Breaking News! This video found the owner of #0025 who had the finish played off its neck. These strange beasts appear to have Maple/EBONY/Maple necks. I've NEVER seen that used before! Perhaps the ebony stripes in the neck were the true secret for the name "Black Beauty 82." 🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com ❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/ 👕 Merch: teespring.com/basic-logo-4245?pid=211 🎸New Guitar Day Program: troglysguitarshow.com/ngd/
Please oh please ask his for a picture. There's an old Reverb listing for one of these that shows the back of a body that has been worn quite a bit, and picture showing the back of the headstock just hints at some worn off finish down the neck, but there are no rear pictures of the neck itself.
A: I can’t believe Norlin era guitars are now so desirable. For decades I’d always heard them being a blot on Gibson’s copybook. B: I much prefer seeing the rare, vintage and oddity stuff. New stuff isn’t anywhere near as interesting.
"For decades I’d always heard them being a blot on Gibson’s copybook" I think this is a marketing ploy by those selling later or earlier guitars. It's a 2v1 type scenario. I say this being the owner of a 1982 cherry sunburst standard. I bought it in 1992 at a pawn shop for $500 bucks trading a lime green BC Rich ST3. Knowing nothing at the time of the Norlin v other era guitars I have found it to be a superb guitar. It's been refretted twice and I added a bigsby. It is my highest mileage guitar in my collection. My guitar is a little heavy but not a boat anchor.
The new stuff will be old some day! I think it's interesting from that perspective. Think about some guy in 1982 saying "I don't like this brand new stuff."
@@El-Scorcho I think that the level of production in the last 20 years will negate too much stuff being interesting. Even in the 90s, a Gibson Les Paul was a bit special. These days everyone and their dog has one. There’s even a cottage industry in people slating Gibson and everything they produce as crap. They’re shipping so many guitars out of Nashville that only the real oddballs and Custom Shop exotica will be rare.
My two cents - I don't mind watching the new stuff but for me personally, I'm here for the vintage stuff. I love seeing the guitars I grew up with. As soon as I hear the sound of Tim Shaw's or T-tops, I'm like "yep, that's a Les Paul'. I'd recognise that tone in my effing sleep lol. I've played & owned more than enough of 'em. I've said it before but for me, this show's like guitar porn & that's why I love it. I really don't care about most of the new stuff. I think it's nearly all massively overpriced bullshit anyway. Give me the older guitars any day of the week.
@@heels1993 I've a 1986 Custom ordered Les Paul Custom as well as a Tokai from the Japan Custom Shop. Both are of the highest quality and compare nicely, however sometimes it isn't about just the price. For years I wanted an older Marshall Plexi for my basement Studio. Any number of modern amplifiers do the Plexi sound fantastically, cost less and could argue that they are more reliable. That said, I just really wanted a real Marshall, so that is what I waited and saved for. I would imagine owning a real "Gibson" is very much the same. People want what people want, not always any good reasons, they just want it.
I bought one of these brand new in 1982. It was an absolutely beautiful guitar, but I was a dumb punk, gigging constantly, and I looked at it as a workhorse, and consequently didn’t take care of it. Spiked belts and wristbands, overnights in the band bus in Minnesota winter, swapped out the tuners and strap pegs… Finish was not only worn away, but chunks of the wood were indented and chipped. Binding was cracked at every fret. It was just destroyed, but it was such a high quality instrument that it played beautifully - until the day I sold it a few years back. I don’t regret selling it because I bought a bunch of stuff I wanted with the money. But I do regret no longer having it. It was a special guitar.
I am totally amazed that you sell guitars for a living and you disclose every ding.. dent.. And blemish that no one would ever see... And I wonder does that hurt his sales because of dings and dents.... Then I said no. If I had the disposable income to buy a cool Les Paul from Austin I would without any doubt because he is probably the most honest guitar salesman in history. Omg it's refreshing to see that level of honesty. Wow
Fun Fact, Foo Fighters Chris Shiflett sayd on his Rig Rundown recently, that he had only one Guitar when he joined the Foos and was an 80's Black Beauty. He swapped the Pickups and got rid of the pickgard over the years in No Use for a Name and Foo Fighters, but for his 50th Birthday his bandmate and awesome human being Pat Smear Gave period correct Tim Shaw Pickups for him to put It on again. Now the Guitar is in exposed at the Rock n roll hall of fame in Cleeveland
A black les paul custom is a must have for me! The LP body and the elegant black and gold combination are just perfect! Luckily I could get one and it’s very likely I’ll keep it with me forever. But the custom headstock with the split diamond is absolutely indispensable.
Bought mine new for 900.00 when I was 21 at The Music Machine in Kennewick WA. I was told that there were to be less than 100 built but I don't know how many Gibson actually made. Sounds like there may be over 100. It was stamped on October 25th of 1982. Mine is 0056 and it came with flip out crank tuners and Tim Shaw pickups. Doesn't have the diamond posi lock buttons though. It's a fantastic sounding and playing guitar that my son and I have always loved and prefer to play.
The heritage 80 were gibsons first real homage to a burst . Best woods,no weight relief holes, small neck, 17 degree peg head angle, one piece neck and body made out of old mahogany...paf pickups, and top notch built quality . Actually the best reissue at the time...But they were not trying to duplicate them or to replicate a burst as you said. And they are the best gibson in their own right...and i had many gibsons...old and new custom shop and vintage. Cheers
In 82’, a friend from school showed up at my home with a brand new 3 pickup, flip out winder tuners, Custom Black Beauty in that same case. He begged me to trade it for my Kramer Pacer Series, 1 hum axe. After he threw in his 24” racing cruiser bike we had a deal. (We we’re both 13 years old) Two weeks later his mother made such a fuss over the trade my mom made me trade back. (He let me keep the bike tho) Do I regret trading back? No. He was my friend and still is. Plus I have a late 60’s LPCBB today.
I have one of these, had no idea it was a rare guitar. Have had it over 30 years now. I wish it was still in mint condition like the one in the video. I played the hell outta that guitar for many years and it shows, but it still plays excellent.
