1979 LP Odd Duck Walnut Paul

[BeachAxess]

Hello, my name is Joseph and I would ask for help and input with this guitar. This is what I think I know:

Serial number is: 7XXX9580 indicates Spring of 1979, Nashville.
I believe it is Walnut with a belly cut like a "The Paul" but 7-layer binding on the top.
Headstock has 5-layer binding and neck binding like a custom, Crown inlay, and dot fret markers.
Truss rod cover reads HERITAGE SERIES - STANDARD 80, a quite different duck.

This combination has got me puzzled. Thanks for taking the time to help.

Joe

 

[Mike's_LP]

It's like an upgraded The Paul. Its got the control layout and belly-cut with an arched top and the other features you mentioned. And I think most The Paul's were walnut. Good find!

 

[MSB]

I have absolutely no positive information to add, but I really dig it

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

sorry bud, no such animal.

go really look at the knob placement.....and the horn....and the top bout.

 

[TheX]

sorry bud, no such animal.

go really look at the knob placement.....and the horn....and the top bout.

It absolutely exists, here's a real one.

Gibson LES PAUL Heritage Series Standard 80 1980 Cherry Burst Guitar For Sale Guitarbroker

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

no, it's not.

I know what a heritage 80 is, and and a The Paul.....that is not one of either.


now stop, I have Bball playoffs tonight and have to go back to work.

 

[TheX]

no, it's not.

I know what a heritage 80 is, and and a The Paul.....that is not one of either.

I'm talking about the pic I posted, not the OP.

READ!

 

[pgeddes]

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

The truss rod cover is not original to that guitar.

TheX posted on what such a truss rod cover should be.

As to what that weirdo is, don't have a clue.
Maybe some guy treated her to a new headstock veneer
and body binding?
Maybe a prototype, although usually proto's are identified as such.

Very bizarre.

 

[BeachAxess]

sorry bud, no such animal.

go really look at the knob placement.....and the horn....and the top bout.

Hardcore, thanks for the reply, can you help me understand the difference you see with the knobs, horn and top bout? Joe

 

[BeachAxess]

no, it's not.

I know what a heritage 80 is, and and a The Paul.....that is not one of either.


now stop, I have Bball playoffs tonight and have to go back to work.

Hardcore, thanks again, I have a 1980 LP Custom, my main guitar, that I can compare with and to my eye the body shape, upper bout, horn and headstock shape are the same.

The TRC was the first thing I knew could have been changed, but the binding on the headstock and body appear to be original to the guitar.

Limit of 5 pics on my post, I will post some more closer shots for you, (after the playoffs), and hope you will have some more insight on this Odd Duck.

Also the top is not carved, flat, no cap.

Some more pics, closer detail of this guitar.

Joe

 

[BeachAxess]

The truss rod cover is not original to that guitar.

TheX posted on what such a truss rod cover should be.

As to what that weirdo is, don't have a clue.
Maybe some guy treated her to a new headstock veneer
and body binding?
Maybe a prototype, although usually proto's are identified as such.

Very bizarre.

Bobby M,

Thank you for the reply, do you know how a prototype would be marked to identify it as one? Headstock and binding all appear original to the guitar, neck set appears undisturbed and original. Prototype is possible, I wonder if there are any more like this. Very bizarre indeed.


Joe

 

[Left Paw]

That binding isn't original to my eyes. And the peghead veneer is definitely changed. I think a luthier/rocket-scientist got ahold of that back in the 80s and did some 'speriments' to create what they call, over in the vintage car trade, a fright pig. Probably plays good, though.

 

[Mayuiers]

We all agree it's not a Heritage.

Neither is it a modified "The Paul" as the upper bout on those guitars were beveled much the same as an SG. The same applies to the Firebrand models. You could never add binding to those guitars.

The dot inlays mean that it's very unlikely a Custom neck was fitted.

Gibson was doing some weird stuff in the late 70's/early '80s. For example, they made those crazy American Map guitars and a number of other limited runs with other crazy body shapes. So my guess is that you either have one of the most bizarre prototypes to come from Gibson or you have something a luthier put together. I'm leaning towards the latter.

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

agreed....just not cut or laid out like any one thing.

I would like to see inside the cavities, especially the neck pocket/tennon area.

I am betting whatever it started as, it was also sanded down for the parts to look similar.

 

[BeachAxess]

I pulled the neck Pickup and control cover for some pics,
Some numbers on the pots are covered by solder but I get these from checking all 4 pots.

Volume Pots: 70-028
1377836

Tone Pots: 70-035
1377836

There is a red ink stamped date on the bottom that corresponds with the serial number on the headstock, and a red ink stamped “4”.

In pencil is “SP” and “43” in a circle also in pencil, maybe something under the pot.

Neck pickup stamped: “PAT NO 2,737,842”

Check the binding nibs on the neck, seems like a lot of work to add binding to this git.

Mayuiers,
I happen to be going thru Portland on Monday, 2-22-16 about midday, would you care to check it out in person? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks to all for the input.

 

[moreles]

The heel looks off -- the contour does not resemble any LP I have played. May be a carelessly complete prototype, a parts mashup, or...?

 

[RockMechanic]

That's pretty freaky looking. I keeping looking back and forth between those pics and my The Paul. That looks like somebody put binding on a The Paul and dressed up the headstock. Like they were gonna by God have them a The Paul Custom. What a world...
Pretty interesting.

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

look at your the paul again.....you won't put binding on that.

 

[69 Goldtop]

So its not a real Gibson???
Tp looks off