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Here we have a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Standard in its original Wine Red finish—completely unmessed with, one-owner from new, and about as honest as it gets. This guitar has lived its entire life in a smoke-free environment and has never been modified beyond a tasteful set of Grover kidney bean tuners, installed back in 1983. Everything else is exactly as it left the factory: pickups, pots, caps, plastics, wiring—you name it.
This one’s a gem from the early ’80s Norlin-era sweet spot, complete with its original Gen 3 Gibson chainsaw case. The case is fully functional and all-original, though one of the bottom latches is missing—it still closes up securely and does its job without issue. Inside, the guitar had never even had its control cavity opened or pickups pulled until it came in for a full service here—everything inside is factory stock, with untouched solder joints and original hardware throughout.
The pickups are Gibson’s coveted early-‘80s Tim Shaw humbuckers, known for their balance, detail, and a sweet top end that captures much of the clarity and warmth of late-'50s PAFs. Both pickups meter right in the expected range, and the original pots are Gibson-branded CTS units dated to early 1981. All tone caps are stock, wiring is clean, and the entire harness is exactly as it left Kalamazoo. This one hasn’t been messed with—and you can hear it.
The neck is solid, straight, and crack-free, with a perfect working truss rod that adjusts smoothly in both directions. It features the classic 60s-style slim taper profile—fast, comfortable, and well-balanced. The frets are original and in very good shape, showing some minor string wear but no divots or flat spots. They’ve been lightly dressed and polished and have tons of life left. The action is currently set up low and loose with 9–42s and it plays like butter from top to bottom.
Neck specs:
Nut Width: 1.69" (43mm)
Neck Profile: 60s Slim Taper
Fingerboard Radius: 12"
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: ~0.81"
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: ~0.89"
This one weighs in at 9.8 lbs—remarkably manageable for an unchambered early-'80s Standard. The body is resonant, punchy, and sustains forever. Plugged in, the Tim Shaws deliver everything you'd want out of a proper Les Paul: warmth, bite, and clarity with incredible response under gain. It’s the kind of tone that records beautifully and cuts live without getting muddy.
Cosmetically, it’s in great shape for a vintage player. There’s some gentle fading on the back of the neck, plenty of scratches and scuffs across the body and headstock, and a handful of small dings throughout—exactly what you’d expect from a well-loved guitar that’s seen real play time. Nothing offensive, has some nitro burn on the bottom binding from stand use as they do. No issues though and nothing structural—just honest wear that adds to the story. The Wine Red finish has aged gracefully and still looks sharp under the lights.
At GG, every instrument we list goes through a full service and setup—no surprises, no shortcuts. This Les Paul is clean, original, and completely dialed in. We’re all players here, and nothing leaves the shop unless it’s something we’d proudly gig ourselves. It’s ready for the next chapter in the hands of someone who knows what these early-‘80s Standards are all about.
Buy with confidence. And please check out our feedback. We ship fully insured within 24 hours of cleared payment and use recycled packaging whenever possible. We pack with care and encourage you to recycle upon receipt.
