Famous Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Guitar Players

The Gibson Les Paul Deluxe, introduced between 1968 and 1969, evolved from the Special model and featured mini-humbuckers, also known as “New York” humbuckers. Initially, it was not popular, as the pickups were adapted to fit P-90 cavities. The Deluxe standardized production for Gibson’s U.S.-built Les Pauls and initially featured a one-piece body and a slim three-piece neck. By late 1969, a multi-piece body design was introduced, along with a reinforcing neck volute.

Early 1969 models lacked the dot over the “i” in the Gibson logo, which returned by late 1969 along with a “Made In USA” stamp. Between 1972 and 1974, a limited number of Deluxe Gold Tops with full-size humbucker T-tops were produced. The majority of Deluxes manufactured until 1974 were Gold Top, but new colors emerged in 1975, which were less valued. In late 1975, the neck construction switched from mahogany to maple, lasting until the early 1980s, when it returned to mahogany. The body also transitioned back to solid mahogany in the late 1970s. Ultimately, the Deluxe model was discontinued in 1985.