Gibson Les Paul Custom Norlin Era

About the Gibson Les Paul Custom Norlin Era

The Norlin-era Custom has a carved maple top on mahogany, a bound ebony board with pearl blocks, multi-ply binding, gold hardware, a 24.75 inch scale and a 1 11/16 inch nut. Dated 1970 to 1974 examples have the layered pancake back, a three-piece mahogany neck with a volute, T-Top humbuckers, Kluson waffle-back tuners and witch-hat knobs. Most from 1976 to 1983 have a three-piece maple neck. Gibson-branded Schaller tuners and a Nashville bridge appear from 1976 to 1979, Tim Shaw humbuckers (a PAF-style redesign) from 1979 to 1984, and tuners with a fold-out crank from 1982 to 1984. Dated 1970 to 1973 examples were built in Kalamazoo, 1979 to 1982 ones in Nashville.

Weighed 1970 to 1974 examples run about 9.3 to 10.8 lb (4.2 to 4.9 kg), most under 10 lb; 1976 to 1985 ones about 9 to 11.2 lb (4.1 to 5.1 kg), most over 10. Necks are 0.79 to 0.86 inch deep at the first fret, filling out to about 1.0 to 1.06 inch at the 12th on 1970 to 1973 ones and 0.96 to 0.97 on 1979 to 1985 ones. Early six-digit serials give only a range, so pot codes date them; from 1978 the serial's first and fifth digits give the year. Early cases are purple lined, later ones the chainsaw case.

Look for a repaired headstock break. Many have been refretted with taller wire than the low, flat originals; Grover tuners, locking bridges, Duncan or DiMarzio pickups and new pots are common swaps, so ask for the original parts. The pickguard is often missing.