Never be sorry that you played the everloving Sh!t out of that guitar 🎸… you gave it the life it was meant to have ! To me anyways an unplayed guitar is an unloved guitar that just sits around in a case collecting dust waiting for someone to give it life and love. ❤🎸To myself anyways I don’t consider playing scratches, small dents and dings to affect anything at all I kind of actually prefer those ones because it was played a lot for a reason over other guitars… it sounds and plays great 👍🏻 some of them sit around collecting dust because something about the build quality didn’t feel right for whatever reason to the person or many people who owned it over the years. When you pick up a gem you can just feel it, for whatever reason or a combination of reasons it just feels 🪄✨👌🏻. 30+ years back my friend had an Oxblood Les Paul and full JCM 800 -100 watt Marshall head and full stack with about 8 BOSS pedals ( far better setup than anyone else around had at the time and still better than what many people will ever own really , we were only 18 years old ) that he played like a madman every second he could , we all did love hanging out at his house drinking beers 🍻 and almost every weekend playing it and the setup he had it was straight rockstar level gear when most of us had strat knock offs and tiny practice amps and 1 or 2 off brand pedals etc). it just seemed perfect in every way as far as looks, sound and playability. He traded it for an Aria Pro 2 which appeared very nice at first … But about 3 to 6 months or so later the the neck developed a twist / warp and definitely affected how it played and sounded ( just felt weird and started buzzing etc… I think the guy who traded him knew the Aria was definitely defective and had it “repaired” cheaply knowing it probably was gonna warp out again eventually and made a quick trade for the Oxblood Les Paul ! 🤬. ) after a while my buddy started playing less and less until he didn’t play at all anymore and sold all his gear 😮 and guitars as well. Kinda sucked because out of all of us around at that time he was by far the most naturally gifted and also hard earned talented one of us by a good deal. After trading that Oxblood Les Paul things were really just never the same for him and eventually led to him quitting guitar playing all together. 😢
I had always thought the black beauty was the 3 pickup model. But that is because when I first started receiving musicians friend catalogs in the early 90s, they were selling black beauties in that flavor.
The “flaw” under the black light might not be a refinish. I have a Gibson LP that I cared so much and put a D’addario humidpak in the headstock pocket of the case. And it ends up touching the headstock and having some reaction with the nitro finish and shows different color under black light. It looks perfectly normal under normal light.
I left a cleaning rag in with my 87 Charvel that was in a case for about 20 years - the pearl white oxidized a nice yellow-ish tint, but it has a nice cleaning rag square that looks like that under a black light too
I’ve always had a fascination with anything vintage.. ESPECIALLY guitars. My grandfather gave me an early 80’s Squier Telly about 15 years ago and it’s still my daily driver. Vintage guitars are breath of fresh air in this world of crazy new products everyone is trying to sell you. Things flying through the production line and not getting properly QC’d. I guess i am just trying to tell y’all i’m an old soul even though i’m 29 lol. I definitely appreciate people like you that continue to keep these beautiful instruments alive and telling their stories. I don’t mind watching the new guitar videos, and i do find them interesting, but these vintage guitar videos are refreshing to see.
To me the best, most unique part of this channel is the high quality documentation of vintage, many times rare vintage guitars. I get it, I like watching the new guitar vids too. But the vintage vids deserve just as many views. C'mon Troglodytes, we can do better!
I own one of these guitars. I have number 0037. I’d guess 50 were made as well. I couldn’t get any documentation from Gibson other than it has Tin Shaw pickups and was made in Kalamazoo.
The mood of this video changed when he saw the touch up job on the bottom edge. Sometimes the guitar we get used, thru nobody's fault, can fall short of expectations. But give it time, and play it more, then it will surprise one day. Had a similar experience with my Robert Cray Stratocastor bought on Facebook. But now I love it, and love the price I got it for. It gets played quite often.
Love these vintage guitar episodes! Got my first Norlin era guitar, a 1970 ES-335, because of your fantastic documentation of them. Keep up the great work and don't ever stop!
My 1st semester of college way, way back in '77 was spent playing an upside down, left handed Custom Black Beauty. That guitar was already well worn by then, played like a dream & cursed me to forever chase LP's. Thanks for stirring up the memories Trog !
I have a 93 Standard with gold hardware, regular beige binding with Grover tuners. This is the closest I’ve seen to mine, I’ve never seen A black standard with gold hardware other than mine till now.
I want a ebony standard 70s or 80s someday, I found an Epiphone ebony standard that has Gibson printed on the truss rod cover. Found it in a pawnshop and as soon as I touched it I new it was mine. I play it everyday without fail. I put a roller bridge on it and a tusk nut on it and that’s all the mods I’ve done to it. Original epi pickups and tuners tail piece oh I did change the knobs to amber top hats too… I really like it and for $225. It was a no brained. It did have a pretty good ding on the body by the input jack, looked like a drop from the strap coming loose probably. I also put a DiMarzio strap with the clip locks on it but I have those on all my guitars. That’s usually the very first thing that happens with a new to me guitar. I guess I don’t really have them on all of them but only a couple without. Thanks always grab my attention with ebony lps.
So strange seeing custom specs with a standard headstock! Trogs, you should make a vid demonstrating your set up process for Les Pauls (truss rod, pickup height, action, etc)!!
I worked at music store that stored all their unsold instruments in the original boxes, When l worked there from the early 80s til the 90s they already had a stash of unsold instruments. Boxes of new Music man amps, Ovation Legend&Balladeer 1st run guitars incl electrics, Gretch LP's, Electra guitars, Dan Armstrong FX, Pan japanese copies of teles and strats, Sunn amps etc etc etc. they didnt even want us putting them on the floor. l remember 60's models of Fender Coranado's, Jaguars, Mustangs etc, still new. l never found out what happened to all of them.
