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Average Price: $3,000
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Description
Dive into the heart of rock history with the 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Sunburst, a guitar that stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Gibson's craftsmanship. Despite being crafted in a period marked by debate over quality, this model emerges as a shining example of the iconic Les Paul growl and robust construction. Its Tobacco Sunburst finish not only captures the eye but also encapsulates the spirit of an era where music was as rich and varied as the colors of this remarkable instrument.
Key Features:
- Iconic Les Paul growl, offering that classic, unmistakable sound
- Durable and road-tested construction, a true workhorse for any musician
- Tobacco Sunburst finish, providing a visually stunning appearance
- Crafted during the late '70s, a period known for its unique approach to guitar manufacturing
Product specs
| Brand | Gibson |
| Model | Les Paul Custom |
| Year | 1970 - 1985 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Shape | Single Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Stop-Bar |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, Gold, Red, Silver, Tan, White |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Fretboard Material | Ebony, Maple |
| Fretboard Radius | 12" |
| Model Family | Gibson Les Paul |
| Model Sub-Family | Gibson Les Paul Custom |
| Neck Construction | Set-Neck |
| Neck Material | Mahogany, Maple |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Nut Width | 1.6875" |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | HH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Series | Gibson Norlin Era |
| Top Material | Maple |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile of the Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom like?
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The Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom typically features a medium to thick neck profile, often referred to as a "C" shape, providing a solid and comfortable grip suitable for a variety of playing styles.
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How do the pickups on the Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom affect its sound?
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The Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom is equipped with dual humbucking pickups, delivering a rich, warm tone with plenty of sustain, making it versatile for genres ranging from rock and blues to jazz.
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Is the Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom suitable for advanced players?
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Yes, the Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom is well-suited for advanced players due to its high-quality build, versatile sound, and professional-grade features, making it a favorite among seasoned musicians.
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What materials are used in the construction of the Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom?
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The Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom features a solid mahogany body with a maple top and an ebony or maple fretboard, contributing to its robust tone and sustain.
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How does the Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom compare to other Les Paul models?
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The Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom is known for its distinctive looks and sound, featuring ornate appointments and a heavier build compared to other Les Paul models, which often results in a more pronounced sustain and tonal depth.
Videos
Rabea Massaad
1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom | I FINALLY FOUND THE ONE!!!
1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom | I FINALLY FOUND THE ONE!!!
Rabea Massaad
"Pick of the Day" - 1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom and Matchless Chieftain
Emerald City Guitars
1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom | Guitar of the Day
Normans Rare Guitars
The Quintessential Custom | 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Sunburst | Review + Demo
The Trogly's Guitar Show
Guitar of the Day: 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom | Norman's Rare Guitars
Normans Rare Guitars
Guitar of the Day: 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom | Norman's Rare Guitars
Normans Rare Guitars
"Pick of the Day" - 1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom w/Factory PAF
Emerald City Guitars
1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom Returned to Dad for His 50th Birthday || ViralHog
ViralHog
What are the next guitars to shoot up in value? Featuring a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Jeremy Sheppard
1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black with Maple Fretboard www.eddievegas.com Eddie Vegas.
eddievegas1
How to Tell It's Factory Chrome | 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom Cherry Sunburst | Review + Demo
The Trogly's Guitar Show
This is a Really Nice One... | 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Sunburst | Review + Demo
The Trogly's Guitar Show
1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black / GuitarPoint - Vintage
GuitarPoint
Gibson Les Paul Custom 1981 (Black Beauty), clean sounds only
timsrednavnaj
1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom - Tobaco Sunburst / GuitarPoint Maintal / Vintage Guitars
GuitarPoint
1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty' Demo / Review
Dom Winter
1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom
solidbodyguitar
1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom - White / GuitarPoint Maintal / Vintage Guitars
GuitarPoint
1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silver and Matchless Nighthawk Reverb
Emerald City Guitars
My Favorite Guitar In The Collection - 1981 Norlin Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
Marty5150
Gibson Les Paul Custom from 1971 presented by Vintage Guitar Oldenburg & Tobias Hoffmann
Vintage Guitar Oldenburg
Gibson Les Paul Custom tobacco sunburst 1981 presented by Tobias Hoffmann @ Vintage Guitar Oldenburg
Vintage Guitar Oldenburg
Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty 1971 Vintage | Demo by Paul Audia
Guitar Sauce
Gibson Les Paul Custom 1971
Vintage Guitar Oldenburg
1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst Gold Pro Setup
Lawman Guitars
'71 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
Imperial Vintage Guitars
1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Burst Sunburst - For Sale
Reverend Guitar Man
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom (1970-1985).
