A 1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary solid body electric guitar, 99116564, in natural finish. Owned and played by Randy Bachman, who has sold 40 million records worldwide as a member of The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and as a solo artist.

Made to commemorate the 20th year of Les Paul Custom production, the 20th Anniversary Les Paul Custom was largely identical to those made in previous years, save for the addition of a special “Twentieth Anniversary” inlay at the 12th fret. All of the other ‘70s Gibson hallmarks are present: three piece neck, pancake body construction, and witch hat knobs.

According to Randy, this one has a special, familial connection. “That was unplayed with tags until I came home from tour once and Tal had taken it out and played it. I freaked.”

A 24 3/4” scale length three-piece mahogany neck with a 22 fret, block-inlaid ebony fretboard, Custom headstock overlay with multi-ply binding on the headstock, gold waffle-back tuners, and a Les Paul Custom-engraved truss rod cover. Natural finish with light-colored grain filler on the 3-piece maple top and mahogany body. Gold hardware including tuners, bridge, tailpiece, and original stamped patent number neck pickup and patent number decal bridge pickup.

Body has a stamp on the heel of the neck which reads “May 20, 1975” and potentiometers date to the 29th week of 1975.

The guitar currently wears a non-original black multi-ply pickguard with Les Paul’s signature scratched into its surface by the man himself, who often carried a nail in his pocket for just this purpose.

Includes non-original case with green interior.

PROVENANCE From The Collection of Randy Bachman

Guitars & Instruments, Randy Bachman