I think rock guitar. This is what I think. My brother, and I'm talking 70s here, use to buy a guitar from a pawn shop, get tight, sell it to a pawn shop,and a month later,buy another. Crazy loop,but if you can think of a 70s Les Paul,or Fender Strat or Telly, I got to play em. Exact model? Who knows? I was 13,14,15 ? So 73 to 77 maybe ? 🤔 To me,this is THE guitar. Awesome 👌
I love the weird oddity content too. I started playing in the late 1970s so for me the Norlin stuff was my first encounter with "in person Gibson guitars" - I remember lusting over a lot of Gibson and Fender instruments of the time. I remember you could buy a Gibson Les Paul Standard in Wine Red with a hardshell case for $539 in 1978 dollars from PMI, I visited a store here locally and VIVIDLY remember a special display with white lights shining down on three guitars - a Les Paul Custom in silverburst, an L6-S in Silverburst and an SG in Silverburst. It was nutty. I've obviously seen the Les Pauls in silverburst but never seen an L6-S or SG in silverburst ever again. This was 1981 or 2 I believe. I've seen some really interesting displays like when the RD series was new. Also around the time the Firebrands were out there was a similar 3 guitar display. A friend of mine bought the SG. I wonder where some of those guitars are today? That black beauty sounds killer with overdrive and jazzy without it. What a great guitar.
Absolutely love the vintage and historical Gibson's you document. They're a joy to see and really enjoy the lessons. Keep up the great work and thanks. 🤘🎸
#10 ! Love the Trapezoid inlays with the Ebony fingerboard. I sometimes wish my LP Custom had an Ebony fingerboard, this one looks fantastic. Great find Austin, Congrats.
The owner of the 90's Color series you bought also had Customs with the weird flip out winding tuners...PIA to try and keep from flipping out at any moment
Also, you could fix the excessive pickup selector switch holes if it bugs you.. Either cut up a toothpick (if thick enough) or make your own. Make it as long as the screw but a tad thick where you have to tap it in with a punch. Use (very little) wood glue. Paint the bare wood filler with a gloss black touch up paint. Wouldn’t be 100% but better than 87 holes. IMO.. 👏🏼 nice guitar!
While I agree with you 100% I would caution against Trogly’s doing any kind of light repair or wood working. If you search back through his videos you'll see what I mean. Even Trogly himself will admit his repair skills are very limited.
I remember those! People were talking about it because of the name. The ebony fret board and gold hardware is what I remember the most. Thought it was well known at the time. Really liked it and never forgot it. Beautiful find to me! Brings back a lot memories!
Nice score Austin this is a beautiful guitar! I have never heard of this one either. I remember a friend of mine having a beautiful black Les Paul Artisan back in the 1990s and to think at that time that guitar was maybe 10 years old or so. I wouldn't worry about the couple of minor imperfections you found on this guitar and one of them was only visible under the blacklight. I think you are right in stating that you will probably never find another one in this kind of shape. I really like how that bridge pickup sounded with some distortion l... nice job on the Scorpions Rock You Like a Hurricane etc! Interesting about the 5 piece neck and you have every right to clean the dust that has accumulated under the pickguard. I love those knobs by the way!
Apart of a couple of swirls on the top, I’d say it looks like a new old stock! You need luck to find this kind of guitar with this kind of conditions, and dang you’re lucky!
And so my streak dies 😔 I missed yesterday's episode... work was hell and I just crashed when I got home... still, I'm happy to see older gibsons back on the channel! Greetings and well wishes from Utah man!
I’ve got an 82 Les Paul custom in what I would call great condition. This video doesn’t really do the Shaw’s justice. It sounds good on here, but in person, they’re just heavenly! Mine is actually 11lbs 10 oz! She’s a beast on the shoulder and just sounds phenomenal!
Hey Austin! Just an observation. I'd wager that could have a solid one piece mahogany body based on the round cavity route from the control panel leading to the toggle route. HOG (one pice manogany bodies) bodies have that distinct feature. My 57 reissue LP Custom has that. Otherwise it would be a square route in that area. Also, the absence of any seam lines on top could be a telltale sign. These are just observations when you were waving the guitar and having all the light hitting at different angles on top. But then it showed a tiny "triangle" of a possible maple top when you featured the bridge pickup cavity. Judging from the small exposure, it could maple or it could be just a mark underneath.
This is the most beautiful LP! I love that it's a Standard w/ Custom features. This weekend I saw the guitarist from Stone Template Pilots playing a similar-looking Standard. It sounded great.
Far from me this is like that Gibson model that you brought out and you said was a mint condition that had chips and dings in it if you take a good look at that guitar it's full of swirl marks it's also got two nice deep scratches by the pickups on the top and the wear mark that's worn through the paint at the top of the guitar the top of the front so that would not be classified as mint
I find the fact that it's in "new" condition to be fascinating, since you're basically stepping into the shoes of someone who may have bought one from the floor of a music store nearly 40 years ago. As essentially a fresh-from-the-factory model, I'd love to see how this compares to a brand new Gibson LP Standard and see how it holds up.
Beautiful guitar! I've been looking for a black LP Custom from that era (late 70's to early 80's) and I could get past the lack of binding on the back and the trapezoid fretboard inlays but the headstock just looks wrong without the diamond inlay and binding! Lucky for me the rarity prices it right out of my consideration. Thanks Trogly.
It's kind of hysterical that you ended up playing a Scorpions tune and that I wound up hearing it just as I was reading the plot synopsis for a film in which that particular tune was featured: Race the Sun.
@@adamscottv I agree on that one. Also it's the same thing if a really amazing guitar player is playing a guitar and everything sounds good, it's just the opposite.
Adam what a douche bag comment, everybody's different and we all have different playing abilities and talents. If one guy is better than another guy then so what?? I like Troglys videos and coverage of all the cool guitars he reviews for us all to enjoy. Sometimes it's better to leave your personal opinions to yourself, just sayin'.
I recently got a nos 1991 studio lite, with the three piece flame amber top. Looks like it did leaving the factory. The case was nearly mint also. I'm guessing it stayed in a closet the past 30 years.
I hate relic'd and old beat up guitars. Old ones in great shape are a special treat. Black Les Paul Standards are my favorite as my first guitar was a black Les Paul copy. So far this is my favorite guitar you have reviewed!
I own an '82 blk LP Custom w/ gold hdwe. Bought it new. Has flip out winders, all stock. It's a player. Had a K sticker on case . Have been wondering if it was made in Kalamazoo, and if it has a maple neck.
I had one of the '82 CAR Standards back in the 1980s. This one looks and sounds the same, just exchange the paint and binding. I'm guessing they were the same guitar at their foundation.