Build quality
Features and functionality
User experience
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Owners advocate keeping the guitar original, as modifications can significantly decrease its value.
Source -
The guitar is highly valued for its historical significance and build quality, making it a worthy addition to any collection.
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Owners of Norlin-era Les Paul Customs often highlight the guitar's heavier weight as contributing to a stable playing feel, unlike lighter models that may feel unbalanced.
Source -
Owners report that Norlin-era Les Paul Customs can weigh over 12 lbs, contributing to a substantial playing feel that some players prefer.
Source
Comparisons
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The Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson Custom” lineup is praised for its Gibson pickups and accurate headstock, although it weighs less and has a thicker neck than Norlin Customs.
Source -
The Gibson Adam Jones Silverburst is noted for having similar specs to Norlin-era Customs, making it a viable alternative for Tool fans.
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A 1980s Standard is often a "3-top," differing subtly from the Custom, but retaining the era's distinct sound.
Source
Value and pricing
Other
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Epiphone's Adam Jones 1979 signature model includes a volute, aligning more closely with the Norlin-era design, but with a hotter bridge pickup.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 5 Ratings
64
The "GOTO" for Everything !
Barring acoustic sets, and material specifically written on the 12 string, the Les Paul Custom is the "GOTO" guitar hands down. The action and intonation is still superb after all these years. The finish (Vintage tobacco sunburst) has worn down in spots as it should be, but the playability and appearance remain phenomenal. This guitar was built to last. Thank You to Les Paul, and Gibson!
3485
I would totally love to see this!
123
Weapon Of Choice
This guitar was passed down to my dad from his grandfather. Once I started playing in bands and gigging seriously, he handed it down to me. This instrument helped fueled my love for guitar and music as a whole
Artist usage
Add artist
Frank can be seen playing a Tobacco Sunburst Les Paul Custom in this picture, I've seen this mistaken as an aged silverburst before but they don't tend to age just as orange as the Tobacco Sunburst finish
Graham Coxon uses a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom Tobacco Sunburst with black Gibson Speed Knobs and gold hardware, as seen in the image and more photos/videos from that tour
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Rivers Cuomo uses a Tobacco Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Custom, as mentioned in the "1995-1996 - Pinkerton" section of the article on Weezerpedia. Several photos show Rivers playing this guitar during the sessions for Pinkerton, and the headstock indicates it is a custom model.
rabeaafro So when I was at @normansrareguitars - I couldn’t leave without this stunner! It’s a 1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom... i was originally looking for a 78 but this came into Norm’s about 20 minutes before we arrived. It’d had a previous neck break repair, the tuners had been swapped plus a refret just under a year ago. Needless to say it played and sounded stunning and I couldn’t be happier with this find! I feel like this completes the iconic guitars one needs in the studio. Maybe a Gretsch Penguin is the last piece of the puzzle though? One day.... #gibson #lespaul #1971 #lespaulcustom #normansrareguitars
Matthew Followill used a Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom (1970-1985) during his early years with Kings of Leon, specifically from 2003 to 2004. This guitar is prominently featured in live performances and appears in four music videos: "Red Morning Light," "Molly's Chambers," "Wasted Time," and "The Bucket," as evidenced by an image showing Followill with the Les Paul during 2003's T in the Park.
Joe used an ebony Les Paul Custom for his live performance of Rocky Mountain Way.
Lindsey Buckingham is seen using what appears to be a 1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom in black during the 1977 Rumours Tour, particularly on "Monday Morning." This guitar was later replaced by an early '50s Telecaster in Nashville the same year but continued to serve as a backup to a white Les Paul Custom until the tour concluded in November 1977. The image on Tumblr provides visual evidence of this usage.
On the front cover of the Humble Pie album “Live ‘81” Steve has a 1971 Custom black Gibson Les Paul with a cream white pick-guard and gold trim/hardware. The humbucker plates are removed.
Joe Hottinger is confirmed to own a Gibson Les Paul Custom 1982, as evidenced by an Instagram video posted by @halestormrocks on November 11, 2025. In the video, Joe showcases his new guitar, which he acquired while on tour in Zurich.
Jerry Reed seemed to have a Les Paul Custom in Tobacco Burst in the late 70s. Here, he is playing the guitar on the Marty Robbins Spotlight. Along with that, it is featured on the album cover of Half Singin' & Half Pickin' and Live! featuring Hot Stuff.
This premier guitar article states that "Coming in a close second is a 1981 Les Paul Custom." regarding James' favourite guitar on tour.
Album Usage
The Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom (1970-1985) has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson 'Norlin Era' Les Paul Custom (1970-1985), it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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