Gibson 1983 (Norlin) Les Paul Standard Natural

Gibson 1983 Norlin Era Les Paul Standard Natural w/Rare Two-Piece Flame Top, One-Piece Mahogany Body & Mahogany Neck + Late T-Top/Early Tim Shaw Crossover Pickups | (Serial: 81683505)

Overview

We are delighted to have in this phenomenal and unique spec' Gibson Les Paul Standard Natural from 1983 - if you're after a rare Norlin-era Les Paul teeming with sustain and character from yesteryear then look no further than this stunning Standard!

Produced in Nashville (MFG date June 12th 1983), this Standard Natural features some highly desirable features that make it uncommon. The first thing that you will notice is it features a distinctive two-piece flame maple top, typically this model was produced with a three-piece plain maple top. It also has a one-piece mahogany back and a one-piece mahogany neck (usually constructed from laminated maple).

This guitar is sublime to play and highly tactile, over its lifespan it's taken on a patina that even Drew Pritchard would envy! There is lots of organic lacquer checking, crazing, tasteful scuffs and the odd ding. We'd say the aesthetic condition is somewhere between the equivalent of a Murphy Lab Light & Heavy Aged relic - although this is of course all natural!

The bridge and neck humbuckers are either late T Tops or T Top/Shaw crossover pickups. They include T Top bobbins with white spacers, a rough cast magnet and brass base plate screws, pressed with Pat No. 2737842 and ink stamp dated "March 20 1980" & "March 21 1980" respectively. There is a high likelihood these are T Top/Shaw crossover pickups from within the first six months of Shaw production in 1980 (prior to the ink stamp marking system shifting to six-digit numbers).

We have photographed these pickups in detail below so you can see exactly what you are getting - as it was a peculiar time at Gibson with the changing of factories, pickups and retooling there was a lot of "spec drift" during this period. If they are not early Shaws their spec' also coincides with late T Tops which are also highly desirable (and now getting very expensive!). Most importantly these pickups sound fantastic with plenty of presence and bite whilst not being overtly bright or harsh.

Further Notes

• Weight is 4.02kg.
• This is basically a "natural relic" with wear from over the years of playing. It's had no structural repairs but has got superficial wear to it. There was a chip out of the back top edge of the headstock that's been reglued (see pics), plus there are dings, scratches and signs of use etc.
• The bridge volume and tone potentiometers have been replaced, as have the strap buttons.
• The machine heads are original (we love the postmodern look of these!).
• It comes with a Gibson Les Paul late-70s hardshell case. (Plastic 80's chainsaw cases are currently priced similarly on the market if you wish to swap it out yourself when you get it.)

Extra pictures and shipping information are below - if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

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