| The Paul | |
|---|---|
“The Paul” played by Mike Scott (The Waterboys) |
|
| Manufacturer | Gibson |
| Period | 1978 – 1982 (The Paul) 1980 - 1984 (Firebrand) |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid Walnut (Mahogany 82-84) |
| Neck joint | Set |
| Scale | 24.75" |
| Woods | |
| Body | Walnut |
| Neck | Walnut |
| Fretboard | 22 fret - Ebony |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Pickup(s) | 2 T-tops |
The first incarnation of Gibson's "The Paul" guitar was manufactured from 1978 to 1982.[1] Variations on the model were introduced and this original was later referred to as "The Paul" (Standard).[2] It was targeted to customers who wanted Gibson quality and reputation at a lower price point. It included such items as the Tune-O-Matic bridge (but nickel plated rather than gold) and attained further cost savings by not including the carved top (often maple) seen on most Les Paul variants. It's known for its solid Walnut body and neck. Regarded as a good quality budget guitar it has a small following as a collector's item[3] and is referred to as "The Coffee Table Burst" because of its natural walnut finish.
In 1980 Gibson also introduced "The Paul" (Deluxe)[4] and "The Paul" (Deluxe) Firebrand. Both are essentially identical to the Standard model except using Mahogany instead of Walnut for both the body and neck. The Firebrand also featured a black finish covering the natural finish everywhere except the area around the pickups. This model was discontinued in 1984.
The name was resurrected when The Paul II series was introduced in 1996.