1991 Gibson Les Paul Classic Trans Amber w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1991 Gibson Les Paul Classic in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. First introduced in 1990, this extremely early example of the Classic model retains the "Les Paul Model" gold script only seen on the first few years of production, with a heavily aged Trans Amber nitro lacquer finish on the lightly figured bookmatched maple top. With the 1960 Les Paul Standard as the jumping off point, this Classic model boasts many features in-line with the golden era of Les Paul production including a correct '50s headstock shape, push-in tuner bushings, ABR-1 bridge, and a slimmer 1960 neck profile.Notably lightweight at only 8lbs 7oz, this Les Paul features a two-piece carved maple top, mahogany body, and a one-piece mahogany neck capped by a bound rosewood fretboard. Offering plenty of resonance, natural sustain and natural acoustic bark, this Les Paul is loaded with the original 496R and 500T humbucker pair. Some of Gibson's most hotly wound ceramic magnet humbuckers, the 496R delivers a biting, bluesy edge with notable treble detail and an increase in harmonics, while the 500T delivers a rich combination of enhanced lows and crystal clear highs, wax potted for ideal feedback rejection in high gain scenarios. This Les Paul has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.The mahogany neck has a very slender, fast-feeling ‘60s-style C-shaped profile carve with modest shoulders, measuring .740” deep at the 1st fret and .855” at the 12th. The extremely dark and tight-grained rosewood fretboard features pearloid trapezoid inlay and stock frets that are in great shape, with plenty of meat and well-rounded crowns. Ostensibly benefiting from a light level/crown in the guitar's lifetime, the frets currently show only a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-2. This Les Paul plays cleanly up the 24 3/4” scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod, and the nut measures 1 11/16” in width. The headstock retains the early “Les Paul Model” gold silkscreen script and a “Classic”-embossed truss rod cover, and the original set of Gibson Deluxe push-in bushing tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch, with aged keystone buttons. The back of the headstock retains the inked serial number.All of the electronics function as intended; the pickups are wired to the stock harness with untouched solder joints and original CTS pots that date to the 22nd week of ‘91. The neck pickup cavity also has a handwritten date, reading 6-7-91. Plastics comprise the original quartet of bonnet knobs, cream pickup rings and switch surround, and one-ply pickguard with “1960” silkscreen script. Hardware includes a chrome-plated ABR-1 bridge and nickel-plated stopbar tailpiece.Likely a much lighter finish shade when this Gibson left the factory over 30 years ago, the gloss nitro lacquer finish has heavily ambered to a deep pumpkin-like Trans Amber, highlighting subtle curly flame in the maple top. The guitar and case also smell slightly of cigarette smoke, which combined with the salinity and humidity of the air in Japan (where this guitar was sourced), these environmental conditions have contributed to the finish aging and extensive, prominent lacquer checking across the entire instrument.There is also some moderate cloudiness in the clear coat on the headstock face, and additional cosmetic wear includes some buckle worming on the back central to the lower bout, and a handful of minor dings on the body as a whole. Save for heavier lacquer checking behind the nut, the checking on the neck profile is otherwise imperceptible to the palm and the profile has a fast, easy-playing feel.The original Gibson-branded brown tolex hardshell case with pink plush interior is included.