I've always been a fender Guy, but I love guitars. I know so much of the fender history. I like that vintage videos on your channel, because I learn so much. I really think I need a Les Paul in my life.
Trogly, knocking it out of the park with a 1982 Custom Black Beauty to go along with his recently acquired 1987 Gibson US 1. Wow!! Not understanding why you think this guitar is "meh"? You actually sounded pretty good during the demo. The chords that you played on that guitar all sounded well intonated. I think you need to give the guitar another chance.
I wonder about that gold bridge. If the bridge is the original from 1982, I am thinking it should say "Made in West Germany" as Germany was not unified until 1989.
I have one identical to this model, only mine has been played a bit, but looks to be in nice shape. Everyone always told me it was a weird one and never could tell me what it was worth. I always wanted to sell it but never knew what kind of price to put on it.
Yeah, I like the older stuff don’t get me wrong, some of the new stuff is real nice but I lived three blocks away from the factory and I grew up with the Norlin axes I had a marauder in high school
Hey Trogly, I have a similar(ish) guitar to this and this video made me want to message you about it. It’s not vintage (‘07 I believe), it has a third pickup and no pick guard from the factory and it does have an ebony fretboard, it also has binding on the front but none on the back and it has binding on the headstock, but the neat thing is that instead of a “Les Paul custom” Diamond or the Les Paul silk screen on the headstock, it has the SG crown. It’s far from mint as I’ve played it for a lot of years but I am curious if you know what it really is.
Recently I have seriously been considering buying an "Old Hickory" Les Paul. If I do I'll have to send it over to Trogly. My family actually has a direct relation to Andrew Jackson (specifically his adopted son Andrew Jackson Jr.)
@@holstorrsceadus1990 I suppose that's more technically correct. He never had any biological children but colloquially I think most people would call adopted children a relation.
@@holstorrsceadus1990 Oh no!! Someone on the internet has a pointless disagreement about a colloquial turn of phrase. Please tell me how I can be just like you. I've always wanted to nitpick the comments of total strangers on the internet so the ten people who see the comment know how cool I am.
37 seconds into the video... I don't believe Austin will agree with the "Mint Condition" claim...lol Rollin' the dice.... 8:06 "Pretty much in mint condition"...lol Btw, a Black Beauty HAS have a mahogany top because that is what ALL Black Beauty's are...lol
Yeah, he takes that designation very seriously. He is painfully honest about the condition of the instruments he reviews, one of the things I love about this channel.
There is a way to tell if weight releif has been applied without an X ray. You can use an Oscilloscope and an ultrasound probe. None destructive testing like the X ray but a lot less expensive.
I always thought the black beauty was the 3 pickup. I absolutely love a black lp custom in general, and the 3 pickups can be special. This one looks off to me without binding in the back.
Hello friends! given your incredible knowledge of these tools, can I ask you which product do you use to polish it? my black beauty of 73. when I pass the damp cloth it immediately becomes dull and hazy gray, it's horrible. I do not know what to do. thank you so much!! sorry my english translated by google Paolo, Italy
Breaking News! This video found the owner of #0025 who had the finish played off its neck. These strange beasts appear to have Maple/EBONY/Maple necks. I've NEVER seen that used before! Perhaps the ebony stripes in the neck were the true secret for the name "Black Beauty 82."
🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com
❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/
👕 Merch: teespring.com/basic-logo-4245?pid=211
🎸New Guitar Day Program: troglysguitarshow.com/ngd/
She's a true beauty. Nice vid ✌
Any chance we can get some pictures?
👍👍👍 nice 👍👍👍
I got 0043. Stamped as a second also.
Please oh please ask his for a picture. There's an old Reverb listing for one of these that shows the back of a body that has been worn quite a bit, and picture showing the back of the headstock just hints at some worn off finish down the neck, but there are no rear pictures of the neck itself.
Thanks for the shout out, Trogly! I made the comment about these kinds of videos!
Thank You for doing so, I love the quirky '80s - '90s Gibsons' he reviews.
A: I can’t believe Norlin era guitars are now so desirable. For decades I’d always heard them being a blot on Gibson’s copybook.
B: I much prefer seeing the rare, vintage and oddity stuff. New stuff isn’t anywhere near as interesting.
Exactly! New stuff is boring!
"For decades I’d always heard them being a blot on Gibson’s copybook"
I think this is a marketing ploy by those selling later or earlier guitars. It's a 2v1 type scenario. I say this being the owner of a 1982 cherry sunburst standard. I bought it in 1992 at a pawn shop for $500 bucks trading a lime green BC Rich ST3. Knowing nothing at the time of the Norlin v other era guitars I have found it to be a superb guitar. It's been refretted twice and I added a bigsby. It is my highest mileage guitar in my collection. My guitar is a little heavy but not a boat anchor.
The new stuff will be old some day! I think it's interesting from that perspective. Think about some guy in 1982 saying "I don't like this brand new stuff."
@@El-Scorcho I think that the level of production in the last 20 years will negate too much stuff being interesting. Even in the 90s, a Gibson Les Paul was a bit special. These days everyone and their dog has one. There’s even a cottage industry in people slating Gibson and everything they produce as crap. They’re shipping so many guitars out of Nashville that only the real oddballs and Custom Shop exotica will be rare.
@@lmrecorders ‘73 custom, heritage cherry burst. Bought it new. A lot of hall of farmers made their mark on the Norlin Guitars..
My two cents - I don't mind watching the new stuff but for me personally, I'm here for the vintage stuff. I love seeing the guitars I grew up with. As soon as I hear the sound of Tim Shaw's or T-tops, I'm like "yep, that's a Les Paul'. I'd recognise that tone in my effing sleep lol. I've played & owned more than enough of 'em. I've said it before but for me, this show's like guitar porn & that's why I love it. I really don't care about most of the new stuff. I think it's nearly all massively overpriced bullshit anyway. Give me the older guitars any day of the week.
Hey man I don’t like overpaying for a name …
The Japan custom shops kick a..
@@heels1993 I've a 1986 Custom ordered Les Paul Custom as well as a Tokai from the Japan Custom Shop. Both are of the highest quality and compare nicely, however sometimes it isn't about just the price.
