Gibson Les Paul Recording

The guitar I bought was from Chris Guitars. It was a 1978 Les Paul Recording all solid hardwood (perhaps mahogany with various inlayed mother of pearl 21 frets). Typical aged by musician use. All the electronics (pickups switches etc.) work just as Chris said they did. He also said that it had wear and his website reflected the wear in the pic. The case was also an older hardshell but still in good shape.

Chris at Chris Guitars was very helpful and truthful and I definitely would do business with him again. I have told family and friends about him. Chris Finley

Been playing off and on for over 20 yrs. I love the way it plays the action is great the sound is also great. It has such diversity I feel it goes any direction of music.

1973 Les Paul Recording. Finish is Blue Burst. Don't know is this is a factory finish, if not it was done some time ago very professionally. Purchased from Darren at Guitar Emporium in Melbourne Australia for AUD$2000.00. I had a call one saturday from my best pal Bob the Robber to say that he was in Darrens store (approx 1000 Kms from where I live) and saw the LPR. I had photos e-mailed to me that day and bought the guitar on the spot. I love this guitar, it has the widest applications I have come accross in one guitar and plays like a dream. You can be country picking on the Chicken song, and be ready to join in with the Metalica Chorus. Mine suffers from the old input jack crack problem but one day a relacement plate will turn up. Would never part with this gem.

Fairly noiseless, played through Reynolds Valveart amp, or Lexicon Class A recording Preamp.

The Blue burst is beautiful and plays like a dream

Gibson are always a shocker to deal with, so I have not bothered.

Been playing for 30 years.
Am looking at buying another one cause I like it so much

Some additional info for "Recording" afficianados... there are 2 distinct versions of this guitar... in the early 70's, it was mahogany on mahogany... and the pickup toggle was below the pickups... it had a single output with an impedance switch, the jack was on the top...
The later model had a maple cap, the toggle in the "normal" LP position, and 2 jacks, one low and one high in the "normal" LP postion...
They are wonderful guitars with a sound of their own...

1970 Les Paul Recording 21-1/2 frets. There was only version of this amazing guitar. Low impedence pickups, active/passive electronics, pickup phase selector, hi-low impenedence switch, sold VERY HEAVY mahogany, cryptic decade switch, grover tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, custom case. This guitar came with a square 45rpm demo record printed on paper/plastic. The record was of Les Paul describing the features of the guitar and playing demos. He even demo'd the infamous decade control. I lent the guitar to friend and he lost the record and warranty.

This is most incredible guitar I've ever played. I can make it sound like anything - strat, telly, lp, richenbacker, gretch, ..... It does take some experience to learn how to use all the controls though, especially the decade. Consided the decade as the ultra-fine tuning get the exact sound your looking for -- but's it's very sutle.

I wasn't happy with the action when I first bought it. I sent it back to factory to revsolve a buzz on the higher frets. They keep it for a few months, but when it came back, the buzz was gone! The overall finish on this is guitar is absoluletly beautiful. I would compare it to the wood finish in a Rolls or Mercedes. Stunning.

I've play live with guitar with out of any problems. You have to be carefull of the jack as it plugs into the thin plastic electronic cover. I always make sure I have the cord wrapped through the strap to relieve the strain of the cord in the jack. The other issue is that the guitar is so beatutiful, I'm always terrified of damaging it. I have droped and banged it though, and it always seems to servive.

This guitar came with a lifetime warranty. I lent the guitar to friend a number of years ago, and he lost the original warranty statement. I sent the guitar back to factory right after I got to have a fret buzz cleaned up. I called a few years to ago to investigate replace in the electonic cover plate (mine has a small crack), they didn't have a replacement.

I love this guitar. The only complaint I have about this guitar is it's lack of raw power. You need a good amp to compliment this baby.

I bought this guitar in 1972 from a big shop in Wheaton, MD. Not sure how many frets but 22 sounds right. This guitar is solid mahogony. The bridge had individual tuning pegs. It is the most in tune guitar I have ever played years. It is true over every section of the fret board. The high/low impedence setting allows me to jack into anything.

I've played everything from Bach to Chicago to AWB to Eagles on this guitar. I have to provide distortion through the amp because the guitar is just too clean.

