Introduced during 1973 and built until 1979 – the Norlin era – the Gibson Les Paul Signature Thinline Gold Top, is a rarity, and as a guitar has never been re-issued in any form. Approximately 1,400 Gold Top models were built, and under 100 in Sunburst. It was also available as a bass.

This model uses the construction of an ES-335, but its asymmetrical body has approximately the top half of a 335 and the bottom half of a Les Paul. The design, while unusual, works pretty well from both visual and practical perspectives. The body is Maple laminate with a Maple center block, and the neck is 3-piece Maple with a Volute and bound Indian Rosewood fingerboard. The headstock tilt-back is around 14 degrees, milder than Gibson’s now-standard 17 degree tilt.

Where the Gibson Les Paul Signature really differs is in its electronics which show a strong influence from Les Paul himself. The pickups are low impedance, and the guitar has two output jacks, one on the top and one on the side. The side jack is a TRS type for balanced low impedance, while the top jack is a standard TS type for high impedance, converted via an internal transformer. The controls include a standard 3-way pickup selector, master volume and tone controls, plus a phase (in/out) switch and a three-position rotary output level selector marked 50, 200 and 500. Position 50 seems to provide the fullest output, the 200 increases midrange and treble with reduced fundamental, while 500 emphasizes treble and reduced mids and fundamentals. This is not quite like the Varitone switch found on some ES-345 and 355 models – there is no choke. These pickups are made to be clean, clear and crisp.

This guitar remains in very good condition. Except for its tailpiece, which has been swapped for a finetune piece, all parts are original to this guitar. We gave it a full setup, and also gave the electronics some maintenance. Except for some minimal spots around the neckpocket, the lacquer on this guitar remains in very good condition. The serial number, however, is not fully readable. The guitar travels in its original case.

The Gibson Les Paul Signature is comfortable to play and its geometry brings to mind the 1961 Epiphone Casino, which had its neck joint at the 16th fret. This moves the first fret closer to the body, so low position playing is an easy reach.