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NGD-‘83 Les Paul Standard

Captain Simian

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Apr 25, 2018
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I’ve mainly played Fenders for the past 35 years. I’ve owned a few Gibsons but never spent a lot of time with them. I bought a ‘86 SG Standard about two years ago and it mainly stayed in a case. About a month ago I pulled her out because I was going to sell her off. I ended up playing for 2 hours and since then I’ve been smitten with it. To the shock of my band members and other guitar playing friends, I have no desire to play any of my Fenders.

This afternoon I traded an older Toyota pickup truck for an ‘83 Les Paul. I have 3 Orville LP’s and an Epi LP, but this is the first Gibson LP I’ve ever owned. It appears to be totally stock and is in great shape. I mostly took her apart and everything looks like it should. I didn’t check the pots because the shielding cover is a pain to take off and on. A buddy of mine is all about LP’s who’s offered to help me with that.

Here she is after cleaning her up. B3BB6E26-109E-411E-9891-0C756A341F59.jpeg
 

Ed Driscoll

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Apr 24, 2002
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4,688
Looks great! Just remember that the LP is slightly more delicate than a Toyota pickup when dropped, and you'll be fine.

 

metropolis

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Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
381
Interesting top and finish! Is that original? Nice TC Corona chorus on your board too - a very useful pedal!
 

Captain Simian

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Apr 25, 2018
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Interesting top and finish! Is that original? Nice TC Corona chorus on your board too - a very useful pedal!
Yes, it’s the original finish. I love the TC Electronics pedals, especially the Corona chorus. I used to go through chorus pedals trying to find the sound in my and since I’ve had the Corona I’ve been able to dial in what I’m hearing in my head. I also have a Flashback mini and HOF mini. I’m on the lookout for a reasonably priced TC Shaker mini.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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The shielding cover couldn't be easier to remove. If you can undo the 4 screws to the back plate you should be able to manage the 2 on the pan cover. The 2 pc bookmatch maple top is uncommon for 83 and body shape is correct Kalamazoo long rather than the shorter squat Nashville body seen in that era. Also sporting Schaller tunners which I don't recall as stock on Standards, but my memory isn't strong enough to say for certain. Things got crazy then with maple necks changing to one piece mahogany with small headstock, deep dish top carves and body changes.

BEAUTIFUL Standard and if an 83, with some upmarket specs making for an extra nice score. Lovely natural finish too boot, SWEET!
 

Captain Simian

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Joined
Apr 25, 2018
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The shielding cover couldn't be easier to remove. If you can undo the 4 screws to the back plate you should be able to manage the 2 on the pan cover. The 2 pc bookmatch maple top is uncommon for 83 and body shape is correct Kalamazoo long rather than the shorter squat Nashville body seen in that era. Also sporting Schaller tunners which I don't recall as stock on Standards, but my memory isn't strong enough to say for certain. Things got crazy then with maple necks changing to one piece mahogany with small headstock, deep dish top carves and body changes.

BEAUTIFUL Standard and if an 83, with some upmarket specs making for an extra nice score. Lovely natural finish too boot, SWEET!
The tuners are marked Gibson and she has a mahogany neck. Even the CFO likes how pretty she looks. This and my DeArmond S-73 are now sitting in the living room because she thinks they’re both beautiful.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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14,531
Schaller made the tuners and the Nashville bridge. Customs had gold Schallers but most Standards had a Gibson stamped, stamped steel metal button tuner similar to Schallers with press fit bushings. Around 83 things started changing but Standards like yours were not the norm as I recall. Strings Jr would have a good idea as he kept records of the guitars he built and may very well have made yours, so very well.
 

metropolis

Active member
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
381
Yes, it’s the original finish. I love the TC Electronics pedals, especially the Corona chorus. I used to go through chorus pedals trying to find the sound in my and since I’ve had the Corona I’ve been able to dial in what I’m hearing in my head. I also have a Flashback mini and HOF mini. I’m on the lookout for a reasonably priced TC Shaker mini.