In 30 years, I've had the neck adjusted once, and the frets dressed once. The action is SUPERB. No other guitar I've ever played has even come close.

I've been around the world with this guitar. I believe it will survive a nuclear blast. The electronics need cleaning from time to time. The only weak point the plastic plastic on which the pots and jack are mount. Mine cracked after years of stress from standing too far from the amp and pulling the cord out. The finish is checked from riding in aircraft holds too often. However it is as playable as ever.

Never needed any.

I've played almost 40 years. I'm not actively working but I do play a lot. I now own only a small amp and a number of acousting steel string and classical guitars. I spent a lot of time selecting this guitar so I had no unasked questions. If this guitar were lost or stolen, I'd slit my wrists!!! This guitar has done everything I have asked of it. Its only drawback is that it is so heavy.

Just a note on the Decade switch: I've had this guitar for about 5 years, and yeah it's a really subtle switch. It makes a lot more difference when the switch is in low impedance mode, or when the volume knob is turned down. It seems to make the sound brighter when at 0, and darker when at 10. I can only notice it on clean sounds and not really on dirty sounds. If you want to hear my Les Paul recording go to http://www.sittinidol.com and click on mp3s. Cheers
Rick Hatch

1971

Comment on transformer for R from South Africa: you can buy a usable transformer by getting a low impedance XLR microphone-to-high impedance phone plug adapter with transformer inside. They boost a low impedance source (around 250 ohms nominal) to a level that you can plug into a high impedance guitar amp input. Hope this helps you get your guitar working!

My model was made in 1972 in USA. It has 24 frets and a solid top. This Gibson is packed full of features, all which greatly alter the sound the guitar produces. It has Schaller tuners with gibson written across it. It features a tune-o-matic bridge, (which I am yet to figure out what it does, just for looks, perhaps. Its made of mahogney which both feels ice and looks great. The lack of a two way switch on the arch does make it look a little bland, but nothing to serious as the countless knobs on the bottom curve is definitely sufficent. Its a rather small bass, which I like as it looks good in my opinion.

I generally play funk-jazz blues and rock. This bass can acchieve a sound for each as creativity is only limited by how long you have to screw around with the knobs, which really is, at the end of the day, very satisfying. Funnily enough I use a torque keyboard amp which suprisingly produces a funkier, and thicker tone than any bass amp has even dreamed of. I prefer not to use effects as this bass sounds fantasic just the way it is. The bass produces a very full sound and rather bright with a great feel. It is especially good if you are the sot of musician who loves bass and you enjoy drowning out any other instuments with every note you play. The sound this bass produces is much woodier and natural than the metallic kind of sound a fender produces, a.k.a the classic fender sound sux compared to what this baby is capable of.

The guitar at first glance looks great, but after study it, it becomes apparent that perhaps these guitars were not gibsons priority, merely a background project. Their are certain spots (around where the neck has been glued on) that traces of factory glue can be found. It features brilliant action, but the pickups were a little loose; actually one end was sagging into the underworks- but this can be easily fixed with a screwdriver. One of the pearl inlets was cracked which isn't very noticable but a little worrying for the long-term.

This guitar, as suggested in the title is more a studio guitar as it is heavy and easy to dent to say the least. If you intend to do a lot of live playing maybe opt for a fender aswell. The hardware appears to b capable of lasting, but as with anything it depends how you look after it. The other thing to watch out for is letting it get wet as the water can seep into the body and rot the wood, be careful of sweat!
The strap buttons did require tightening and it is a good idea to tighten them befor and after a performance or practising.
This guitar, despite what i said above is very dependable and easy to make friends with if you know what i mean. You could, but really shouldn't use it without a backup as it is old and it is easy to knock a wire out of place-keep a backup with you nearly always.

Never needed help but I believe that because they do not manufacture these guitars any more you would be hard pressed to get support...

