Gibson Vintage 1997 Les Paul Custom Wine Red Yamano Export w/ Original Case

Up for sale is this stunning 1997 USA Gibson Les Paul Custom in a beautiful Wine Red finish. Built during the sought-after 1990s “good wood” era, it features a proper ebony fingerboard—unlike the Richlite used on some more recent models. This guitar is completely original and to full factory specification, including the pickups and tuners. It weighs a comfortable 4.2kg, which is excellent for a ’90s Les Paul Custom. The neck has a fuller profile, reminiscent of a 1959 carve, possibly even leaning toward a ’58—substantial but very comfortable. This old Custom delivers serious tone—huge clarity, punch, and that unmistakable midrange growl these guitars are known for. It offers great action and balance, with excellent resonance both unplugged and through an amp. Construction includes a solid maple top on a mahogany body, complemented by beautiful mother-of-pearl inlays set into the ebony fingerboard. All hardware is gold.
 
Loaded with Gibson’s 490R and 498T humbuckers, it covers a wide tonal range with ease. The 490R neck pickup, featuring Alnico II magnets, offers a Modern Classic take on the PAF sound—warm, articulate, and rich, with a slightly enhanced midrange that cuts beautifully in a mix. At the bridge, the 498T (Alnico V) brings the power—tight lows, aggressive mids, and plenty of bite and sustain. It’s perfect for driving amps hard, excelling in higher gain settings while still retaining definition.
 
The guitar has never been refretted and still retains its original fret-end binding (“nibs”). The gold hardware and nitrocellulose finish have aged gracefully, developing a tasteful patina, while the binding and headstock inlays have mellowed to a warm amber hue—exactly the kind of ageing you want to see on an older Les Paul Custom.
 
Condition-wise, there are some small, honest signs of use—minor bumps and scuffs—but no obvious paint nicks and nothing unsightly. There are no structural or electrical issues, and importantly, no history of headstock breaks or repairs. The truss rod functions perfectly, the neck is straight, and the frets still have plenty of life.
 
It comes complete with the original Gibson hard shell case. All latches are functional, though the combination lock is no longer working. All in all, this is a fantastic-looking and superb-playing vintage Les Paul Custom. All photos are of the actual guitar. 
 
Gas Station Guitars is a UK Ltd company, and we proudly offer a no-questions 14-day refund policy on all instruments.
 
We have extensive experience shipping guitars safely worldwide, with professional packing methods developed to protect both hardcase and softcase instruments in transit. Every guitar is securely packaged using heavy-duty materials to ensure it arrives exactly as described.
 
At Gas Station Guitars, each instrument is carefully hand-selected. If a guitar doesn’t impress us in tone, feel, and overall character, it simply doesn’t make it into our inventory. If it’s listed by us, you can be confident it’s something special.
 
All photos shown are of the actual guitar
Every instrument is fully inspected and in hand—no drop-shipping
Shipped directly from us to you
Please note:
This guitar is not available for trades or part exchange
We are unable to offer holds or layaways
We ship WORLDWIDE including:
United Kingdom
European Union
United States
Canada
Australia
 
Professional service, accurate descriptions, and carefully curated instruments are at the core of everything we do.
 
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