For years I wanted an older Marshall Plexi for my basement Studio. Any number of modern amplifiers do the Plexi sound fantastically, cost less and could argue that they are more reliable. That said, I just really wanted a real Marshall, so that is what I waited and saved for. I would imagine owning a real "Gibson" is very much the same. People want what people want, not always any good reasons, they just want it.
Yup.
I bought one of these brand new in 1982. It was an absolutely beautiful guitar, but I was a dumb punk, gigging constantly, and I looked at it as a workhorse, and consequently didn’t take care of it. Spiked belts and wristbands, overnights in the band bus in Minnesota winter, swapped out the tuners and strap pegs… Finish was not only worn away, but chunks of the wood were indented and chipped. Binding was cracked at every fret. It was just destroyed, but it was such a high quality instrument that it played beautifully - until the day I sold it a few years back. I don’t regret selling it because I bought a bunch of stuff I wanted with the money. But I do regret no longer having it. It was a special guitar.
You killed it.
Sounds like you did put it to very good use and that's what electric guitars are for.
@@TranceMasterJackno, he let it live
I am totally amazed that you sell guitars for a living and you disclose every ding.. dent.. And blemish that no one would ever see... And I wonder does that hurt his sales because of dings and dents.... Then I said no. If I had the disposable income to buy a cool Les Paul from Austin I would without any doubt because he is probably the most honest guitar salesman in history. Omg it's refreshing to see that level of honesty. Wow
82. Black beauty #50 is for sale right now at Manchester Music Mill in Manchester NH. I I played it this afternoon.
Fun Fact, Foo Fighters Chris Shiflett sayd on his Rig Rundown recently, that he had only one Guitar when he joined the Foos and was an 80's Black Beauty. He swapped the Pickups and got rid of the pickgard over the years in No Use for a Name and Foo Fighters, but for his 50th Birthday his bandmate and awesome human being Pat Smear Gave period correct Tim Shaw Pickups for him to put It on again. Now the Guitar is in exposed at the Rock n roll hall of fame in Cleeveland
A black les paul custom is a must have for me! The LP body and the elegant black and gold combination are just perfect!
Luckily I could get one and it’s very likely I’ll keep it with me forever.
But the custom headstock with the split diamond is absolutely indispensable.
Bought mine new for 900.00 when I was 21 at The Music Machine in Kennewick WA. I was told that there were to be less than 100 built but I don't know how many Gibson actually made. Sounds like there may be over 100. It was stamped on October 25th of 1982. Mine is 0056 and it came with flip out crank tuners and Tim Shaw pickups. Doesn't have the diamond posi lock buttons though. It's a fantastic sounding and playing guitar that my son and I have always loved and prefer to play.
The heritage 80 were gibsons first real homage to a burst . Best woods,no weight relief holes, small neck, 17 degree peg head angle, one piece neck and body made out of old mahogany...paf pickups, and top notch built quality . Actually the best reissue at the time...But they were not trying to duplicate them or to replicate a burst as you said. And they are the best gibson in their own right...and i had many gibsons...old and new custom shop and vintage.
Cheers
In 82’, a friend from school showed up at my home with a brand new 3 pickup, flip out winder tuners, Custom Black Beauty in that same case. He begged me to trade it for my Kramer Pacer Series, 1 hum axe.
After he threw in his 24” racing cruiser bike we had a deal. (We we’re both 13 years old)
Two weeks later his mother made such a fuss over the trade my mom made me trade back. (He let me keep the bike tho)
Do I regret trading back? No. He was my friend and still is. Plus I have a late 60’s LPCBB today.
I have one of these, had no idea it was a rare guitar. Have had it over 30 years now. I wish it was still in mint condition like the one in the video. I played the hell outta that guitar for many years and it shows, but it still plays excellent.
Restore it
Never be sorry that you played the everloving Sh!t out of that guitar 🎸… you gave it the life it was meant to have ! To me anyways an unplayed guitar is an unloved guitar that just sits around in a case collecting dust waiting for someone to give it life and love. ❤🎸To myself anyways I don’t consider playing scratches, small dents and dings to affect anything at all I kind of actually prefer those ones because it was played a lot for a reason over other guitars… it sounds and plays great 👍🏻 some of them sit around collecting dust because something about the build quality didn’t feel right for whatever reason to the person or many people who owned it over the years. When you pick up a gem you can just feel it, for whatever reason or a combination of reasons it just feels
🪄✨👌🏻. 30+ years back my friend had an Oxblood Les Paul and full JCM 800 -100 watt Marshall head and full stack with about 8 BOSS pedals ( far better setup than anyone else around had at the time and still better than what many people will ever own really , we were only 18 years old ) that he played like a madman every second he could , we all did love hanging out at his house drinking beers 🍻 and almost every weekend playing it and the setup he had it was straight rockstar level gear when most of us had strat knock offs and tiny practice amps and 1 or 2 off brand pedals etc). it just seemed perfect in every way as far as looks, sound and playability. He traded it for an Aria Pro 2 which appeared very nice at first … But about 3 to 6 months or so later the the neck developed a twist / warp and definitely affected how it played and sounded ( just felt weird and started buzzing etc… I think the guy who traded him knew the Aria was definitely defective and had it “repaired” cheaply knowing it probably was gonna warp out again eventually and made a quick trade for the Oxblood Les Paul ! 🤬. ) after a while my buddy started playing less and less until he didn’t play at all anymore and sold all his gear 😮 and guitars as well. Kinda sucked because out of all of us around at that time he was by far the most naturally gifted and also hard earned talented one of us by a good deal. After trading that Oxblood Les Paul things were really just never the same for him and eventually led to him quitting guitar playing all together. 😢
I had always thought the black beauty was the 3 pickup model. But that is because when I first started receiving musicians friend catalogs in the early 90s, they were selling black beauties in that flavor.
The “flaw” under the black light might not be a refinish. I have a Gibson LP that I cared so much and put a D’addario humidpak in the headstock pocket of the case. And it ends up touching the headstock and having some reaction with the nitro finish and shows different color under black light. It looks perfectly normal under normal light.
