The Gibson Les Paul Custom: A Short History

[@WhiskeyDale]

I've said it before and I'll say it again , 5 Watt world should be a show on the Discovery Channel . This material is highly informative and very entertaining . Great stuff here sir.

[@JoshuaC923]

I beg to differ, their producers will definitely change the show into something that is crappy like what they produce now

[@JoshuaC923]

But i agree, Keith's work is fantastic,i enjoy every episode and have rewatched them multiple times👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 absolutely top notch stuff

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks guys

[@MichaelSotoCE]

@@fivewattworld man the quality of his YT is miles ahead of anything on cable. imagine the fake drama they would put. crappy guitar history show on TLC - "but then, in 1960 sales declined and the les paul was cancelled (dramatic strings, commercial break) will the les paul legacy be forgotten? coming up, (shots of clapton playing his burst) a new hope for the les paul???"

[@blakeweaver9697]

My grandfather gave me his, just learning to play it now. It’s been a long time since he passed but I need to learn how to play it. I’ve been taking lessons and just now became curious about my instrument. Great to learn about what he left me and how great it is. Love u papa chuck

[@Allguitarinfo]

a GIBSON Les Paul custom? you have a nice guitar to learn on ...learn it honor him by playing it well.he knew the good stuff

[@sleevelessace]

dude this warms my heart... this is what i hope happens to all of our loved guitars and ones that family members keep for years, (when the recipent plays it and uses it) opposed to selling it!, enjoy my friend you have a guitar most musicians dream of buying! (including myself) even just a usa gibson les paul would be a dream guitar of mine but i am content with my epiphone inspired by gibson 50s gold top Enjoy that guitar my friend your grandpas looking down and is happy your jamming with it

[@mickeydt17]

Thank you for including Mick Ronson, a much overlooked talent in the music world, and the reason I gave up trumpet for guitar! 😎

[@DavidRavenMoon]

When I was a teenager I refinished my Sekova LP Custom top natural and used two black and two gold knobs to look like Ronson’s guitar.

[@anthonyc1883]

His 13-second solo in Bowie's Suffragette City is just rock guitar perfection.

[@mickeydt17]

@@anthonyc1883 Agreed. One of my favourite solos is the one he performed in 'Time'. Perfectly captured the mood of the song!

[@jrrustad]

Ronno on Rolling Thunder Revue was one of the greatest sounds of all time

[@CarlyonProduction]

Shame this model got continuously less good after 54. In a very linear fashion. Lol. Seriously though - love the 54 (std and cstm)

[@al271987]

Steve Jones played a white 74 custom while in the Pistols, and he was the main reason I ever wanted a Les Paul styled guitar.

[@xpander8140]

Yup..he was one of the biggest reasons back in the 70s that I started to play gtr. But I could only afford a cheapest Hondo copy and still haven't got my Custom, lol. Thin Lizzy, Randy and John Sykes were also good inspiration for keeping the Custom appeal alive.

[@TheBigGreat]

I think actually he said something about stealing it from Bowie

[@mikericciuti5996]

Exactly!!

[@robotjeans]

@@TheBigGreat Not the Custom, that was Sylvain's from the NY Dolls who Malcolm managed.

[@luxford60]

@@TheBigGreat although it has also been claimed that at least some of the Pistols equipment came from when McLaren managed the New York Dolls.

[@arturoestrada9441]

I love the fact that the Les Paul Custom design looks good on pretty much any guitar player, I fell in love with the black beauty model watching metal bands playing them, Trivium, Sylosis, Dissection, etc. However, it looks just as cool on John Fogerty's hands, many jazz and country guys, even made the Jonas Brothers look like rockstars playing cowboy chords on them. Coolest looking guitar ever.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Fogerty uses his in D-tuning as well!

[@Owlzz_]

Ikr

[@cigarettecat3981]

these videos are my go to whenever i’m at the gym lifting

[@gtr1952]

When I was 23, in the mid-70's, I got a hold of an Artisan in a couple trades. I was playing an ES-325 and a Tele at the time. The Artisan seemed like a Custom, Custom, and weighed almost 11lbs!! I played it for 3/4 of 1 gig, and went back to my beloved 325! It was really easy to sell, I got 3X what I had in it, and it paid the rent for 2 months!! I also got a '71 Thin line Tele in the deal to boot!! Ahh, the old days..... LOL --gary

[@Zoso981]

I love guitar wheeling and dealing, I traded my way up to my first Les Paul Standard many years ago, and I'm still buying and trading.

