I'm offering one of the nicest early 70s Les Paul Deluxes I've had in my hands.

This is an early 1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe featuring many of the desirable early specifications that disappeared shortly afterwards.

Specifications

• CTS pots dated 28th week of 1973
• Original PAF Sticker Mini Humbuckers
• Original Mahogany neck (pre-1974 feature)
• Original ABR-1 bridge
• Original Factory Stop Tailpiece
• Only 4.21 kg – remarkably light for a 70s Les Paul
• Original Gibson black tolex case

The guitar is in beautiful, honest vintage condition with no breaks, no repairs and no modifications. Everything appears to be original except for the missing pickguard. It shows light finish checking, honest playwear and the expected buckle rash on the back – the kind of wear that tells the story of a guitar that has been played and enjoyed rather than hidden away in its case.

The only point worth mentioning is the finish of the top.

The guitar came to me exactly as shown. To the best of my knowledge, the top may have been refinished many years ago, most likely from an original Goldtop. However, I cannot say this with certainty. The finish is exceptionally well executed, shows no visible transition lines and looks completely period-correct. I've also come across a handful of early 70s Les Pauls with similar finishes that are believed to have left the factory this way, so I cannot completely rule out that this could have been a special factory order or an unusual original finish.

Because I simply don't know for certain, I'm offering the guitar as if the top had been refinished, and I've priced it accordingly. Should it ever be proven to be an original factory finish, it would certainly make the guitar considerably more collectible.

The neck is straight, the frets are in excellent condition and the guitar plays effortlessly with a fantastic low action. The original Mini Humbuckers have everything I love about early Deluxes: the warmth and punch of a humbucker combined with the clarity and bite of a great P-90.

Early 1973 Deluxes with a Mahogany neck, PAF Sticker Mini Humbuckers, ABR-1 bridge, Factory Stop Tailpiece and weighing just 4.21 kg don't come up very often. Most early 70s Deluxes weigh well over 4.5 kg, making this an exceptionally lively and resonant instrument.

Whether you're looking for an outstanding player or a collectible early Norlin-era Gibson, this is a very special guitar that I would happily keep if I wasn't narrowing my collection to pre-1970 Gibsons.