1974 Gibson Les Paul Signature Bass Goldtop Near-Mint & 100% Original w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1974 Gibson Les Paul Signature Bass in near-mint , 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Easily among the more unique and rarer instruments to ever sport the Les Paul branding/endorsement (and designed with direct involvement from the man himself), the Signature Bass was produced from 1973-79, with only 627 instruments made in total across the duration of that seven year run. Best associated with Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna), the Signature Bass is a long scale instrument with maple semi-hollow body construction, dual outputs (Hi and Lo impedance), a single Low Impedance pickup, and a gloss Goldtop nitro lacquer finish.

Ingenious in its construction, the Les Paul Signature Bass has a maple center block attached to the back to reduce feedback, yet there's purposeful space between the top and the block so that the top can vibrate freely and produce a tonal breadth more in-line with a fully hollow instrument. The single low impedance “Super Humbucking” pickup yields a broad, smooth thump with good string-to-string balance and a sweet treble growl. The three-way rotary Level knob was designed to match the instrument's tone with different amplifiers: the three settings are 50 (strongest signal, heaviest bass), 200 (increased upper midrange and treble frequencies, reduced fundamental) and 500 (maximum treble and reduced fundamental characteristics). This Les Paul Signature Bass weighs 8lbs 9oz, strung with fresh 45-100 strings and professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with comfortable action and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple (three-piece)
-Shape: Medium C, measuring .850” 1st fret, 1.005” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood, 12” radius, pearloid flared trapezoid inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, no wear
-Scale Length: 34”
-Nut: 1 5/8”
-Tuners: Clover buttons
-Serialization: Six-digit stamp dates to ‘74/’75
-Factory Markings: “K” and “Second” stamps on peghead denote Kalamazoo manufacture and Factory Second

Body Specs:

-Wood: Maple (maple centerblock)
-Pickups: Low impedance “Super Humbucker”
-Controls: Volume, Tone, Level Control
-Hardware: Three-point bridge with cover
-Plastics: “Gibson” molded pickup cover, gold speed knobs, one-ply cream pickguard

The gloss Goldtop nitro lacquer finish is extremely well-kept, exhibiting limited vertical checking on top, with a bit of faint scuffing on the back and just a couple tiny marks on the top and body perimeter. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean.

The original Gibson-branded hardshell case is included and equally as minty as the bass, with a clean silkscreen on the lid, functional latches and the original handle.