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Kalamazoo Blue Gibson's Custom Color Les Pauls By Larry Meiners

Contrary thinking can be very rewarding. That is certainly the case with custom color vintage guitars produced by Fender during the 1950s and 1960s. Vintage Fender Stratocasters, Telecasters and other models with standard issue finishes of that period are well represented in the guitar marketplace. However, the very high demand and higher prices seem to be reserved for the custom color instruments. These colorcasters evoke strong emotions in the vintage buyer of today and their price tags seem to be ever rising like new cars and movie tickets. When these flashy instruments were sold new, less demand for these fancy, higher cost finishes created less supply. Today, the limited supply of custom color vintage Fender guitars and basses are being pursued by a large group of buyers pushing up demand and raising prices. Do you remember the Fender International Color Stratocasters produced over twenty years ago? This series of instruments were painted in wild colors named after exotic locations around the globe, such as Maui Blue, Monaco Yellow, Capri Orange and others. Do you remember the custom color Les Paul Standard models of that era? While we expected Strats to be finished in fancy custom colors, we visualize 1970s and 1980s Les Paul guitars mostly as sunbursts, black, white or goldtops. During 1980, Gibson produced the Les Paul Standard model in several unusual finish colors, including blue and green. It is interesting to note that a established dealer suggested that this blue was originally called Bahama Blue by Gibson. If that is a fact, it would be a curious coincidence that the Fender and Gibson colors were named after worldly places at about the same time. The Fender International Color Strats and these Les Pauls were produced during 1980, although most of these Strats show a S9XXXXX (1979) serial number on the headstock. Both of these variants were short lived. Gibson also produced the Flying V and Flying V2 of this period with this blue finish, which is unlike the famous Pelham Blue. In the case of the V2, sparkles (similar to mirrored confetti) were added for a wild variation of this finish. These colorful Les Pauls are finished on the top, back, sides and neck in these solid, non-metallic hues. Specifications for these Standards from 1980 included: a volute (started in 1970 and used until 1981), Made in USA stamped on back of large headstock, Standard engraved on truss rod, creme plastic parts, chrome metal parts, stamped serial number pickups, Gibson logo tuners and gold speed knobs. An interesting feature of this era Les Paul is observed when the control cavity plastic cover is removed. All four of the potentiometers (volume and tone) are affixed to a metal plate which is covered by a metal shield. Apparently, this hardware was used to automate the assembly process as well as provide for reduction of interference from noise sources. This style of construction was later dropped by Gibson. High-end Japanese Les Paul replica guitars from the 1970s have used a similar metal plate. The hard shell case sold with the guitars were black with the Gibson logo in silver and a red plush lining. In 1980, a Les Paul Standard carried a list price of about $850. Kalamazoo was the production home for these Les Paul guitars as verified by the serial number. Digits 6-8 with numbers less than 500 and produced before July of 1984 were made in the Kalamazoo factory, where all the great 1950s Les Pauls were produced. Gibson built many fine instruments in that plant over the years and an era of guitar history was ending just as another was beginning. The company moved production from Kalamazoo to their Nashville plant where they build great Les Paul models today. During the early to mid-1980s, the new guitar market experienced a sales decline, perhaps due to back-to-back recessions, high interest rates and a segment of the baby boomer generation growing up, working full-time and raising families. As an aside, it seems many of these baby boomer era guitar buyers are now pursuing the instruments of their youth and are in part driving some of the growth of today's vintage market. At any rate, the parent company of the Gibson Division decided to sell it and a group of investors purchased it during January, 1986. Gibson's history of custom color finishes during the 1960s, on other than Les Paul guitars, include the SG, Melody Maker, Firebird, ES-335, Trini Lopez and other models in Pelham Blue, Cardinal Red, Burgundy Mist, Metallic Gold, among others. Pelham Blue is prevalent and has a tendency to fade into a shade of green over time when exposed to various environmental factors (light, heat, humidity, etc...) as the clear coat fades. Production runs of Les Paul guitars with custom colors (not including one of a kind or custom shop issues) were available in 1974, 1982 and 1990. The 1974 Deluxe came in blue and red sparkle finishes on the top of the guitar only and equipped with mini-humbucker pickups. Over 7000 Deluxe models of all variations were produced in 1974 although the sparkle finish models seem to be rare and carry a higher market value that the regular issue madels. Many Deluxe models were routed for full-size humbucker pickups during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1982, Gibson produced a limited number of blue and red metallic finish Les Paul Standard models. They were completely finished over the entire guitar in those attractive colors and were fitted with gold hardware. Most of these models had a fretboard made from ebony and some models were fitted with Gibson tuners containing enclosed string winders which flip out from the button end. A second four digit serial number was stamped on the headstock below the regular serial number. During 1990, Gibson introduced the Limited Colours Edition Les Paul. Several transparent colors were applied to the guitars maple tops, including purple, blue, yellow and brown. Research indicates that the production runs were probably 200 of each color. Regular production Les Paul Classic models of this era were also finished in similar see-through colors. However, the Limited Colours Edition is easy to differentiate from other Les Paul models. Looking at the base of the serial number side of the headstock, a circular decal is visible below the clear lacquer coat. This decal states that the instrument is a Limited Colours Edition, but does not contain any secondary serial number. So, if you are a Les Paul guitar fan with a desire for colorific tones, check out these interesting models. Copyright © 2003 Larry Meiners All Rights Reserved