1969 Gibson Les Paul Recording Bass – Mahogany • Pro Modded for Live Use • Original Bridge + Case

Here’s a real rarity—not just a collector's piece but a working relic: an early-production 1969 Gibson Les Paul Recording Bass, built during the first very limited run at Kalamazoo. Original mahogany body (the heavier, denser tonewood used only in the earliest examples—later models switched to walnut). Serial number 988003 and no “Made in USA” stamp indicate 1969 manufacture date. This bass was played—respectfully, not recklessly—and carries the honest wear of actual use, while remaining remarkably original, functional, and intact.

Whether you're a collector looking for an early example, or a gigging bassist in search of an incredibly versatile tone platform with real-world upgrades, this instrument is worth serious attention.

🎯 Functional Highlights

• Serial number 988003 (early 1969, no “Made in USA” stamp)
• Original mahogany body (unlike later walnut versions)
• Professionally modified electronics include a discreetly installed onboard 9V preamp
• • Adds modern usable output for stage use without compromising original signal path
  • Engaged via mini-toggle with red LED indicator
  • Mod is clean, reversible, and lives quietly beneath the original control layout
• All original hardware remains in place
• • Bridge and ashtray cover still present
  • Gibson low-Z humbuckers intact
  • Full switching and EQ matrix remains fully operational
• Original hardshell case included with all latches, hinges, feet, and lock working
• • Edges taped and stenciled decades ago as a protective measure
  • Interior is excellent for its age with no structural issues
  • Exterior shows wear but has preserved the bass remarkably well

🧵 Condition Overview

This is a player’s instrument that saw real use, and it shows—but in the best way.

• Finish has lacquer checking, arm wear, and mild buckle rash
• Neck has natural palm-wear through the clear coat, smooth to the touch
• Back shows a few small dings and finish loss consistent with years of use
• No breaks, no headstock repairs, no surprises
• Frets show moderate wear but are very playable
• Control cavity is clean, shielded, and neatly modded with foam-isolated preamp and 9V battery
• Pickup covers and hardware show mild tarnish but remain solid and unaltered
• Serial number is visible and unmolested

🎸 Tone & Playability

Gibson’s Les Paul Recording Bass was never intended as a standard production instrument—it was a studio experiment designed with the help of Les Paul himself in wide-range fidelity, low-impedance clarity, and creative EQ shaping. The result is a tone that sits somewhere between an EB-2 and a direct-in DI’d P-Bass—fat and focused, but with a hi-fi sheen that cuts through in any setting.

This one’s been modded to shine on stage, delivering output levels more compatible with pedalboards and amps, while preserving all the Les Paul oddball brilliance.

🧳 Included

• 1969 Gibson Les Paul Recording Bass
• Original shaped Gibson hardshell case (excellent interior, rugged exterior)
• Original bridge and ashtray cover
• Discreet onboard preamp mod with 9V battery and activation switch
• Ships worldwide, fully insured and professionally packed, or available for pickup near 01810

📣 Final Word

This isn't a museum piece—it’s a functional survivor from the golden age of American luthiery, modded by someone who understood what they had and made it better without ruining it. Perfect for the gigging bassist who wants to stand out sonically and visually, or the serious collector who respects instruments with a working history and integrity.