1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom
The 1971 Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty' — Gibson's luxury solid-body. Reissue-era production.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Specifications
| Body Wood | Mahogany (body), Maple (carved top) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany (5-piece on some years) |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 22 |
| Pickup Config | HH |
| Bridge | ABR-1 Tune-o-matic with stop tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe or Grover Rotomatic |
| Finish Options | Black ('Black Beauty') |
| Est. Production | 5,000 |
Pickups & Electronics
Two full-size humbucking pickups.
What Changed in 1971
Norlin-era production. Volute on neck, wider range of finishes. Still the prestige Les Paul model.
Collector's Notes
Check for original pickups and gold hardware. Ebony fingerboard, multi-ply binding. Weight varies in Norlin era.
How to Authenticate a 1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Check the impressed (stamped) serial number on the headstock back — verify within documented 1971 ranges. Potentiometer date codes are critical: look for CTS pots (code 137) with two-digit year codes matching 1971 or up to 18 months earlier. This is the most reliable dating method for Gibson guitars of this era. By the early 1970s, Gibson was transitioning to thicker finishes. Check finish thickness and aging characteristics. Verify original PAF humbuckers — Les Paul Customs from 1971 should have the correct number of pickups. Check baseplate stickers, magnet type, and DC resistance. Multi-ply binding on body, neck, and headstock is a key authentication point — verify correct number of layers. Ebony fingerboard should be genuine (deep black, tight grain). Gold hardware should show consistent aging. Original Kluson Deluxe or Grover Rotomatic should be present with no evidence of replacement (no oversized bushing holes). Original hardshell case adds provenance value.