[@lysaarvideo]

The Artisan was a Custom with fancier inlays. The bass player of a band I was in many moons ago told me about a similarly outrageously heavy Les Paul Artisan he owned as a kid.

[@henriqueantunes845]

I missed the mention of Steve Jones. The style of his white Custom influenced my the choice of my favourite guitar as much as Randy and Lindsey did. Outstanding job, as always! Thank you

[@SSquirrel1976]

Yeah that was definitely something I expected to hear mention of.

[@incubism]

This was the big miss.

[@marcraygun6290]

I couldn't agree more , my friends made several great replicas of Steve's les paul and right now a bizarre alternate history strat in aged white with the pistols guitar stickers on it as if from a dimension where Steve played a strat

[@alejandrohualdez5550]

He's the reason I got mine!!!

[@andyspencer4786]

Stolen from the Dolls' Sylvain Sylvain by Malcolm McLaren!! Jonesey's Custom had some stories, alright.

[@garymajchrzak6793]

Randy Rhodes recorded the fantastic "After Hours" session with Ozzy using his LP Custom in Rochester, NY (1981). I was fortunate enough to share the stage with Randy on that tour's stop in Rochester!

[@garymajchrzak6793]

@Hemi 426 I suspect anyone that views "After Hours" will have a new awareness and appreciation for Randy after viewing it. Much more to this story: Randy & Rudy stopped into a nightclub in Rochester called ART STOCK'S PLAYPEN NORTH and thats where I shared the stage with Randy. He got onstage with a band called RUBAIYAT (I was playing sax on Floyd tunes). Nat was the (physically very large) guitarist in that band and he lent Randy his strat to jam with the band. Randy was a small dude and that strat hung down to his knees. I hope to find some type of recording of this event someday but back in 1981 it was highly unlikely to find anyone in a nightclub carrying any type of recording device 😀

[@Hitemwhereithurtss]

Legendary

[@continentalaquatics2725]

The Edge from U2 plays two Gibson Les Paul Customs from the 70’s. The guitars are nearly identical save for one having black knobs and the other, gold knobs. Both have Tarback pickups, but one guitar has the pickups covered and the other, uncovered. I can’t say I hear much of a difference, but The Edge has actually used a Les Paul Custom on more U2 songs than any other guitar in his considerable collection. Thank you for making this video, Keith!

[@jmaccess]

Edge is the best!

[@jimfinlaw4537]

My mother bought me my first Gibson Les Paul for my 25th birthday and it was a 1988 Custom Black Beauty. That guitar was heavy, 10 pounds 2 ounces, but it played like a dream and it had a skinny neck with an ebony fretboard that fit my left hand perfectly. The maple top was glued up in three pieces instead of the normal two. Was this common back then? I wish I kept that guitar, but unfortunately life got in the way and I was forced to sell it. I went to the Guitar Center two years ago to see about ordering another Custom Black Beauty and they told me Gibson stopped making them, only to find out they were lying so I decided I will take my business elsewhere from now on and never look back. Can't believe what a new one costs these days. Holy cow! Think my mom only paid $1000.00 for the one she bought me back in 1988 when it was brand new. They are really great guitars.

[@donthewatcher]

just got a 2024 Epiphone LP Custom (inspired by gibson custom) alpine white with a openbook gibson headstock. THANK YOU LES PAUL 1954- TO 2024 the custom still looks like a million bucks thanks five watt world for excellent content

[@ragnarkoric]

I have the black one of those new Epiphone IBG. Just couldn’t afford the Gibson price. The guitar is so good it takes some of the need for the Gibson away.

[@Factory_Muff]

Me and my buddies rented a jam studio on the Lower East Side when I was 16 in around 1996. We brought our own instruments except for drums because they had drums, but little did we know , they had guitars for anyone to use. There was a beautiful white 70’s custom there that I had to really control myself not to walk out of there with.

[@SHENDOH]

Thanks for putting this together. Well done. I have a 76 Custom. Black and chrome. Got it for 750 from the original owners daughter after he passed away. That was in 93 or 94. I'll never get rid of it

[@afterbirth04]

Worth mentioning: Robert Fripp, who used a Custom on all the Crimson Stuff up through the 80's, and Wata, from Boris, who still uses her '86 Custom as her main guitar (I saw it in person this past September)...