I left a cleaning rag in with my 87 Charvel that was in a case for about 20 years - the pearl white oxidized a nice yellow-ish tint, but it has a nice cleaning rag square that looks like that under a black light too
I’ve always had a fascination with anything vintage.. ESPECIALLY guitars. My grandfather gave me an early 80’s Squier Telly about 15 years ago and it’s still my daily driver. Vintage guitars are breath of fresh air in this world of crazy new products everyone is trying to sell you. Things flying through the production line and not getting properly QC’d. I guess i am just trying to tell y’all i’m an old soul even though i’m 29 lol. I definitely appreciate people like you that continue to keep these beautiful instruments alive and telling their stories. I don’t mind watching the new guitar videos, and i do find them interesting, but these vintage guitar videos are refreshing to see.
To me the best, most unique part of this channel is the high quality documentation of vintage, many times rare vintage guitars. I get it, I like watching the new guitar vids too. But the vintage vids deserve just as many views. C'mon Troglodytes, we can do better!
I own one of these guitars. I have number 0037. I’d guess 50 were made as well. I couldn’t get any documentation from Gibson other than it has Tin Shaw pickups and was made in Kalamazoo.
The mood of this video changed when he saw the touch up job on the bottom edge. Sometimes the guitar we get used, thru nobody's fault, can fall short of expectations. But give it time, and play it more, then it will surprise one day. Had a similar experience with my Robert Cray Stratocastor bought on Facebook. But now I love it, and love the price I got it for. It gets played quite often.
Bright sounding axe. Maple neck plus ebony fretboard the reason. Mahogany one piece neck has more depth and sustain.
Love these vintage guitar episodes! Got my first Norlin era guitar, a 1970 ES-335, because of your fantastic documentation of them. Keep up the great work and don't ever stop!
My 1st semester of college way, way back in '77 was spent playing an upside down, left handed Custom Black Beauty. That guitar was already well worn by then, played like a dream & cursed me to forever chase LP's. Thanks for stirring up the memories Trog !
I have a 93 Standard with gold hardware, regular beige binding with Grover tuners. This is the closest I’ve seen to mine, I’ve never seen A black standard with gold hardware other than mine till now.
I want a ebony standard 70s or 80s someday, I found an Epiphone ebony standard that has Gibson printed on the truss rod cover. Found it in a pawnshop and as soon as I touched it I new it was mine. I play it everyday without fail. I put a roller bridge on it and a tusk nut on it and that’s all the mods I’ve done to it. Original epi pickups and tuners tail piece oh I did change the knobs to amber top hats too… I really like it and for $225. It was a no brained. It did have a pretty good ding on the body by the input jack, looked like a drop from the strap coming loose probably. I also put a DiMarzio strap with the clip locks on it but I have those on all my guitars. That’s usually the very first thing that happens with a new to me guitar. I guess I don’t really have them on all of them but only a couple without. Thanks always grab my attention with ebony lps.
So strange seeing custom specs with a standard headstock! Trogs, you should make a vid demonstrating your set up process for Les Pauls (truss rod, pickup height, action, etc)!!
I worked at music store that stored all their unsold instruments in the original boxes, When l worked there from the early 80s til the 90s they already had a stash of unsold instruments. Boxes of new Music man amps, Ovation Legend&Balladeer 1st run guitars incl electrics, Gretch LP's, Electra guitars, Dan Armstrong FX, Pan japanese copies of teles and strats, Sunn amps etc etc etc. they didnt even want us putting them on the floor. l remember 60's models of Fender Coranado's, Jaguars, Mustangs etc, still new. l never found out what happened to all of them.
Man those original customs with the staple pickups look great. I bet they sound just as good
Man Trogly I love when you do these videos of these old Les Pauls and I’m sure all the Gibson lovers appreciate them too.
I was looking for a video before and decided to refresh my page and here we are
Applause!!!! Excellent purchase! Don't be disappointed with minor retouch, it won't decrease any resale value. Surprisingly, it sounds amazing!!!!
Those Shaw pickups are worth the price of admission. This is a beautiful guitar that has so many cool features for its time.
I think rock guitar. This is what I think. My brother, and I'm talking 70s here, use to buy a guitar from a pawn shop, get tight, sell it to a pawn shop,and a month later,buy another. Crazy loop,but if you can think of a 70s Les Paul,or Fender Strat or Telly, I got to play em. Exact model? Who knows? I was 13,14,15 ? So 73 to 77 maybe ? 🤔 To me,this is THE guitar. Awesome 👌
I love the weird oddity content too. I started playing in the late 1970s so for me the Norlin stuff was my first encounter with "in person Gibson guitars" - I remember lusting over a lot of Gibson and Fender instruments of the time. I remember you could buy a Gibson Les Paul Standard in Wine Red with a hardshell case for $539 in 1978 dollars from PMI, I visited a store here locally and VIVIDLY remember a special display with white lights shining down on three guitars - a Les Paul Custom in silverburst, an L6-S in Silverburst and an SG in Silverburst. It was nutty. I've obviously seen the Les Pauls in silverburst but never seen an L6-S or SG in silverburst ever again. This was 1981 or 2 I believe. I've seen some really interesting displays like when the RD series was new. Also around the time the Firebrands were out there was a similar 3 guitar display. A friend of mine bought the SG. I wonder where some of those guitars are today? That black beauty sounds killer with overdrive and jazzy without it. What a great guitar.
Absolutely love the vintage and historical Gibson's you document. They're a joy to see and really enjoy the lessons. Keep up the great work and thanks. 🤘🎸
#10 !
Love the Trapezoid inlays with the Ebony fingerboard.
I sometimes wish my LP Custom had an Ebony fingerboard, this one looks fantastic.
Great find Austin, Congrats.
Most customs have ebony unless it’s a custom classic?
Yeah, aren't they all ebony boards? (unless yours is richlite of course)
@@jubei7259 My 1986 Les Paul Custom has a Maple fingerboard! (photo in my Avatar)
The owner of the 90's Color series you bought also had Customs with the weird flip out winding tuners...PIA to try and keep from flipping out at any moment
Also, you could fix the excessive pickup selector switch holes if it bugs you.. Either cut up a toothpick (if thick enough) or make your own. Make it as long as the screw but a tad thick where you have to tap it in with a punch. Use (very little) wood glue. Paint the bare wood filler with a gloss black touch up paint. Wouldn’t be 100% but better than 87 holes. IMO.. 👏🏼 nice guitar!
