NGD! 1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe or Standard... Not Sure

[PDM1968]

Hey guys! Yesterday I picked up a 1976 LP, and I was wondering if I could get some help with its model identification. It has a tobaccoburst pancake body, 3-piece maple neck, what appears to be factory full sized humbucker routing, "Les Paul Model" and "Standard" truss rod cover on the front of the headstock, oval label on the rear of the headstock with "Les Paul-Deluxe", "Made in USA", and a serial number of "00131680." The pot codes are "1377605." It came with a black hard case with a cranberry interior. Can anyone help?

[captain tightpants]

I think you've already pretty much got it figured out. Deluxes could be ordered with full size humbuckers back then.

Most of the features indicate it would be a '76 Deluxe, especially the serial label. If the Standard truss rod cover is original, it is probably a transition guitar, as this would have been around the time the Standard became an official model name in regular production and not a special order.

Basically, it's an "in between" model. Happens all the time all over Gibson's history.

[PDM1968]

Thanks for the fast response! I guess I'm still not quite sure what to call it... Is it a Deluxe, a Standard, or a Deluxe-Standard? Also, it's in great condition, but missing its pickguard, and the original pickups have been replaced by double cream Seymour Duncan's. Any idea what it's worth???

[LesAdrian]

We can help you better if you post pics

[PDM1968]

I'm not at home right now, but I'll post some pics tomorrow.

[captain tightpants]

Going price is not my forte, sorry. I never sell guitars, so i don't know what they go for. I've bought all mine dirt cheap, too

I'd say, being a '76 it's a Deluxe. If memory serves, "Standard" didn't become official until after '76. As I said, prior to "Standard" becoming an official model name, Deluxe's could be ordered from the factory with full-size humbuckers, my instincts would tell me that's what you've got.

At best maybe a pre-Standard? Transition Gibson's are always odd ducks. Back then there was never a clear cut point where certain models stopped. They would use technically obsolete parts until they were gone which often ended up in guitars that defied model description. Sometimes they would run out of parts and still have bodies and necks that needed hardware, so they would adapt whatever they had lying around to work. There are examples of Firebirds with really weird configurations during the transition from the original reverse to the non-reverse Firebirds in '65. Happened with the Les Paul lines all the time, too.

This is what you have. It's unique in it's way, enjoy it!!

[HOT-BRIT]

If it was factory equipped with full size humbuckers then its a Standard if it was routed later for full size humbuckers then its a modified Deluxe

[X–Ray]

whatever it is, Congrats!

;~)

[HOT-BRIT]

Post detailed photos for more help

[PDM1968]

Oh I will enjoy it. Thanks! It's awesome! I did some research earlier today and I found a shipping figure chart. It states that only 5 Deluxes were shipped with full sized humbuckers and only 172 Deluxes were shipped in 1976. It also states that of the 172, four lefty Tobaccoburst models and zero right-handed Tobaccoburst were shipped. That info could be wrong because mine is a right-handed Tobaccoburst.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

If it was factory equipped with full size humbuckers then its a Standard if it was routed later for full size humbuckers then its a modified Deluxe

As I said, Deluxes could be ordered with factory full-size humbuckers. Standard did not become an official model designation until a couple of years later, tho I cannot for the life of me remember what year. When Standard became official, there were no more humbuckered Deluxes.

Remember, the serial label on the back of the headstock identifies it as a Deluxe.

[PDM1968]

Thanks again for the help guys! I'll post some pics tomorrow.

[captain tightpants]

PDM, the point is really, in Gibson world it's really just guitar semantics. Sad truth of it is, the miserable bastards didn't really pay attention to that stuff back then. Makes it a pain in the ass for us these days

Congrats o the guitar either way, looking forward to the pics.

[HOT-BRIT]

Originally Posted by pdm1968

oh i will enjoy it. Thanks! It's awesome! I did some research earlier today and i found a shipping figure chart. It states that only 5 deluxes were shipped with full sized humbuckers and only 172 deluxes were shipped in 1976. It also states that of the 172, four lefty tobaccoburst models and zero right-handed tobaccoburst were shipped. That info could be wrong because mine is a right-handed tobaccoburst.

the records from that period are not accurate at all

[HOT-BRIT]

Originally Posted by captain tightpants

as i said, deluxes could be ordered with factory full-size humbuckers. Standard did not become an official model designation until a couple of years later, tho i cannot for the life of me remember what year. When standard became official, there were no more humbuckered deluxes.