[@isaacj6212]

Fripp used the Custom from the very beginning with Crimson. Check out the videos available on KZbin of him in 72-74. Every performance, every single photo from the 70s with his 50s 3 pickup LP Custom. He still has it but breaks it out very rarely.

[@daemonspudguy]

​@@isaacj6212I think it was most recently used in one of the Sunday Lunch videos that Robert does with Toyah. I think the reason he doesn't use it as much anymore is because the Fernandes does basically everything he wants out of a guitar and then some.

[@Schlitzy]

When I graduated High School in 1992, my mom told me I should get a credit card, "In case of an emergency," when I went away to college. I was hesitant, knowing myself, but did it. The next year, I walked into a shop called Timeless Guitars while home on summer break, saw a 1981 Wine Red stained Les Paul Custom, played it and thought, "This is an emergency." It's been my number 1 to this day.

[@matthewbehrle4428]

OMG REBEA!!! It’s so great to see him in this video, that Les Paul he’s got it AMAZING and it’s great to see it. And as always you’ve killed it with this video once again and I can’t believe how different the Customs are from the Standards. Thank you once again for this and I can’t wait to see what you do next!

[@HighVybeTribe]

Yeah , he's a cool dude

[@JoshuaC923]

Rebea playing always sound sooooo good

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Yep. - and such a laid back cool mofo!

[@corneliuscrewe677]

That 3 pickup Les Paul Deluxe Ace is holding on the cover of Kiss Alive is THE reason I picked up the guitar. The original 2 pickup Custom with the Alnico and P-90 pickups is my number one bucket list guitar.

[@DavidHBurkart]

What, get to hear from Keith twice in a week? The year is off to a good start! Enjoyed your segment on Rick's channel and was looking forward to this video. No disappointment! Thanks Keith, lots of historical gold and black goodness!

[@deanroddey2881]

I was around thirtheenish when KISS hit and had their posters plastered all over my bedroom walls, and dressed up as for Halloween and such, to probably the horror of my parents. But, a couple years later, I got a guitar for Xmas, after it became apparent to them that I was serious about something for the first time. It was a black LP Custom. It had the three gold PAFs, which I shortly thereafter swapped for white open coil DiMarzios of course. My dad almost had a fit when he came in and saw I had this new guitar (which for them would have been a big sacrifice to buy) opened up and was in there was a soldering iron. Of course now I'd absolutely have left the PAFs in place, but the folly of youth and all that... I sold it in the late 90s to help keep my then company afloat, though that turned out to have been a wasted effort. The folly of adulthood and all that...

[@edwardyazinski3858]

While I was a teenager and huge KISS fan my father went to an Army party dressed as Gene. He was a Ltc at the time 😂

[@jessefillmore]

I remember as a kid watching Steve Clark of Def Leppard playing that white Gibson Les Paul custom . This was just before Slash made the standards cool again . In my young mind I was wondering why Steve and Slash weren't playing super strats like 99% of their guitar playing peers LOL . I know why now . I also remember back in the 90's , David Grohl playing what seemed to be a white , 3 pickup custom Gibson SG . Great video as always , Keith !

[@prajnachan333]

I was born in '57. It's amazing to think that they were making such an incredible electric guitar at that time. The design and craftsmanship is just outstanding. 👏 Gibson was ahead of their time. I feel connected with them 🎉 a great 👍 👌 year. 🍾 🥂

[@NoizExMachina]

5 Watt World is always inspiring and informative! Thank you for the great music and fascinating journeys through the history of my favorite instrument

[@littlewill0984]

The beard looks great!! Here are some short history ideas: Peavey, Yamaha Broadbass, Ibanez Lawsuits, Fender Rhodes, Alembic, Guitars of Kurt Cobain, Guild Electrics and Acoustics, FGN, Gear and Guitars of Carlos Santana, and Gibson-EBs

[@kevingates503]

The absolute best guitar I own is that same 1984 custom tobacco sunburst I first played in 2000 I finally now own 25 years later

[@user-ql1pc7pi9x]

Just bought a Custom Shop '68 Custom Reissue. It's not only the best Gibson I've ever owned, but best guitar I've owned.

[@geofheydon546]

Love all the videos. I got a 68 black custom when I was 15 in 1973. I’ve now owned it for 50 years and would love a bit more detail from this 68-69 batch. Keep these great videos coming…….

