1989 Gibson Les Paul Standard 1957 Reissue Pre-Historic R7 Goldtop, 100% Original w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1989 Gibson Pre-Historic Les Paul Standard 1957 reissue in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. A 100% original example of the guitar that would later be dubbed the "R7," this Les Paul is certifiably vintage in its own right. Produced in extremely small quantities, this Les Paul is a rare and early vintage reissue made before Gibson's Custom Shop Historic division was established. At the heart of this Les Paul are a pair of Bill Lawrence-designed Super Humbuckers, known colloquially as Gibson's "circuit board" pickups. These medium output pickups pair very well with this particular Gibson and handle gain extremely well, delivering an articulate array of tones that can be bright and growly or thick and punchy with the flip of a switch. Tonewoods include a solid (non-weight relieved) mahogany body, carved maple top, and one-piece mahogany neck capped with a bound rosewood fretboard. This Les Paul weighs 9lbs 6oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action and accurate intonation. The one-piece mahogany neck has a slender ‘60s C-shaped profile carve with round shoulders in every register and a hair more overall heft further up the fretboard, measuring .820" at the 1st fret and .955" at the 12th. The bound rosewood fretboard retains the original medium fretwire, ostensibly given a light level/crown in the guitar’s lifetime and exhibiting zero wear. The guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4" scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1 11/16" in width, and the headstock has the correct small '50s shape and Gibson Deluxe tuners with lightly greened keystone buttons. The large inked serial number indicative of the Pre-Historic instruments is also present. The electronics all function as intended, with CTS pots which date to the 7th week of 1989. The hardware includes the original nickel ABR-1 bridge and tailpiece, as well as the nickel pickup covers, all of which are in excellent shape with only faint surface patina. Original plastics include the one-ply pickguard, cream pickup rings and switch surround, quartet of amber bonnet knobs, and amber switch tip. The three-piece maple top has a deeper '50s carve than a typical Standard, and the Goldtop gloss nitro lacquer finish exhibits some bronzing and just a touch of greening that very faithfully approximates a mid-50s Gibson. The top is exceedingly clean, with just a couple tiny marks at the bass-side waist. There is buckle rash extending across the back (but not through the finish), with just a few additional faint finish scratches and small nicks on the back, and a couple dings in the mahogany on the bass-side lower bout body edge. The gloss finish on the neck profile is flawless. The original Gibson USA brown tolex hardshell case is included, with the thicker pink "blanket" seen on the first Gibson cases of this style.