1976 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop deluxe

by Mark H
(Perthshire, Scotland)

Hi there,

I am currently interested in buying a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop deluxe. It has a 2 piece mohogany body with a thin line of wood seperating the two. It think it might be Mohogany. It has a 3 piece maple neck with rosewood finger board. Non original tuners with different holes on the back of the head stock where different types have been screwed in. It is routed for humbuckers. The humbuckers are non original, seymour duncans. The cosmetic condition of the guitar is bad with a couple of deep scratches in areas of the the body. The bottom of the guitar is losing lacquer. The guitar was in India when a paint ball was thrown through the window of the car and it burst hitting the guitar. The paint eroded a circle into the paint exposing the under coat of gold paint which is now tinged green. Generally small scratches round the body especially on the back. The frets are completely worn down and it is needing re fretted. The serial number which is a clear decal says:

LES PAUL-DELUXE
made in the usa
00135333

**Update:

I meant to say its a 4 piece body, maple top, two pieces of mahogany and a thin maple layer between the two mahogany piece,

I am being given the price of $1650 (£1050) for it. Is this accurate?

Thanks so much for your help.

ANSWER

Hi, Mark--

Here is the general info:

LES PAUL DELUXE (1969-1985 MFG.)
- single sharp cutaway 3-piece mahogany/maple body, 13 in. wide, 17.25 in. long and 2 in. deep, 24.75 in. scale, deeper cutaway binding, bound carved maple top, raised cream pickguard, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl trapezoid inlay, "Deluxe" engraved on truss rod cover, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, widened blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, 3-per-side Kluson tuners with plastic double ring buttons, nickel hardware, 2 mini humbucker pickups (regular humbuckers were optional from 1970-74), 2 volume/2 tone controls, 3-position switch, available in Blue Sparkle Top (approx. 230 mfg. 1975-77), Cherry (mfg. 1971-75), Cherry Sunburst, Gold Top, Red Sparkle Top (rare, approx. 125 mfg. 1975 only), Tobacco Sunburst, Walnut (approx. 112 mfg. 1971-72), Natural or Wine Red finishes, mfg. 1969-1985.

The pricing info:

1971-1979
Mint $2,750
Exc.+ $2,200
Exc. $1,800
Avg.+ $1,500
Avg. $1,300
General $1,100

It sounds like the guitar has some pretty serious problems as far as monetary value goes. I would say it sounds like low general category. The price you were given is probably a bit high.

Lynne