[@j.r.g3548]

Keith always delivering QUALITY CONTENT!! AND featured two of my favorite Les Paul players.... Adam Jones and @Justin Hawkins Rides Again

[@j.r.g3548]

Only thing I would add is the OTHER, lesser known rare metallic finish of the Norlin Era....Charcoal Metallic. Rumored less than 50 made between 1980 and 86...and I have one!!!

[@DiscoScottie]

FANTASTIC video. I dearly miss my black '72 Custom. Got it in '86 for about $400 and let it go a couple years later (I was a young dumb teen). One of the biggest regrets of my life.

[@ricklynn6176]

Your always so Incredibly detailed in your video! This made me even more proud to own my LP custom! Learning the history really makes you appreciate this beautiful instrument even more! Great video!

[@chrisnash8411]

I bought a Les Paul a while ago played it a few times ... set it down for about a year ... thought about selling it ... I rarely if ever took nice Gibsons on the road for fear of neck damage ... ( a Black Beauty and several SG's went down that way early in life ) ... I picked the new Paul again up, a few months ago, and have not let it rest since ... it is just amazing ... ! I have certainly missed out on some miraculous tone .Thanks for the great Five Watt Magnificence ! It's always inspiring and informative !

[@prajnachan333]

That dark green 💚 Les Paul custom is so beautiful. I must have it! Just a photo will do. Just gorgeous.

[@ZombieXee]

It's always a good day when 5 watt drops a new short history. Especially when it comes to Les Pauls.

[@zacharysmithingell5460]

What a *phenomenal* cast of LP demo players here. Wow wow wow! And what a treat to see Rabea!

[@mikewoods6697]

I loved hearing about my first pro-level guitar -- new in 1973, a '55 reissue black Custom with PAFs. It was a guitar I didn't deserve as a player, but the old man bought it for me anyway, to replace a CBS Fender Mustang. Wish I still had both. Thanks for the memories!

[@ChadWork1]

In 1990 I had an all natural LP Custom (not sure what year) with built-in string winders, and gold hardware. It weighed so much even my 22 year old back couldn't hack it. It must have weighed 12 lbs! Went with a Charvel Strat copy with a trem and was very happy. Now I have a LP Studio Lite from 1992, and that guitar feels great on my 56 year old back.

[@reijerlincoln]

Mickey Baker had a unique LP Custom with his name on it for a brief while. It had 3 PAFs, 3 pots but no selector switch. Instead there was a 'master tone control' that blended the three pickups, which each had their own volume control (copied from the ES5 which later became the Switch Master). Gibson re-issued it in 1998.

[@mattrogers1946]

Exactly!

[@JeremyLeech]

Being from Wisconsin, I've passed through Waukesha and even Les Paul Parkway. That being said, the Les Paul is my favorite guitar.

[@zazoomatt]

I bought my 2022 Les Paul Custom exactly the one Ace Freely of KISS Alpine White w/Gold Hardware although a Epiphone, inspired this Old 65 yo. Thanks for this your a true lover of "The Story". The Best.

[@tallpaul1020]

Thx Keith, what a great documentary on a fantastic guitar!!!!! My dream came true last year when I finally got a 1954 Gibson Les Paul custom reissue. I f%$ing love it. It's a true work of art. Gibson should name a guitar after Seth Lover, creator of the alnico5 staple AND the PAF humbucker,, absolute genius engineering at work. Only guitar nerds like us know who changed the musical world but I feel that everyone should. Love your channel, keep up the great work!!!!!

[@jmabs5096]

Currently playing my gibby les paul custom in apline white, can't wait for this one to come out!

[@cody8804]

Only 9 more hours keep picking it!

[@ericwarrington6650]

Gotta admit I've been on my strat kick for weeks...PRS custom 24 here and there..but I'm probably gonna have to bust the LP out

[@jmabs5096]

@@ericwarrington6650 me too, I had a strat itch for awhile, played it for a good week, picked up my les paul into my Marshall and the strat once again is collecting a lot of dust 😂

[@andrearecchia8859]

Paul Banks from Interpol was a huge influence in the 2000s and he has a Black Les Paul Custom into a Fender Pro Reverb. Amazing tone, amazing player

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

The Pro Reverb is a VASTLY underrated amp.

[@sonnywolfblues]

Let's not forget Keith Richards use of a Custom in the 1960s and periodically in the 1970s too.He had that black 3 pickup one that he painted a psychedelic color scheme on part of the top and he also used a 2 pickup black one sometimes.He also briefly played a white SG 3 pickup one in the early 1970s.

