The Les Paul Custom was first introduced in 1953 as an upscale version of the Les Paul model. The model was requested by Les Paul himself, who wanted a black version of the Les Paul guitar that “looked like a tuxedo.” In 1961, the single-cutaway Les Paul Custom was discontinued in favor of a new double-cutaway model that would later become known as the SG Custom, and the original single-cutaway model was reintroduced in 1968.

During the 1970s, production of the Les Paul Custom transitioned from Kalamazoo to Nashville, and the guitar received various changes that further refined the model, including a multi-piece maple top that replaced the original all-mahogany body construction along with a new maple neck. Today, these 1970s-era Les Paul Customs are some of the fastest-appreciating guitars on the vintage market.

Now, after 20 years of offering the Les Paul Custom only through the Custom Shop, the company is proud to release the Les Paul Custom 70s. It features classic 1970s specifications, including a mahogany body with a three-piece maple top. The body is bound with five-ply top binding and three-ply back binding. The maple neck has a 70s profile and a volute and is topped with a bound ebony fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays.

The bound headstock also features a mother-of-pearl split-diamond inlay, which originated with the Super 400 and has become synonymous with the Les Paul Custom. The Les Paul Custom 70s features gold hardware, including an aluminum bridge, aluminum tailpiece, and smooth-turning tuners for reliable tuning stability.

Even the smallest details have been recreated, including strap locks, a five-ply pickguard, and 70s-era approved control knobs. The electronics are also era-appropriate, with a pair of calibrated humbuckers with individual volume and tone controls that are hand-wired to high-quality capacitors. Guitar comes packed in a hardshell case for protection during storage and travel. The wait is over – the Les Paul Custom has returned and is ready to rock your world!