We last featured this 1972/’73 Les Paul Deluxe in issue 476 as a reference for Gibson’s new 70s Deluxe. As I wrote, it was a guitar that I used to own but rather foolishly sold on to a friend – who, graciously, always lets me borrow the guitar, knowing that I usually give it a check over and some fresh strings. The thing is, ever since the early 80s that’s all the work that’s been done on the guitar, which was already ‘player’s grade’ back when I bought it in the late 70s or early 80s.
There’s a very solidly repaired headstock break for starters, which is still rock-solid today, even though the refinishing remains pretty rudimentary looking. But the guitar has never been refretted, and the original wide and low frets look as though they’ve been levelled and are showing plenty of wear, the lack of height precluding any further levelling and reprofiling. As a result, the fingerboard has become quite worn with noticeable divots in places.
When I last borrowed