[@willdenham]

My first electric was a 78' Cherry Burst Custom that I saved up for while washing dishes at the Salvation Army in the summer of 89'. Going from a cheap, high action, Carlos acoustic it was quite a change. Like going from Econo Lodge to The Weston. Even though it's a Norlin, it's still been a head turner and every musician who's played it has fallen in love with her. One of my former bandmates always asks to use it when he records. Still have it, still love it.

[@danstringer7610]

I had a tobacco sunburst custom in ‘81 I bought new while living in Tampa. It had the 3 piece maple neck and a 3 piece top. I bought another in ‘84. I was told it was an antique sunburst. Sadly I sold both in the mid 80’s after I quit the band I was playing with. Fast forward to 2008…my wife surprised me with a silverburst for Father’s Day. I was not a fan of the silverburst until I received this beast. I love it…all 12 lbs can be a bit of a pain as you can imagine. If I want to impress make an impression I play this guitar.

[@kevingates503]

I have loved the les paul custom since I first played one 26 yrs ago I now own that very same custom a1983 tobacco sunburst with shawbuckers

[@xray5niner1]

Simply stated….. another amazing and educational video as usual. You certainly have set the bar high for KZbin content.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Brian Greenway of April Wine played an interesting Cherry Sunburst which had white plastic parts and gold volume and tone controls.

[@jasonsapp792]

Oh wow ...forgot you did this already Keith...watching it again right now! Thank you again

[@dekalbes335]

I recently got my first Les Paul Custom . M2M . Black....after wanting one for 40 years. It's an incredible instrument.

[@scottgregory6129]

Keith... the players you showcase, your narration, the images, script, research, editing... love it. Thanks again. And again.

[@willwragg9707]

You've done it again, Keith. There I was in a Custom researching rabbithole, andd wondering if anyone had a good altogether history on them, realised I hadn't checked in on 5ww for a while... and bingo!

[@MrDeeLee]

I know I will never be able to afford a Gibson, but I recently just obtained a 2009 Epiphone Les Paul Custom with the three Pickups. Coming from a 2001 Ibanez DTX120, I felt as if I finally found my voice. Absolutely love it!

[@jrtme]

Great Job as always. I think John Sykes from Whitesnake and Blue Murder is worth a mention. I love my Black 2021 Les Paul Custom. I modded it with a DDJ in the bridge and a Cold Sweat in the neck. It’s a very cool one for sure it has a Bolivian Rosewood fretboard. It’s such a strange color most people just think it’s an different shade of Ebony. 😁

[@alanhaynes418]

Bolivian Rosewood or 'Pau Ferro' as it is also known is about midway between rosewood and ebony in hardness and sound. I have it on my Martin acoustic - it tends to be a bit more stripey than ebony.

[@jrtme]

@@alanhaynes418 Yeah, this looks very different than a typical Pau Ferro fretboard. It really has no brown and it’s minimum on stripes. Definitely middle ground between ebony and rosewood. This particular piece is more ebony like.

[@ampman50]

Yes, John Sykes.. I’m fortunate to own his LPC, in white that he used on Thin Lizzy’s last tour in 83. It’s a 1979 year model, with tour case with a few stickers on it. Japan etc.

[@jrtme]

@@ampman50 I would love to see pictures or a video if you are willing to share. 😀

[@ampman50]

@@jrtme Can’t up load pictures on here!!!!!

[@JMK571]

My pride and joy is a 2003 Epiphone Elite Les Paul Custom that I bought new. It is far superior to a normal Epiphone and is the top of the line of Epiphone import guitars and is probably the closest I’ll ever get to a Gibson Les Paul Custom. And that’s fine with me because my LPC is a fine machine in its own right. There are some differences from a Gibson (poly finish, rosewood fingerboard, and of course the headstock shape), but I’m not turned off by them and have never been ashamed of playing it. I always get compliments when I pull it out of its case and let’er rip!!

[@wrenchhead6840]

JJN is a modern guitar hero. Thanks for including him.

[@andrewcorsini3423]

I actually have a 75 LP Custom all natural with the maple fretboard. Don't see them too often, but cool to see it mentioned here.

[@GearGasms]

Your teleprompter game is strong. Nice and natural. And great video as always!

