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Identifying a Christmas Gift (Early 70s Norlin Les Paul Custom)

ASadDay

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Nov 14, 2016
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Hello everyone, I've finally jumped the gun and purchased a beautiful and stunning Les Paul Custom from the early 70s. It sounds beautiful and brings a tear to my eye every time I strum it.

If possible, I'm hoping to get an expert's view as to which year I've picked up. I've been informed it's a 1970 Gibson Les Paul Custom. The serial number 686324 along with the words "Made in USA" indicates that it was made between late 1970 to 1972. The pots are engraved NUBLE 054300KΩ. Here are some pictures I've taken:

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Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
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Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
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1,703
Sorry, wish I could help. She's beautiful though! Congrats, HNGD
jam.gif
and play her in good health!
 

Tom Wittrock

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Are you sure those pots are original?
If they are, then check the date codes on them. The numbers you quote are not the date codes.
 

ASadDay

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Nov 14, 2016
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Are you sure those pots are original?
If they are, then check the date codes on them. The numbers you quote are not the date codes.

To be honest, I'm not sure if these are the original pots. The only engravings on the pots are the ones on the side which read "NOBLE 054300KΩ A=A" on one of the pots, and "NOBLE 15A500KΩ A=..." for another. Each pot follows the engraving pattern of "NOBLE ****00KΩ A=[A, B, C, or D]"

There doesn't seem to be anything on the tops of each pot.

Should I be concerned?
 

Progrocker111

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Pots and caps definitely arent original. According to serial number and some other signs, your guitar was most probably made in very late 1971/very early 1972. Nice one :)
 

Kris Ford

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Jan 6, 2007
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To be honest, I'm not sure if these are the original pots. The only engravings on the pots are the ones on the side which read "NOBLE 054300KΩ A=A" on one of the pots, and "NOBLE 15A500KΩ A=..." for another. Each pot follows the engraving pattern of "NOBLE ****00KΩ A=[A, B, C, or D]"

There doesn't seem to be anything on the tops of each pot.

Should I be concerned?

NOBLE pots were found in BURNY MIJ made LPs..and those green chicklet caps are too! They are not junk though.

I love the MIJ stuff myself, I was all set to re-pot my Greco, but the taper is so nice, and they are really tight spec..so they are staying!
ON a Gibson, other than for originality, I'd use CTS...a 1971-2 dated set is gonna cost you though, (IF you can find an original harness with 137 71 XX codes) I'd get tight tolerance CTS 500K pots and either source original Sprague 160P Black Beauty caps, or use LUXE repros.)

But the MIJ set will be just fine until you find the CTS one, as you say, it brings a tear to your eye, they surely can't suck THAT bad LOL..
 

workerunit

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Jul 5, 2017
Messages
51
Burny pots and no fret nibs, seems somewhat strange for a Gibson, but I am no expert. Beautiful guitar in any case. Does it have a long neck tenon?
 

Big Al

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Burny pots and no fret nibs, seems somewhat strange for a Gibson, but I am no expert. Beautiful guitar in any case. Does it have a long neck tenon?

Not so strange. The frets SUCK on those. Fretless wonder frets are nothing more than thin flat wire bands inlaid on the board. Like lines on a fretless bass. Most people who played these guitars refretted them to larger more playable frets. There are lots of reasons someone may have changed the pots. The guitar appears legit to me.
 

workerunit

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Not so strange. The frets SUCK on those. Fretless wonder frets are nothing more than thin flat wire bands inlaid on the board. Like lines on a fretless bass. Most people who played these guitars refretted them to larger more playable frets. There are lots of reasons someone may have changed the pots. The guitar appears legit to me.


Many years ago I had a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom with a clown burst finish. It had what I believe to be fret less wonder frets, they were low and flat. I owned the guitar for many years, but never warmed up to it at all, It stayed in its case for years. I much preferred my Ibanez 540S LTD in those days, these days I am older and I am getting more into Les Paul's.

I asked about the neck tenon, because if the OP's guitar has a long neck tenon, it is my understanding that would be incorrect for that year of manufacture, and may indicate a replica Gibson. But as I said, I am no expert at all and I am sure that more knowledgeable individuals could add some insight. The OP's guitar looks legit to me as well except for the frets and pots. It is actually a very good looking guitar.
 

Big Al

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I believe all the early-mid 70s Les Pauls made in Kalamazoo had modified long tenon which ended at the pickup rout and not extending into the pickup cavity. A minor difference but nonetheless a noteable one. None had a "long tenon" AFAIK. That modified tenon is exactly the same in all the import ways as the Long Tenon except for the minor little lip that extends into the pickup cavity floor. It functions and sounds the same.
 
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workerunit

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I believe all the early-mid 70s Les Pauls made in Kalamazoo had modified long tenon which ended at the pickup rout and not extending into the pickup cavity. A minor difference but nonetheless a noteable one. None had a "long tenon" AFAIK.

