An incredible example of a dark back Goldtop that has a rare set of factory black plastics (coming from the Les Paul Custom of the time) as well as a factory inlaid 'stinger' on the back of the guitar, lined up with the strap button. We do not know why it was put there, but it seems to harken back to early Gibson mandolin ornamentation, and the employee who made it must have been fond of those designs. The finish is all original, sans the back of the headstock having been oversprayed, with plenty of checking and play wear throughout that gives it a great feel. Beyond its beautiful looks, this guitar sounds incredible too; above average, even in in the realm of Golden Era Gibson electrics. It has its original 'no sticker' PAF pickups (the bridge pickup having been re-soldered) that were put into guitars in the first few months after their inception, making these one of the earliest sets of PAF's you can get. The guitar has also been re-fretted and fitted with a new ABR-1 bridge. It plays immaculately, the neck being perfectly worn and comfortable to play with great action. Includes its original hard shell case.