[@prajnachan333]

I was playing bass in a band in the 70's called "Summit". Our guitarist Marc, has a gorgeous burgundy Les Paul custom. That guitar 🎸 sounded so full and a rich tone. We had a blast. Thanks Les. 😂

[@jdbrown111]

i had to rewatch this video as I JUST got my first LP custom. 2002 68 reissue in cherry burst. great guitar. keep these vids coming!

[@isaacj6212]

No mention of Robert Fripp. Out of everyone else mentioned, arguably it was him who used the LP Custom professionally the longest from the late 60s right up till now. Seeing him play it was what prompted me to buy mine.

[@ThinPicks]

That alnico pickup in the neck position is a unique sound and compliments the P90 in the bridge perfectly. Hope to get a reissue of that guitar.

[@nantan9453]

I love Dave's "feeling cute but might delete later picture" lol!

[@Reeses0810]

I have about ten USA strats all vintage about the same with my telecaster’s some various charvells and one 79 custom no mods and that one always makes me smile.

[@stevengaryballmoonbugmusic5455]

Thanks for another informative and entertaining equipment history. I wanted to add that one of the main reasons the original Les Paul Custom Black Beauty reissue was not popular involved the staple pickup in the neck position. Unlike P 90's and humbuckers there wasn't the usual bar magnets. As mentioned the magnets much like Fender single coil pickups the pole pieces were the actual magnets and Les Paul himself stated that guitar players unfamiliar with this type of pickup raised the pickup to close to the strings causing the magnets to impede sustain deadening the string and causing warbling and intonation problems.

[@lysaarvideo]

The Thin Lizzy tandem of Robbo and Scott Gorham was a great example of different and complimentary Gibson tones within the same band: Robbo with his broad Les Paul Custom sound sitting opposite in the mix to Gorhams piercing Les Paul Deluxe tone.

[@xeractus]

I was waiting for this. Brian Robertson only used the Custom from October 1977 on the Bad Reputation & Live And Dangerous (1978) tours after he returned to the band for a short period (he was fired from the band before the recording of Bad Reputation and returned afterwards, before being fired again before the recording of Black Rose). It didn't appear on any Thin Lizzy album recordings. It did become an iconic guitar though and It would have been nice to see a mention of it in the video. But arguably a more representative Thin Lizzy player of the Les Paul Custom would have course been John Sykes; I don't think he's ever used anything else but his '78.

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Ahh is there a better live album than Live and Dangerous? Maybe of equal footing UFO Strangers in the Night.

[@lysaarvideo]

@@xeractus specifik models notwithstanding, Robbo and Scott had contrasting sounds because of their use of different Les Paul models. I would love to own a play a Les Paul Deluxe from the old days, but they've gotten so damn expensive.

[@craigthomson3621]

My very first electric was a right-handed Black Les Paul Custom copy branded “Shaftesbury”. I have since switched to left-handed playing, and a recent purchase was a left-handed Black Gibson Les Paul Custom, with Ebony fretboard, manufactured in 2022. It plays like a dream (and the weight is not too heavy). Thanks for the video.

[@mattrogers1946]

I have a 68 SG Special, and the Vibrola works just fine.

[@andrewhouse3246]

Epiphone 's current LP Custom has a mahogany body and long neck tenon. 50's historic for 7bills...hard to beat for the money, great job K-

[@johnnyxmusic]

Trogly calls that a longneck tenon. Longneck. 😂😊

[@CarlyonProduction]

That’s honestly amazing! They are missing out on so many tricks here. Why is there no 54 custom? What about a version of the 359?

[@bldallas]

September of 1975 was my 13th birthday, I was just starting the 8th grade and yes, KISS was everywhere! At that point, I had also been playing (acoustic) guitar for about 3 and all I wanted was a BLACK 3 PICKUP LES PAUL!!! A kid in my class had one, but I never got to play it. We weren’t made of money, either, so I had to settle for an SG clone (said Volare’) on the headstock. And even though I could afford one now, I’ve moved on to other killer rigs. Still get a bit woozy when I see one, though, so thanks for starting this video that way. Very cool.

[@wayneb6128]

I have a 1986 black Les Paul custom. Bought it back in 2004. Still love it!

[@zodiacloveteam]

i LOVE les paul customs...the black tuxedo, the gold, and diamonds. just perfect.

