1962 Gibson Les Paul
The 1962 Les Paul on the SG body — double-cutaway mahogany design with PAF pickups. A different beast from the single-cutaway, but excellent in its own right.
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 (SG-shaped double cutaway) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Brazilian Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 22 |
| Pickup Config | HH |
| Bridge | ABR-1 Tune-o-matic with sideways vibrola or stop tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | Cherry Red |
| Est. Production | 1,450 |
Pickups & Electronics
Two PAF humbucking pickups on SG-shaped body (Les Paul name retained until 1963).
What Changed in 1962
SG/Les Paul continues. Some with Pat. No. pickups replacing PAF labels.
Collector's Notes
Verify all original components. SG/Les Paul examples from this era are distinct instruments from the single-cutaway.
How to Authenticate a 1962 Gibson Les Paul
Check the serial number on the back of the headstock — ink-stamped numbers should fall within documented ranges for 1962. Potentiometer date codes are critical: look for CTS pots (code 137) with two-digit year codes matching 1962 or up to 18 months earlier. This is the most reliable dating method for Gibson guitars of this era. The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer showing age-appropriate checking (fine crazing). Under blacklight, original nitro fluoresces a distinctive green-yellow — refinished instruments lack this characteristic. Verify original PAF (Patent Applied For) humbucker pickups — check for the distinctive sticker on the baseplate. PAF bobbins, wire routing, and Alnico magnets should be consistent with 1962 production. PAFs are the most frequently counterfeited Gibson component — DC resistance should read approximately 7.5-9k ohms. The carved maple top over mahogany body is a key construction detail — check body weight (originals are typically 8-10 lbs). Examine the neck joint tenon — long tenon is correct for this era. Check for headstock repairs (Gibson headstocks are prone to breaking) — repairs reduce value significantly. Original Kluson Deluxe should be present with no evidence of replacement (no oversized bushing holes). Original hardshell case adds provenance value.