Gibson Les Paul Custom 70s | Buttercream Top

First introduced in 1953, the Les Paul Custom was designed as a more sophisticated counterpart to the standard Les Paul. Inspired by Les Paul’s vision of a sleek black guitar with the elegance of a tuxedo, it quickly became a symbol of class and style. In 1961 the single cutaway model was replaced by a double cutaway design, which would go on to become the SG Custom. The original Les Paul Custom shape made its celebrated return in 1968, securing its place as one of Gibson’s most iconic designs.

The 1970s marked a major turning point for the Les Paul Custom and for Gibson itself. With production moving from Kalamazoo to Nashville, the model underwent significant changes that set it apart from earlier versions. A three-piece maple top replaced the traditional all-mahogany body, and a maple neck was introduced, giving these guitars a unique tonal character all their own. What began as a decade of transition ultimately produced some of the most distinctive instruments in Gibson’s history, and today these ’70s Les Paul Customs are amongst the most sought-after vintage guitars on the market.

The Gibson Les Paul Custom 70s faithfully captures the magic of these legendary original instruments. It features a classic Mahogany body, and a multi-piece Maple top, a feature which was introduced in the 1970s. The body is bound with 5-ply top binding and 3-ply back binding alongside 70s era Witch Hat control knobs, which completes the 70s aesthetics.

The Maple neck features a 70s-style profile with a volute and is paired with a bound Ebony fretboard, complete with 22 medium jumbo frets, a 24.75” scale length, a 1.695” nut width, and mother-of-pearl block inlays. The bound headstock is decorated with mother-of-pearl, showcasing the iconic Custom Split Diamond inlay. First seen on the Gibson Super 400, this design has since become a defining hallmark of the Les Paul Custom.

The electronics stay true to the era, featuring a pair of calibrated T-Type humbuckers with individual volume and tone controls, all hand-wired with Orange Drop capacitors. The Les Paul Custom 70s also comes fitted with gold hardware, including an aluminium Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge, aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, and Grover Rotomatic tuners with Keystone buttons for rock-solid tuning stability. Even the finer details have been faithfully recreated, from Posi-Lok strap locks and a 5-ply pickguard to period-correct Witch Hat control knobs.