1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number
1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number

1974 Les Paul Standard - Factory Full-Size Humbuckers Patent Number

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$5,725.00

1974 Les Paul Standard.  Most early 1970s Les Paul’s have mini-humbuckers characteristic of the Norlin era. If you wanted full-size pickups, you usually had to buy the custom. However, you could get full-size pickups if you special ordered a “standard“ model. This one is an example of those special orders. As you can see from the photos, the routes for the pickups are factory. The solder on the pots is untouched. The pickups are Patent Number stickers left over from the 1960s.   


One big bonus here is the return to the wide nut width characteristic of the earlier 1960s. It makes the guitar especially playable and that quite nicely!.  This guitar still has the “deluxe” name on the truss rod cover, even though it’s technically a standard with the full-size factory humbuckers.  This is not uncommon for the special order full-size factory Les Paul’s.  They also came with a “standard“ truss rod cover with smaller lettering. But sometimes they just used a “deluxe“ cover. Keep in mind these things were stored in bins in boxes. If they were out of “standard” covers they might just put on a “deluxe.” Production was high and quality control was not what it was in the 1960s.  
You can easily swap out “standard“ cover if you’d prefer that. Since this is the original cover, I am leaving it as is even though it is technically a mismatch.  Search online and you’ll see plenty of other examples.

Anither big bonus here is the two piece top. It’s pretty close to running right down the center of the guitar. Most Les Paul’s from the 70s have ugly three-piece tops. It’s pretty cool to see a better looking two piece top.

 

The pots date to 1974.  The guitar has some player wear. The main spot is on the top edge on the back. I think the original owner slung this guitar “lower“ on his body. So it may have bumped against his belt buckle in that spot.  It’s not a mint guitar, but I would put it in the very good to excellent range.

 

The neck is mahogany, which is a bonus. They switched to maple necks in the later 1970s. It’s a three piece neck. You can see the lines for the “wings“ on the edges of the headstock. There are no cracks, breaks, or repairs.  The guitar at one time had Schaller tuners. I have restored the tuners to the original “Gibson deluxe“ using conversion bushings. You can see evidence of the restoration but nothing that is a major eyesore.

 

I have set up the guitar to my liking. In my opinion, the action is currently very good and it has nice playability all the way up and down the neck. However, I cannot guarantee that it is set up to your preferences as tastes vary a little bit.

Comes with the hangtag and string pack you see in the photos. Sign not included. The case is original and in very good shape, except the handle is broken by one “hook.”  It’s the plastic handle itself that is broken where it connects to the metal. It will stay put for cosmetic purposes, but it is not safe to use in transporting the guitar.