[@robnamowicz8073]

Great job Keith! My Les Paul claim to fame is that at one time I owned the 1952 pictured on page 42 of Gibson Electrics, the Classic Years book compiled and written by A.R. Duchorssoir. Bought at a hock shop in Michigan in the early 70s for $250 or so, it never was an easy player, the Bigsby wasn't as good as my Strat wang system, and she weighed a ton. Had it for a few months, then sold it for what I paid. Sure, I regret selling what could have been one of the first Les Pauls, but hey, times were tough, and $250 was a lot of money then. Oh, and Les Pauls have improved by leaps and bounds! Thanks again, Keith!

[@nespstudio8803]

Love my black 1975 Les Paul ! This guitar will stay in the family forever.

[@michaeleaster1815]

16:53 RIP Randy... great video, as always: thanks!

[@popeye089]

People often don't realize that the 3 pickup 50's era had different pot values as well as cap values. Tone pots were 250k and the caps weren't the Grey tigers or BBs but the "phone book" caps. Also, the sound was different with the quacky OOP sound of the 3 pups

[@ensignofindustry1033]

Greg Koch is truly amazing. One of the great wonders of Wisconsin. 🙌

[@kevingates503]

The best guitar I ever played was a 1984 tobacco Sunburst custom it's also the meanest guitar I ever played it's like adding six more positions to the volume knob when you plug it in

[@danstringer7610]

Thanks!

[@michaelshearer3559]

I know that guitar in the intro! What an amazing neck. Never like Custom's, but lately I have grown very fond.

[@reijerlincoln]

Great vid, thx! I play a 1981 LP Custom. Main guitar - by far. Had it since since 1995. It's well used and has had a refret. The maple neck and ebony board really make it sound snappy and direct. Some people poopoo Norlin era Les Pauls.... it helps to keep the prices down.

[@mortonwilson795]

Thanks for another great overview! I bought my 1968 Black Beauty' in 1974 - it was my only guitar through the next few years playing live with my band. Still have it - when I took it in to get a new jack plug recently my guitar guy asked if I wanted a re-fret - he said 'these frets are barely there'. Nope - like 'em just as they are 😀I recently bought the Epiphone 'Wino' Custom which is great - will be installing Monty's Bethnal Greens. There is also an Epi Black 'inspired by Gibson' Custom in the store which is advertised as all mahogany - thinking about it . . .

[@ReturnTheSanity]

@9:50 I heard 1/2 second of Jared playing and knew it was him. I was listening as I worked and had nothing but my ears to know!

[@ricky-snickle1753]

My most prized possession is a 1974 20th anniversary Les Paul custom that I bought a few years ago! Love that thing!

[@peterthomas22]

Thanks Keith for another informative video.

[@buranflakes]

My personal LP Custom story involves a late-70s Greco copy of the Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul. Long story short: I saw it online, and not only was it a rare lefty 3 pickup Les Paul Custom, but it was also on sale for a price I could afford at the time; so I drove 4 hours to Minneapolis to the store that had it, bought it, and drove straight back home with it. It's been my main guitar ever since. Funny thing is when I got there I saw they also had a righty Gibson black beauty hanging next to it so I could compare it to the genuine article and it was close enough to satisfy me lol

[@RelicOnMaui]

My first "professional" electric guitar was the first "Fretless Wonder" Les Paul Custom reissue. My dad made me work all Summer landscaping our neighbor's yard for it. When we went to buy my guitar, we looked over several brands when lastly Mr Lou Amendola (in Ladera Heights) brought a hardshell case from the back store room, and as he opened the case, said, "Now THIS is the Cadillac!" My dad was sold! Ca$h on the spot -about $600, retail, I believe. Heavy as concrete, it's dry ebony fingerboard combined with super low, narrow fret wire made radical bends really difficult. It was stolen from our home in less than 2 years!

[@xx_HI_xx7]

I've got a 73 cherry burst with a darker red feel to it in my eyes. I enjoy the custom look. Hope to get a black beuty one day.

[@jeffsquires6620]

Thanks for the video Keith, I have a 79, love it. Paid $ 1600 for it in 1990.

[@joekimberlin264]

I've got a '79 LP Custom 25/50 Anniversary I've had since ' 85, it's the one in my profile pic, when we we're both much younger & less.. road worn. It's at least appreciated in value ;) Like my inspiration for getting it, Mick Jones, we used to bounce all over club stages in various punk bands, but at 11lbs we're not bounce'n like we used to, in fact more often than not I'm playing a nice lite PRS... my 80s teenage self would definitely call me 'an old wanker'.. haha! Thanks Keith for spotlighting the Customs :)

[@muhammadasad4820]

Hi Keith. Physician from Illinois here. Been following you since I started residency in 2019 and now that I am done and have started work, (ie now that I can actually afford to lol) use your guidance to help educate about things I am interested in, and learning about the guitar world in general. Keep doing these and never stop! They are a part of my routine now.

