Gibson / Les Paul Artist / 1979 / Fireburst / Guitar
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The Les Paul Artist model was an interesting yet short-lived Les Paul made during the late ‘70s. The prototypes for the Les Paul Artist were developed in 1978 and used a circuit of active electronics originally developed for Gibson's RD Artist model.
It is a rather handsome guitar with some unique features:
- All Artists were made in Nashville.
- The Artist has a unique peghead logo with the letters "LP" in script style, a gold truss rod cover with the "Les Paul Artist" inscription, brass nut
- TP-6 fine tuning tailpiece, Nashville bridge, gold hardware
- Five-piece laminated maple neck with volute, block fingerboard inlays, multi-ply binding on the top of the body, neck, and peghead
- Antique Fireburst, Antique Sunburst, or Ebony finish
- Two potted gold plated Gibson Humbucking pickups, a bass, treble, and one master volume pot, black speed knobs, three mini-toggle switches for compression, expansion, and brightness, gold jack plate
The tone controls are active, with a notch in the midway ("0") position. With the tone controls at this mid-point, the sound of the Artist is close to a traditional Les Paul tone. The tone controls below this mid position (selections numbered 1-5) or above mid position (also numbered 1-5) actively "cut" or "boost" the tone, respectively. The active circuitry is enabled (and battery drain occurs) when a cord is plugged into the guitar's phone jack.
The Artist is a unique sounding guitar, with many tonal variations. With the tone controls in the "boost" position, the guitar takes on a unique tone that seems suited for jazz or chord work with shimmering arpeggios. It can be shaped to sound very "Fender-esque" or very dark and woody with the adjustment of the tone controls and switches. The compression feature greatly increases the volume of the guitar in addition to working like a normal outboard compressor.
This 1979 Artist has a Fireburst finish. It’s fully original and, apart from a few finish harlines around the neck laminations, in a near mint condition. The electronics work without issues. The wide ‘fretless wonder’ frets are barely worn and perfectly playable. The original hardshell case is included.
The Les Paul Artist is another unique and special guitar in the history of Gibson Les Paul models, and can appeal both to collectors and players looking for something different in the Les Paul family.
Dirk Witte Music Store, Netherlands 
You have found the Dirk Witte Vintage Shop on Vintage and Rare!
Dirk Witte is a family owned music store that was founded in 1939 on the exact same spot where it is today, right in the old city center of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We deal in new, used and vintage musical instruments and gear.
You'll find a selection from our vintage inventory on this page, but we generally have a lot more in stock. So, if you can't find what you are looking for here, please click on the website link or contact me through email: vintage@dirkwitte.nl Of course I am also available for any questions you might have about our instruments.
Thanks,
Martijn Vink / Dirk Witte - Vintage Shop Manager
Payment Policy:
To negotiate price, shipping or payment options please send a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. This page is managed from Tue-Fr from 10-18h CET so be aware that messages or offers sent during the weekend may not be answered until the following Tuesday. We accept payments through Paypal or direct bank transfers. We also support creditcard payments through multisafepay.
Return Policy:
We strive to provide in-depth descriptions of our items before shipping them long distance and try to avoid any confusion about playability or condition. Feel free to ask us questions about our items. Should you feel an item you bought from us is not up to your expectations please contact us as soon as possible. We accept returns within 8 days after delivery but will charge the return shipping costs.
Shipping Policy:
We are located in the Netherlands and items are shipped from there. Shipping rates can vary widely for different weights and sizes of items, especially when shipping overseas. We charge only actual shipping costs with no S&H fee. Please contact us for an accurate shipping quote.
