In a move that’s sure to excite guitarists and collectors alike, Gibson has announced the return of the Les Paul Custom ’70s to its standard USA production line. This marks the first time in 20 years that the highly coveted model will be available outside of the premium Gibson Custom Shop, offering players a more accessible way to own a piece of rock history.
Les Paul Custom 70s
The reintroduction celebrates 50 years since Gibson moved its factory to Nashville and is a direct nod to the iconic instruments that defined an era of hard rock and heavy metal. Previously only available for prices upwards of $8,000, the new Les Paul Custom ’70s will retail at $3,999/£3,499, making its vintage-inspired design and features available to a wider audience.
Period-Correct Specs and Vintage Flair
This new Les Paul Custom ’70s is crafted with meticulous attention to period-correct details. It features a classic tonewood combination of a mahogany body with a three-piece maple top, paired with a ’70s profile maple neck and an ebony fingerboard. This specific wood recipe was a hallmark of the era’s Les Pauls, known for their powerful tone and sustain.
Key features that harken back to the ’70s include:
- A headstock volute for added neck strength.
- Mother-of-pearl block inlays on the fretboard.
- Calibrated T-Type humbuckers hand-wired with Orange Drop capacitors, delivering an authentic vintage sound.
- A full set of classic hardware, including an Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge, Stop Bar, and Grover Rotomatic tuners.
The guitar is also finished in a selection of four period-accurate gloss nitrocellulose lacquer colors: Ebony, Tobacco Burst, Wine Red, and a unique Buttercream Top that’s already generating buzz among enthusiasts.
A Legacy of Rock and Roll
The ’70s Les Paul Custom became a staple for many of the era’s most influential guitarists. Its distinct tone and powerful sustain helped shape the sound of rock, with legendary players like Randy Rhoads and The Edge famously using mid-’70s models.
Gibson states, “Some of the first Gibson models to come out of the new craftory were Les Paul Customs, which quickly made their way to the heavy metal pioneers and hard-rock icons of the era. Gibson is proud to reintroduce the legendary Les Paul Custom 70s, making its long-awaited return to the Gibson lineup after two decades.”
Availability
This highly anticipated release allows a new generation of musicians to experience the look, feel, and sound of these classic guitars. The new Les Paul Custom ’70s is available now at the authorized Gibson dealers listed below.
Sweetwater USA
Andertons UK
Thomann EU
More Information
#Gibson #Les Paul Custom
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2 thoughts on “The ’70s Are Back: Gibson Reintroduces Classic Les Paul Custom as a Standard USA Model”
The ‘Buttercream’ color was originally cataloged as ‘Alpine White’ in 1979. I have one original owner.
This is just the top (so black back/sides and neck), whereas I believe Alpine White was the colour over the whole guitar? I could be mistaken, but I play a ”77 Black Les Paul Custom and the last White Custom I owned (also Alpine White) was a Custom Shop model from the early 2000s