Epiphone debuts '70s-inspired LP Custom Blackback
(Dave Molter | Posted 2011-02-19)
In 1954 when Les Paul debuted his single-cutaway Les Paul Custom solidbody, the Gibson Company envisioned it as a "black-tie" guitar to be played on formal occasions. Thus the first LP Customs were black with gold hardware.
By the time the 1970s rolled around, however, an ivory finished "Blackback" LP Custom had become a popular alternative with many rockers -- maybe not as popular as the "Goldtop," but desired nonetheless.
As a tribute to this classy-looking model, Epiphone has released the Limited Edition 1970s Inspired Les Paul Custom Blackback. A bit lighter than the LP Standard with a mahogany body and carved mahogany top, the Blackback offers the same solid LP Sound, but with added warmth, and a carved mahogany neck in a "SlimTaper" D profiles makes flying across the fretboard a little easier.
The Blackback's body and headstock are bound in a decorative five-ply white/black/w/b/w binding, and a single ply white binding bounds the fingerboard, all of which beautifully complements the Antique Ivory top finish and Ebony Black back, sides and neck. The Blackback is loaded with an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stopbar tailpiece, a set upgraded to Epiphone LockTone hardware to hold bridge and tailpiece tight during string changes, and increase resonance and sustain while playing. A synthetic bone nut ensures superior sustain, while a set of premium gold-plated Grover™ tuners with a 16:1 gear ratio guarantees smooth and accurate tuning.
To give it all the power and sweetness of a vintage Les Paul Custom, the 1970s Inspired Les Paul Custom Blackback carries a pair of Epiphone Alnico Classic Open-Top humbucking pickups with custom gold "open-top"covers. These PAF-style humbuckers are routed via the traditional control section of an independent volume and tone knob for each pickup and a three-way selector switch.
Every Limited Edition 1970s Inspired Les Paul Custom Blackback comes protected in a black Epiphone hard case, includes full owner's and adjustment literature, and is covered by Epiphone's Limited Lifetime Warranty and 24/7/365 Customer Support.
Perhaps the best news of all is tha the Epi Blackback carries an MSRP of $1,165 USD, with case, making it affordable even for players on a budget.
From information on the Gibson website: www2.gibson.com.