[@fivewattworld]

Glad to get you through those tough residency years. :)

[@American_Jeeper]

I made my own Custom, using a 2018 Honey Burst Tribute and replacing all of the modern guts with ‘57 reissue PAFs and rewiring it to late 50’s specs, complete with Luxe Bumblebee caps and CTS pots. I’ll ad binding to it sometime in the future. The sound is incredible, and it’s my favorite guitar. I will never sell it.

[@vandenberghenick446]

nice documentary. thx! for 25 years proud owner of a 1976 lp custom.

[@stuartpenney6829]

Frank Zappa famously used a cherry burst LP custom in the early 80s. Check out the sleeve of his box set "Shut Up N' Play Yer Guitar." Being Frank of course it was endlessly customised with changed pick-ups and added electronics.

[@Sams911]

With prices not showing any sign of going down... and despite getting two PRS's which I love from Private Stock, I still wanted the "King of Guitars" a Les Paul Custom.. so what did I just do? I picked up a $10K+ 5A single piece top custom... although I must confess, I wish I'd gotten a black one like yours.

[@luvbasses5487]

I’d like to point out a rockin video which I think many Custom Black Beauty enthusiasts may end up digging. Aerosmith Video Scrapbook. Most of the clips in this hodgepodge video collection are from their famed Pontiac Silverdome gig from 1976. Right out the gate, first tune: Toys In The Attic…and Joe is playing very loudly. Even better is the next tune Same Old Song & Dance. Very bluesy. This video is an absolute must for GBB Custom lovers. You’re gonna love this. Play it loudly in all its glory. (I could be incorrect on it being a Custom because I don’t think it’s got three pickups, but two.) Still though, it’s a black beauty.

[@curtisprice9806]

Another great fact filled video Keith on my favorite guitar....I have three! A '71 cherry sunburst (beautiful colors from the paint Gibson used then!), a '74 ebony (my main axe), and a '76 natural with a maple fingerboard (just like the '75 one in this video). Fantastic tone, but weighs enough to be be a boat anchor lol, no kidding... like 16 lbs! The fingerboard material is what makes a Standard and a Custom sound different. Rosewood has more resonance which sounds 3 dimensional. Ebony is brighter and emphasizes the fundamental pitch across the entire fretboard...like maple. I love Ace Frehleys Les Paul Deluxe with Super Distortion humbuckers on Kiss Alive! That guitar through cranked Marshall Superlead amps was the best tone he ever had... oh, and his solo album in '78 which he recorded using a Fender Harvard amp also! But Customs in other famous musicians and my hands, have made heavenly tone also! Rabea's Custom definitely was a shining example of what they sound like with tube overdrive!

[@Kevinized100]

I’ve finally acquired my dream guitar. I am now the very lucky owner of an alpine white custom. It’s everything I always hoped it would be and more.

[@miller_nick]

I had a somewhere between 68-71 Cherry Sunburst LP Custom (no original paperwork and serial # was before they standardized putting years in them). Gibson stamp on the pickups, absolutely loved it, but I sold it and regretted it ever since. I've tried to locate it down to rebuy it, but no luck. Great video though, and always appreciate this history!

[@joeturner7959]

Nichols gives the best demo of a 3-pu I have heard, but few notes with the bridge/middle blend. Also notable is the direction (polarity) of the middle pickup jumping back and forth, as well as seeing one with the neck pickup flipped, ala Peter Green/Gary Moore/some dweeb. But make no mistake - this is one of the best written/well researched video out there, and as usual for FiveWatt - impeccable.

[@glenkepic3208]

Nice work, Keith ! '73, 15 and a friend buys a CopyCat in black. I had a Teisco Audition Jag alike so this was pretty great. Nice guitar PF, 3 times at Winterland (DYFLWD from FCA, I was there) plus HP's Rockin' The Fillmore had me lok'd in. DOG with LS was also amazing. 'RR's 'gift' one in white was sweet. Loved the gold 'sig' on the pg. oh, Al DiMeola, Winterland, opening' for Weather Report. Yes, Elegant Gypsy. Carlos Santana a guest. Pretty cool encore.