1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Elite, Sunburst
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
Summary
Model: Les Paul Heritage Elite
Year: 1981
Finish: Sunburst
Modifications: Strap buttons, switch tip
Repairs: None
Weight: 4.32
Case: OHSC
Fingerboard: Ebony
Body Wood: Mahogany
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Tuners: Grover
Pickups: Correct Tim Shaw Humbuckers
Hardware: Nickel
Neck Profile: Medium C
Nut Width: 42.7
Neck Depth 1: 21.7
Neck Depth 12: 24.8
Pots: Correct CTS
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Elite, Sunburst
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
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1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Elite, Sunburst
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Description
The Gibson Les Paul Heritage 80 series was introduced in 1980 at a time when Gibson was looking to reconnect with its golden era. Players had been clamouring for something closer to the revered late-50s Bursts, and the Heritage 80s were Gibson’s response offering a twist on the original design. This 1981 Les Paul Heritage Elite is an excellent example, finished in a warm sunburst that shows off a striking quilt Maple top. The model features a solid Mahogany body, a single-piece Mahogany neck, and an Ebony fingerboard with trapezoid inlays - a distinguishing feature of the 'Elite' variant. The nickel hardware includes a Nashville bridge, stop tailpiece and Grover tuners, with everything original apart from retrofitted straplocks and a replacement switch tip (the original is retained in the case).
One of the main talking points of these guitars is, of course, the pickups. Gibson engineer Tim Shaw was tasked with developing humbuckers that recaptured the character of the original late-50s PAFs, and his resulting humbuckers are widely regarded as the best attempt Gibson had made since the originals. With correct winding patterns, attention to magnet composition, and a voicing that is airy, balanced, and dynamic, they’ve become highly sought after in their own right. This guitar carries a matched pair dated to 1981, coupled with the correct plate-mounted CTS pots, caps and wiring all housed in the factory shielding cover.
The guitar is in excellent overall condition. The frets have been dressed over the years but still play well, and the neck has a comfortable medium C profile. Tonally, it delivers everything you’d hope for from the revered Shaw humbuckers - bright and articulate, yet warm and full, with a good dynamic range. The Ebony fingerboard adds snap and definition to the sound while also giving the guitar a refined look. This isn’t the lightest Les Paul you’ll come across, but it feels solid, resonant, and rewarding to play.
Complete with its original brown case and tags, this is a superb example for the player or collector.
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Summary
Model: Les Paul Heritage Elite
Year: 1981
Finish: Sunburst
Modifications: Strap buttons, switch tip
Repairs: None
Weight: 4.32
Case: OHSC
Fingerboard: Ebony
Body Wood: Mahogany
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Tuners: Grover
Pickups: Correct Tim Shaw Humbuckers
Hardware: Nickel
Neck Profile: Medium C
Nut Width: 42.7
Neck Depth 1: 21.7
Neck Depth 12: 24.8
Pots: Correct CTS
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
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