November 2009 \ Eye Candy \ Guitar of the Month \ 1978 Gibson The Paul (Standard)

1978 Gibson The Paul (Standard)

The Paul represent's Gibson's late-seventies search for a low-cost, high-quality Les Paul variant.
Premier Guitar November 2009

In 1978 Gibson decided to make a versatile, playable, solid guitar to compete with less expensive Strats and Teles. They didn’t introduce The Paul – a Deluxe and Standard – until 1979, and production ran until 1982. The guitar pictured here is all original, and plays like buttah! It was the 45th guitar made on Oct. 10, 1978 at the Nashville, TN factory. The body is walnut with a natural finish, exposed humbuckers, ebony fretboard and Tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece.

The Paul series of guitars have recently been rediscovered by guitarists looking for a vintage vibe, great tone and playability, but with a gig-friendly price and durability.

Guitar courtesy of Byrn Paul.

     

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Comments

 (13 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Soporifix
on 02/03/2012 		Just got one to replace the one I had in high school (1979) and sold for some reason. The one I have now is all original, plays beautifully, sounds sweet. Walnut, ebony fretboard, T-top pickups. A beauty, and a bargain -- $500, and it plays and sounds far better than any of the new LP studios hanging in the guitar shop for $1000+
Joey(Netherl ands
on 01/31/2012 		Our the following linck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M W_TcUA2wuI&feature=related
Joey(Netherl ands
on 01/31/2012 		Check out the "A Golden Day" cover from the Waterboys, thats the same guitar.
Joey(Netherl ands
on 01/31/2012 		I bought this guitar in 1979 in Holland, it was my first. I still have it and it's in perfect shape. It's was made on Dec. 28 1978 at the Nashville, TN factory. I had a lot of guitars, but this one is special, the way it plays ans the special sound. Years ago I saw the Waterboys playing with this guitar and tought, I'm a lucky guy to have the same.
Mississippi man
on 01/17/2012 		i have a 78 gibson the paul that looks exactly like this one but it has an additional switch for the humbuckers. i need to sell it to pay for my rent, i got fired from my job today
ben
on 01/14/2012 		i will give you 400 for your husband's paul and pay shipping bensmartnick at yahoo dot com
Vanessa
on 11/19/2011 		My husband has had his, 1978 The Paul since he was about 16, about 40 yrs, still in great shape and still sounds terrific, We were wondering if anyone has any idea of the value of this guitar?
Mark
on 10/27/2011 		As a senior in high school I bought a brand new '79 "The Paul." What a great guitar! I never should have sold it. So earlier this year I found one, and snatched it up. I'm thrilled to have it back! Sounds fantastic, plays great. The Paul has to be one of the most under rated guitars in existence. It's as good as anything I've ever played during my 40 years of playing the guitar.
Ron
on 07/20/2011 		I just bought a 1978 from GC used site. My friend had one of these in high school, I had a 64 blonde strat. I always wanted to play his Paul cause it was so easy to play. Now after 43 years I have my own. There's just something rock solid about them
zocko
on 12/30/2009 		I've had one of these for about 30 years....it kicks ass! I love it through my 130 watt Music Man amp.. a workhorse, light weight and great sound.



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