Up for sale, a 1978 Gibson “The Paul” in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. A simplified, straightforward Gibson model offered for only a few short years at the end of the Norlin era, The Paul features a solid walnut body and neck with a slab ebony fretboard, loaded with the original pair of T Top humbuckers.

Offering a sharper note attack than mahogany, walnut has a present, sweet-sounding midrange, and being less dense than maple, allows for ample representation of low frequencies too. The original T Top humbuckers are warm and articulate with great top end clarity and an aggressive edge when pushed hard, capturing the acoustic qualities of the body. A no-frills tone machine, The Paul weighs 8lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Walnut (three-piece)
-Shape: Slender C at nut, more heft in upper registers, measuring .825” 1st fret, .995” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled and crowned, light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Grover Rotomatics (nickel-plated)
-Serialization: 8-digit stamp dates to ‘78

Body Specs:

-Wood: Walnut
-Pickups: T Top humbucker x2, 1978 date stamps on Pat # baseplates
-Harness: Untouched solder, CTS pots date to ‘78
-Hardware: ABR-1 bridge, stopbar (both modern)
-Plastics: Black speed knobs (modern), original pickup rings/switch surround

The walnut body is ergonomic and comfortable, with a subtle carve along the bass-side lower bout edge and a belly contour on the back. Cosmetic wear on the nitro lacquer finish includes buckle rash across the back and a number of minor dings and finish scratches on the body as a whole. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss save for palm wear through to the walnut behind frets 3-6.

A circa 1990s brown tolex Gibson USA hardshell case is included.