Snap, I've got the HOF mini too! Super useful to run in the loop of an amp without reverb like my Laney head. I love the toneprint feature. I use the Corona for a CE-1 tone and there's a great toneprint they made - it's even on YouTube showing them creating it.
 

Bob Womack

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Joined
Apr 8, 2002
Messages
2,189
I want to say that Tom Scholz got the natural-top thing going but it could have been coincidence. Before he had a couple of '68 gold tops refinished to natural it just wasn't a "thing." Then he, his natural-top LP, and his band Boston showed up in 1976 and just exploded, right as Gibson was starting the official Nashville-built LP Standard line and everyone wanted one. I think they started offering it in 1977? I could be wrong about the timing but I know it wasn't offered until the move to Nashville. I went out shopping for my first LP in the fall of 1977 and I think I remember them being there. I've got a picture in my mind of the rack by the stairs at the Pick n Grin music store in West Knoxville, TN, where I bought mine. My memory is that they had a couple of brand new gold tops, a natural top, and a tobacco burst, all with maple necks, chrome tuners, chrome jack plates, and this big, bold STANDARD engraved on the truss rod cover. My how I lusted after them, but I couldn't afford these new Nashville-built LP Standards. However, there was what turned out to be a used, Kalamazoo-built, '74 small-script Standard hanging disconsolately to the left of them in this weird wine-colored sunburst finish. After some begging and weedling I was able to take that one home. I still have it. Memories.

Bob
 
Last edited:

Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
Schaller made the tuners and the Nashville bridge. Customs had gold Schallers but most Standards had a Gibson stamped, stamped steel metal button tuner similar to Schallers with press fit bushings. Around 83 things started changing but Standards like yours were not the norm as I recall. Strings Jr would have a good idea as he kept records of the guitars he built and may very well have made yours, so very well.
I'm guessing these are the tuners on this guitar. I was SO glad when they changed over to these. They have the keystone tips like the Schallers, but I can't remember if they were actually Schallers or Gotoh. They also have the nut and washer on top like the Schallers. Whatever they were, they were a far cry better than what the Standards and Deluxes were getting in the late 70's.
 

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Captain Simian

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Apr 25, 2018
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I'm guessing these are the tuners on this guitar. I was SO glad when they changed over to these. They have the keystone tips like the Schallers, but I can't remember if they were actually Schallers or Gotoh. They also have the nut and washer on top like the Schallers. Whatever they were, they were a far cry better than what the Standards and Deluxes were getting in the late 70's.
Yes, those are the tuners on the LP.
 

Robert Graf

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Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
1
The shielding cover couldn't be easier to remove. If you can undo the 4 screws to the back plate you should be able to manage the 2 on the pan cover. The 2 pc bookmatch maple top is uncommon for 83 and body shape is correct Kalamazoo long rather than the shorter squat Nashville body seen in that era. Also sporting Schaller tunners which I don't recall as stock on Standards, but my memory isn't strong enough to say for certain. Things got crazy then with maple necks changing to one piece mahogany with small headstock, deep dish top carves and body changes.

BEAUTIFUL Standard and if an 83, with some upmarket specs making for an extra nice score. Lovely natural finish too boot, SWEET!
There was a model called the 83 Standard, and 83 Standard is engraved in the truss rod cover. It has the stamped keystone tuners (look like Gotohs from the button color), came in Honey Sunburst, and the lacquer had some yellow in it. The bell knobs were amber tinted, as was the switch cap, and it had a cream jackplate and a 2 piece bookmatched top. Came standard with a chainsaw protector case with brown fur. Nickel hardware and an ABR bridge.
 

Captain Simian

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Apr 25, 2018
Messages
10
I finally had a moment to take a better picture of my LP and was surprised how flamey the top is. It’s one of the nicer tops that I’ve seen.
162423914_10223276411033776_3839328639348034205_o.jpg
 
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