Paul-shaped guitar.

The typical late-70s vibe spec is heavy on the walnut, with a walnut body and neck, an ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, and familiar Nashville hardware like a Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece.

This example has been refinished in vintage white which has aged nicely. The headstock face finish is original, so it keeps the look and, importantly, the logo. Weight is 3700g. Knobs, pots, bridge, and tailpiece are original. The pickups are Gibson but not the originals, and are covered. Tuners are not original, they have been replaced with Kluson-style machines. It has been refretted so it plays really well.

Overall, this is a fat-toned 70s rock plank that with the combination of refin, covered humbuckers and vintage-style tuners gets a whole new (and in our opinion much cooler) look than the original, plus it doesn’t cost a fortune!

SPECIFICATIONS

• Construction: set-neck solidbody, single cutaway
• Body wood: walnut, flat-top “slab” style build
• Neck wood: walnut
• Fingerboard: ebony, dot inlays
• Frets: 22
• Scale length: 24.75″
• Nut width: 1.6875″
• Pickups: two Gibson humbuckers
• Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way toggle
• Pot values: typically 300k audio taper pots
• Bridge: Tune-o-matic
• Tailpiece: stopbar
• Hardware finish: chrome
• Headstock face: walnut overlay with Gibson logo