My 76 Gibson LP Custom had a neck tenon as you describe.
 

Big Al

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My 76 Gibson LP Custom had a neck tenon as you describe.

If you can see it on the wall of the PU cavity below the fingerboard, it would be a Kalamazoo made Les Paul, which in 1976 wash't very common as most were made in Nashville after 1975. It should also have the ABR1 bridge if Kalamazoo made. Does it have a Maple or Mahogany neck, do you know. Most modified tenon Kalamazoo made Les Pauls had 3 piece mahogany necks, but they did do some rarer 3 piece maple ones. I really like the early 70;s Kalamazoo made Les Pauls, well actually all of the Kalamazoo made ones, but the sandwich body, mahogany neck 70-74's I really like. Some fellas here have some beauties!!!

I'd like to know more about your Les Paul as it sounds pretty cool and unusual for that time. Are you sure about the date? Is it a Standard, Deluxe or Custom? Stock? What amp do you favor with it? I still have my 73 gold top Deluxe I bought new at the HOG and I still love that guitar. Spill the beans, pictures!!!!:hank:hank
 

Big Al

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By the way, brother THAT IS A SMOKING COOL CHRISTMASS GIFT!!!!!!!!!:dude::yah:salude
 

workerunit

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If you can see it on the wall of the PU cavity below the fingerboard, it would be a Kalamazoo made Les Paul, which in 1976 wash't very common as most were made in Nashville after 1975. It should also have the ABR1 bridge if Kalamazoo made. Does it have a Maple or Mahogany neck, do you know. Most modified tenon Kalamazoo made Les Pauls had 3 piece mahogany necks, but they did do some rarer 3 piece maple ones. I really like the early 70;s Kalamazoo made Les Pauls, well actually all of the Kalamazoo made ones, but the sandwich body, mahogany neck 70-74's I really like. Some fellas here have some beauties!!!

I'd like to know more about your Les Paul as it sounds pretty cool and unusual for that time. Are you sure about the date? Is it a Standard, Deluxe or Custom? Stock? What amp do you favor with it? I still have my 73 gold top Deluxe I bought new at the HOG and I still love that guitar. Spill the beans, pictures!!!!:hank:hank

I sold the guitar on ebay to a guy in Russia several years ago. He sent me a short video of him playing it (very well) at a very large event somewhere in Russia. It was a 1976 Kalamazoo made Gibson, I believe it said that on the head stock decal, either that or I figured it out from the serial number. The neck was three piece, I believe it may have been maple, but I cannot be sure, it was a long time ago. It had a Ebony fret board with square inlays. The end of the neck was visible in the neck pick up pocket, but it was not a long tenon. It was a Les Paul Custom in red sunburst (clown burst). It was very heavy, and very well used, but not abused definitely a player grade instrument. I paid $550.00 for it around 1990. It had a Gibson Chainsaw Protector case with one broken latch.

The guy in Russia said he re fretted it and put a mastodon nut on it and redid the electronics, and he was very happy with it. When I bought it someone had put a Bartoline preamp in it and three coil tap switches. I really did not care for the tone, it always sounded really over saturated with that pre amp in it, one of the reasons it never really got played by me, and I tend to play metal. If you are really interested, I may be able to find the pics I took for the ebay ad. However I do not know how to post pics on this website. I would imagine that it is now worth much more than I sold it for back in 2008 for around $1,700.00 US. I wished I had it back, but I lost my job in the great recession and I had to make the mortgage payment. PM me if you want as I do not want to derail the OP's thread.
 

Progrocker111

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Many years ago I had a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom with a clown burst finish. It had what I believe to be fret less wonder frets, they were low and flat.

No, fretless wonder frets were not only flat (nearly square shaped), but especially very thin. They definitely lasted only until early 1975 on Les Paul Customs.

There simply arent 76s with them. 76s had still flat and fairly low, but much wider frets (still higher than regular fretless wonder frets though). :)
 

workerunit

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No, fretless wonder frets were not only flat (nearly square shaped), but especially very thin. They definitely lasted only until early 1975 on Les Paul Customs.

There simply arent 76s with them. 76s had still flat and fairly low, but much wider frets (still higher than regular fretless wonder frets though). :)


Mine were low, flat and wide, so I guess no fretless wonder then.
 

AlexandraMcLean

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Mar 24, 2021
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I would also like to receive such a gift for Christmas. I used to play electric guitar and honestly miss those days. It's just that my husband never gave cool gifts. He constantly gave me boring or unnecessary things while I give him expensive gifts. He recently gave me the best custom keychain bobbleheads. These are funny figurines with big heads. I was shocked by such a gift. Usually, he gave me flowers or chocolate, but this time he made an effort and gave me an original gift. I hope that his next gift will be even cooler.
 
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