1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Elite, Sunburst

The Gibson Les Paul Heritage 80 series was introduced in 1980 at a time when Gibson was looking to reconnect with its golden era. Players had been clamouring for something closer to the revered late-50s Bursts, and the Heritage 80s were Gibson’s response offering a twist on the original design. This 1981 Les Paul Heritage Elite is an excellent example, finished in a warm sunburst that shows off a striking quilt Maple top. The model features a solid Mahogany body, a single-piece Mahogany neck, and an Ebony fingerboard with trapezoid inlays - a distinguishing feature of the 'Elite' variant. The nickel hardware includes a Nashville bridge, stop tailpiece and Grover tuners, with everything original apart from retrofitted straplocks and a replacement switch tip (the original is retained in the case).
One of the main talking points of these guitars is, of course, the pickups. Gibson engineer Tim Shaw was tasked with developing humbuckers that recaptured the character of the original late-50s PAFs, and his resulting humbuckers are widely regarded as the best attempt Gibson had made since the originals. With correct winding patterns, attention to magnet composition, and a voicing that is airy, balanced, and dynamic, they’ve become highly sought after in their own right. This guitar carries a matched pair dated to 1981, coupled with the correct plate-mounted CTS pots, caps and wiring all housed in the factory shielding cover.
The guitar is in excellent overall condition. The frets have been dressed over the years but still play well, and the neck has a comfortable medium C profile. Tonally, it delivers everything you’d hope for from the revered Shaw humbuckers - bright and articulate, yet warm and full, with a good dynamic range. The Ebony fingerboard adds snap and definition to the sound while also giving the guitar a refined look. This isn’t the lightest Les Paul you’ll come across, but it feels solid, resonant, and rewarding to play.
Complete with its original brown case and tags, this is a superb example for the player or collector.