I have been playing this guitar for around 7 months now and it along with a cheapo samick are my only guitars. the only thing i would have liked to have known before i bought it would be who had it before me, why are they selling and can we do a deal for cash!
If it was stolen i would definitely try to find one again as they are fantastic guitars. The thing that sold this guitar to me was the sound and it looks gorgeous. I dislike the way the neck has been glued on on all gibsons as i am worried it will snap but they are such good guitars and have been making them for so long i am sure they know what they are doing. The only other thing is how easy it is to dent, watch out about that. When I was looking for a bass the only other guitar i was comparing it with was a fender percision, but it just sounded to metallic and looked to ugly ad big and plasticy- So I chse the gibson-it wasn't a hard choice either. Then only other things i would like to share would be, if you are looking to but an amp aswell check out keyboard amps as weird as it sounds, but make sure you go for either a marshal (th eric clapton sound but on a bass) or a torque (the T.H.C sound). Oh yeah, and make sure you buy gibson shave strings, i mean the ones with grooves shaved of-cant remeber what they are called.

Bought in South Africa in a pawn shop. Was put there for sure by a crook. Badly refinished and badly refretted. Also the former owner did not know clearly how to maintain the electrical circuit. The transformator for the high and low impedance does not function. If you can help me on this, it would be great.

No idea, the thing doesn't function! If anyone can help me on the transformator or the tech specs of this thing would be nice!

Looks OK, although it has been refinished in not the best way once. Also the electrical part has been fixed by an idiot. Looks bad and I had to clean the whole stuff up again. Problem, the transformator for the low and high impedence doesn't function and Gibson does not deliver this anymore nor do they have tech specs on this thing.

Well, it doesn't function so...?

They responded, but it is absurd that they can't deliver at least the tech specs anymore!

Looks quiet nice, but doesn't function! If anyone can help me further, would be nice...

My Les Paul Recording pretty much matches the physical description of all the others described on this site. I bought it VERY used at a small guitar shop near my home. I bought it because it looked a lot like the "Les Paul Professional" guitar I had wanted as a child but couldn't afford. It has the same low impedence pickups that the Professional had but with additional electronics. I had no idea it would turn out to be such a wonderful guitar.

As far as its sound, it has its very own voice. Nothing I have ever owned (and I have owned many) has ever sounded even remotely like this baby. It is sophisticated and cool and sexy and funky ... all at the same time. That phase switch should be on every guitar. Alas, I too, have never been able to figure out what the DECADE switch does to the sound, I guess it is way too subtle for this old rocker's ears. The tone controls are simple bass and treble which I keep all the way up and adjust at the amplifier. I play blues primarily but anything goes as far as I am concerned. I play through a Marshall JCM 2000 Triple Super Lead which is the baddest amp ever made. No effects except overdrive which I use sparingly and only when necessary.

The neck, which I had to have repaired, is the most wonderful part of this axe. The fingerboard is smooth as silk and the sounds seem to float out from under your fingers. The physical sensation I experience playing this guitar is evocative of the feeling I get when I listen to Pat Metheny in his "otherworld" mode. Funny how a feeling can evoke a sound! The guitar was well made but was so badly damaged when I bought it that I have no way to judge its initial flaws. The chrome all seemed pretty good and the pots and tuning machines worked perfectly from day one. I don't really know what kind of wood it was made from but it is attractive (after refinishing) and sounds wonderful even unamplified.

When I got it it was in terrible shape. The fingerboard had recessions gouged out in it (no idea why) and the finish was shot. I had the fingerboard repaired, the guitar refinished and a bixby tremolo installed. The result was the rebirth of a great guitar. This guitar has never been used by me on a gig ... I doubt I would ever take out of my house except to bring it to the studio. Is seems like it would be durable because it is so well made but I have guitars I use exclusively when I play live because I won't care a whole lot if they are broken, lost or stolen. All my good stuff stays home. The strap buttons are typical solid metal buttons screwed into the body of the guitar, nothing special.

Called Gibson and had them email me the specs .. no manual though. The guy's name was Mr. Tucker and he was very helpful This, of course was about 10 years ago. I hear Gibson is not user friendly these days but I don't know because I only buy old never new.

I have been playing since I was 9 years old and I am now almost 52. I knew I wanted this guitar the instant I laid eyes on it. I'm sure you have already figured out I love this guitar. It is in a class by itself. Only one person on this site seemed not to have been impressed with his. Well, he can send it to me and I will love that one too! I agree that anyone who would steal such a guitar from its rightful owner deserves all the punishment the gods could bestow on him. I too would hunt him down to the ends of the earth! All-in-all, Gibson at its very best.