While I agree with you 100% I would caution against Trogly’s doing any kind of light repair or wood working.
If you search back through his videos you'll see what I mean. Even Trogly himself will admit his repair skills are very limited.
I remember those! People were talking about it because of the name.
The ebony fret board and gold hardware is what I remember the most.
Thought it was well known at the time. Really liked it and never forgot it.
Beautiful find to me! Brings back a lot memories!
Nice score Austin this is a beautiful guitar! I have never heard of this one either. I remember a friend of mine having a beautiful black Les Paul Artisan back in the 1990s and to think at that time that guitar was maybe 10 years old or so. I wouldn't worry about the couple of minor imperfections you found on this guitar and one of them was only visible under the blacklight. I think you are right in stating that you will probably never find another one in this kind of shape. I really like how that bridge pickup sounded with some distortion l... nice job on the Scorpions Rock You Like a Hurricane etc! Interesting about the 5 piece neck and you have every right to clean the dust that has accumulated under the pickguard. I love those knobs by the way!
Apart of a couple of swirls on the top, I’d say it looks like a new old stock! You need luck to find this kind of guitar with this kind of conditions, and dang you’re lucky!
And so my streak dies 😔 I missed yesterday's episode... work was hell and I just crashed when I got home... still, I'm happy to see older gibsons back on the channel!
Greetings and well wishes from Utah man!
I second what Guitar TV said, grab your guitar and get some play-time in.
I’ve got an 82 Les Paul custom in what I would call great condition. This video doesn’t really do the Shaw’s justice. It sounds good on here, but in person, they’re just heavenly! Mine is actually 11lbs 10 oz! She’s a beast on the shoulder and just sounds phenomenal!
Hey Austin! Just an observation. I'd wager that could have a solid one piece mahogany body based on the round cavity route from the control panel leading to the toggle route. HOG (one pice manogany bodies) bodies have that distinct feature. My 57 reissue LP Custom has that. Otherwise it would be a square route in that area. Also, the absence of any seam lines on top could be a telltale sign. These are just observations when you were waving the guitar and having all the light hitting at different angles on top. But then it showed a tiny "triangle" of a possible maple top when you featured the bridge pickup cavity. Judging from the small exposure, it could maple or it could be just a mark underneath.
When I was a kid I wanted the custom because of the headstock emblem. Kinda sad this doesn't have it. Still an interesting combo of models!
This is the most beautiful LP! I love that it's a Standard w/ Custom features. This weekend I saw the guitarist from Stone Template Pilots playing a similar-looking Standard. It sounded great.
Far from me this is like that Gibson model that you brought out and you said was a mint condition that had chips and dings in it if you take a good look at that guitar it's full of swirl marks it's also got two nice deep scratches by the pickups on the top and the wear mark that's worn through the paint at the top of the guitar the top of the front so that would not be classified as mint
I looove vintage review! The studio custom xpl, the 70s v and the Steve Howe are my favorite video of yours!
1:07 That one gets me EVERY single time it makes an appearance. So beautiful!
🎶"Here I am! Rooock you like a hurricaaane!"🎶 😀👍 My cousin's band had opened for the Scorpions on numerous occasions back in the 70's 🙂
I find the fact that it's in "new" condition to be fascinating, since you're basically stepping into the shoes of someone who may have bought one from the floor of a music store nearly 40 years ago. As essentially a fresh-from-the-factory model, I'd love to see how this compares to a brand new Gibson LP Standard and see how it holds up.
you have taught me more about 80s Les Pauls in the last few days than i ever thought i wanted to know...thank you and great job!!!
Beautiful guitar! I've been looking for a black LP Custom from that era (late 70's to early 80's) and I could get past the lack of binding on the back and the trapezoid fretboard inlays but the headstock just looks wrong without the diamond inlay and binding! Lucky for me the rarity prices it right out of my consideration. Thanks Trogly.
Send it back or get money off. Not nearly mint as they described. The dealer knew that repair was there. They figured you’d never blacklight it.
Lol. I checked your page like half a second before you posted this.
It's kind of hysterical that you ended up playing a Scorpions tune and that I wound up hearing it just as I was reading the plot synopsis for a film in which that particular tune was featured: Race the Sun.
Synchronicity! Keep doing whatever you are doing it seems to be in synch
This guitar has to be one of my favorite of the show, it not only is a fantastic model but it looks it is in awersome shape !
Aesthetically, a nice guitar, but sound wise , I agree that it’s not a “good one”. It just doesn’t have the mojo like a Custom with T-tops !
@@adamscottv I agree on that one. Also it's the same thing if a really amazing guitar player is playing a guitar and everything sounds good, it's just the opposite.
@@adamscottv what a petty and gate keeping comment. You even added the ….. at the end to further emphasize your catty comment
Adam what a douche bag comment, everybody's different and we all have different playing abilities and talents. If one guy is better than another guy then so what?? I like Troglys videos and coverage of all the cool guitars he reviews for us all to enjoy. Sometimes it's better to leave your personal opinions to yourself, just sayin'.
@@jonathanhudak2059 But if it’s not being played to its full potential you won’t hear how good it “could” sound!
I recently got a nos 1991 studio lite, with the three piece flame amber top. Looks like it did leaving the factory. The case was nearly mint also. I'm guessing it stayed in a closet the past 30 years.
I had an Epiphone model with the 3 pickups in the mid 70''s.
I hate relic'd and old beat up guitars. Old ones in great shape are a special treat. Black Les Paul Standards are my favorite as my first guitar was a black Les Paul copy. So far this is my favorite guitar you have reviewed!
I love this guy so much. I need this to take my mind off this world . I cant wait to start playing more when I get out of this apartment.
I own an '82 blk LP Custom w/ gold hdwe. Bought it new. Has flip out winders, all stock. It's a player. Had a K sticker on case . Have been wondering if it was made in Kalamazoo, and if it has a maple neck.