Remember, the serial label on the back of the headstock identifies it as a deluxe.

I have seen that many times the Deluxe serial number decal on a Standard, it really means nothing they did it because they did not have the Standard serial number decal, there have been Standards again since 1975, but a full size humbucker Deluxe is a Standard there is no other differences at all between the two models

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

the records from that period are not accurate at all

No argument there. Records from the beginning of the company to just a few years ago are spotty at best.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

there have been standards since 75, but a full size humbucker deluxe is a standard there is no other differences at all between the two models

Oh, agreed it's the same guitar. Just saying it was a special order up to a point, and the one that were special ordered were usually still called Deluxes. I think Standard actually became part of regular production in 1978, but I can't honestly remember, and i can't find my references that tell me that. I could be wrong.

As I said, tho, I agree. A humbuckered Deluxe and a Standard are exactly the same.

[PDM1968]

I also read online that the Standard model was dropped in 1972 was re-introduced towards the end of 1976, fwiw...

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by PDM1968

I also read online that the Standard model was dropped in 1972 was re-introduced towards the end of 1976, fwiw...

Maybe it was 76, then. That would support it being a transition guitar. Possibly an early Standard, but production didn't have any Standard serial lablels yet. Sounds crazy, but Gibson did shit like that all he time.

According to some publications, Standard was never an official model designation, but rather it was a term used in ad copy until the Standard of the late 70's, and then only to separate it from the Deluxe.

Originally in the 50's it was Les Paul Model, Les Paul Custom, Les Paul Junior, Les Paul TV and Les Paul Special. Those were the official names, but everyone calls the 58, 59, 60's Bursts Standards. That's where it got confusing.

[HOT-BRIT]

I have had a 1975 Standard my self for a long time, shes a wonderful guitar, it was the end of 1974 when the Standard was reintroduced and it was the same year that the white Customs and the 20th Anniversary Customs were introduced, so 1974 was a year of changes for Gibson Les Paul's.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

I have had a 1975 Standard my self for a long time, shes a wonderful guitar, it was the end of 1974 when the Standard was reintroduced and it was the same year that the white Customs and the 20th Anniversary Customs were introduced, so 1974 was a year of changes for Gibson Les Paul's.

I stand corrected then I could have sworn it was '78, but I'm well aware of how fallible my memory is.

Nonetheless, it does illustrate how ramshackle Gibson was about such things if he's got a Standard made in '76 with a Deluxe serial number decal.

Miserable bastards i tell you

[HOT-BRIT]

Originally Posted by captain tightpants

I stand corrected then I could have sworn it was '78, but I'm well aware of how fallible my memory is.

Nonetheless, it does illustrate how ramshackle Gibson was about such things if he's got a Standard made in '76 with a Deluxe serial number decal.

Miserable bastards i tell you

as I said before its not unusual I have seen this many times

[ant_riv]

Lots of good info here!

Thanks to all but especially HB and Cap.n TP!

And congratulations to the OP on your HNGD!

Sounds like a great guitar and we're still waiting for pics!

[PDM1968]

The replacement pickups are actually Dimarzio's. I havent cleaned it at all. All ive done is removed the strings to inspect the pickup cavities. Uploading pics now. My apologies for the poor quality iPhone photos.















Edit - Pictures Posted.

[Progrocker111]

These seem to me as factory humbucker routes. Typical 75-76 Les Paul, with thin maple neck.

[cmh6122]

Cool, enjoy.

[ant_riv]

Wow that was worth waiting for!

Great looking guitar!

Wow, just wow!

[BLAM]

I have something similar (a 77) that I paid £1500 for a couple of years back. Here's a photo in case it helps:

[PDM1968]

Thanks guys! Anyone have an idea what she may be worth?

[LesAdrian]

$2300 :d