Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!
I've seen two original Blacktop Deluxes from the early 70's. Both had black tops only the back was natural. I've also seen all black 335's from this time. Black seems to have been a custom order option from way, way back and seems to pop up in unlikely places sand times. Rare is not the word, exceedingly rare is more like it.
Black Deluxe/Standard LP's don't exist until '78... Maybe there were a few custom orders, but I remain skeptical. Any black early 70's Deluxe/Standard is (statistically) going to be a refin.