I always thought that the Black Beauty designation was given to the three pickup models. Learn something new every day.
Same here.
If I recall Gibson only offered the black beauty back in the day with 3 pickups only. At no point did they actually make them with 2 humbuckers
I had one of the '82 CAR Standards back in the 1980s. This one looks and sounds the same, just exchange the paint and binding. I'm guessing they were the same guitar at their foundation.
I've always been a fender Guy, but I love guitars. I know so much of the fender history. I like that vintage videos on your channel, because I learn so much. I really think I need a Les Paul in my life.
Was a Tele devotee for ever - then I played a Les Paul - Wow! Nice having an LP around, especially if you're working
@@johnm3152 I've never owned one. Strats, Teles and Jaguar. Well and my Jagstang.
@@trevinbracken2889my numero uno electric was a 72' slimline with a built in ash tray - Cheers
Trogly, knocking it out of the park with a 1982 Custom Black Beauty to go along with his recently acquired 1987 Gibson US 1. Wow!! Not understanding why you think this guitar is "meh"? You actually sounded pretty good during the demo. The chords that you played on that guitar all sounded well intonated. I think you need to give the guitar another chance.
I love all your videos. New and vintage. And I really dig the vintage or used affordable videos
The new stuff is always fun to see but I’m more a fan on the vintage side of things and enjoyed that..Great job as always thanks dude!
I didn’t know this was a thing! That’s awesome! I have always wanted a black Les Paul from 82 because that was when I was born.
I wonder about that gold bridge. If the bridge is the original from 1982, I am thinking it should say "Made in West Germany" as Germany was not unified until 1989.
Got to add your playing is getting a lot better 👍👍👍
Loved the 19:30 gentle TLC.
I wasn't impressed until I heard her with distortion. She is definitely a keeper!
Imagine in the hands of a great player...
She? It's an object.
@@larryn2682 it's a term of endearment :)
I have one identical to this model, only mine has been played a bit, but looks to be in nice shape. Everyone always told me it was a weird one and never could tell me what it was worth. I always wanted to sell it but never knew what kind of price to put on it.
Most wholesome and comfy guitar channel on UA-cam.
Yeah, I like the older stuff don’t get me wrong, some of the new stuff is real nice but I lived three blocks away from the factory and I grew up with the Norlin axes I had a marauder in high school
something about the fret-board stands out as exceptionally beautiful.
These are my favorite type of videos, when I see something I had no idea existed.
The distortion on your amp is set way to high. Turn it back to about 2 or 3 it will sound better. Great guitar and congrats on snagging a keeper.
Should have checked to see if those are Tim Shaw pickups. My '82 LP Custom had 'em.
Hey Trogly, I have a similar(ish) guitar to this and this video made me want to message you about it. It’s not vintage (‘07 I believe), it has a third pickup and no pick guard from the factory and it does have an ebony fretboard, it also has binding on the front but none on the back and it has binding on the headstock, but the neat thing is that instead of a “Les Paul custom” Diamond or the Les Paul silk screen on the headstock, it has the SG crown.
It’s far from mint as I’ve played it for a lot of years but I am curious if you know what it really is.
I love the vintage & obscure. How else do we learn.And history still has things we can learn
Wish they would release this as a production model it looks much better than a black standard
Recently I have seriously been considering buying an "Old Hickory" Les Paul. If I do I'll have to send it over to Trogly. My family actually has a direct relation to Andrew Jackson (specifically his adopted son Andrew Jackson Jr.)
So connection rather than relation
@@holstorrsceadus1990 I suppose that's more technically correct. He never had any biological children but colloquially I think most people would call adopted children a relation.
@@AceSeptre having been in foster homes with adopted chidren I'm gonna have to disagree with that.
@@holstorrsceadus1990 Oh no!! Someone on the internet has a pointless disagreement about a colloquial turn of phrase. Please tell me how I can be just like you. I've always wanted to nitpick the comments of total strangers on the internet so the ten people who see the comment know how cool I am.
@@AceSeptre 🤔 well, complaining about my comment is a good way to start 😉
i love your vintage guitar vids. i also love your vids on modern guitars too. their should be a healthy mix
Nice. I wouldn’t mind the refinish issue. What a beautiful guitar. My cousin has the Ace Frehley edition. It is over 40 years old. Looks similar.
And wallmart forth
🍪
@@rondobondo6600 Wooo-Whoo. 🍪
Would like to see the 2000's koa Les pauls
There was a Guitar Of The Week three pickup version of this. If not the same it was very close.
37 seconds into the video...
I don't believe Austin will agree with the "Mint Condition" claim...lol
Rollin' the dice....
8:06 "Pretty much in mint condition"...lol
Btw, a Black Beauty HAS have a mahogany top because that is what ALL Black Beauty's are...lol
Yeah, he takes that designation very seriously. He is painfully honest about the condition of the instruments he reviews, one of the things I love about this channel.
Man, that thing sounds good. It needs to be played!
Bs I love the vintage guitars, I'm into the Epiphone custom shop limited edition models, might be why I want a Joe Bonamasa
It Was a flash in the pan ! Year's later 🔥
That guitar sounded awesome. Wicked rock tone!
B-Stock TROGLY IN THE HOUSE
There is a way to tell if weight releif has been applied without an X ray. You can use an Oscilloscope and an ultrasound probe. None destructive testing like the X ray but a lot less expensive.
I always thought the black beauty was the 3 pickup. I absolutely love a black lp custom in general, and the 3 pickups can be special. This one looks off to me without binding in the back.
My dream guitar black with fold LP.
I was wondering how it would sound if you could demo while playing Sludge Factory with the overdrive.
Ooo a Black Beauty, one of my favorite guitars
Why is it a Black Beauty? It looks like a black Les Paul Custom to me. Two separate things. 🙂
Norlin era are miss understood... my ‘79 3 PUPs Black Beauty is amazing!
Hello friends!
given your incredible knowledge of these tools, can I ask you which product do you use to polish it?
my black beauty of 73. when I pass the damp cloth it immediately becomes dull and hazy gray, it's horrible.
I do not know what to do.
thank you so much!!
sorry my english translated by google
Paolo, Italy