Where they ever issued on a production model Gibson?

Yes only on 1972 & early 73 Les Paul customs and not all had them. Like I said super rare...

First one has mini's

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1972-Gibson-Les-Paul-Deluxe-Goldtop-w-Case_W0QQitemZ250550965702QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3a560055c6

http://cgi.ebay.com/1972-Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-Black-Beauty_W0QQitemZ350284546983QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item518e9603a7

Geez ... looks like the first one had some major headstock damage and was repaired.
The second one looks much better, albeit with a heftier price tag to match.
I always wear a cloth that covers the rivets on my jeans to prevent the back of the guitar from getting damaged.
It is evident on the "Black beauty".

Cheers, Barrie.

Les Paul customs are very expensive now. Mine is a very limited edition. & I paid over $4,000 for it new. It is a reissue of the 1968 Les Paul custom VOS and very few were issued in classic white. The paint aged to the nice cream color at the factory. It's not that bright alpine white that regular Les Paul customs have. It also weighs in at almost 11 pounds, but has sustain from hell.

Her ya go. Want to know what they sell for, and these are the minis. The full size go for even more...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1971-Gibson-Mini-Humbucker-Pickups-Embossed-EX_W0QQitemZ290378901036QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item439bee662c

http://cgi.ebay.com/c-early-1970s-Gibson-EB-2TD-Bridge-P-U-EMBOSSED-COVER_W0QQitemZ300378712655QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item45eff76a4f

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Patent-Sticker-Humbucking-EMBOSSED-1972-T-TOP_W0QQitemZ110466514345QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item19b8513da9

Yikes!!! Four grand and change for your Les Paul? I did notice it in your previous post and without asking, wondered what exactly you had there. I played an original '57 Les Paul that a buddy of mine owned. It was sweeeeeet.
By all accounts yours is high end and deserving of limited play time and collector status .... or are you they type to play 'em no matter what?
Since Les died I have wondered if prices would jump on some of the more obscure models.

Cheers, Barrie.

It stays in the case most of the time, but I do play it. Most stands with that black rubber will eat into the finish of white Les Pauls. It is in mint condition and I plan on keeping it that way, but I also din't spend that money not to play it. These special issue Les Pauls have a special serial # as well 07xxx8. 07 being the year it was made, xxx being the production number and 8 being the year it was reissued after 1968.

FYI ... I have a 1957 Gibson acoustic that was left to me when my father passed away.
A long family history with stories accompany this guitar. It's a part of my soul.

Cheers, Barrie.

Barrie you are very lucky to have a guitar like that. Let me know when you can flip me a loan so I can pick this one up... 😯 I think brand new it cost around $200

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1960-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-STANDARD-BURST-OHSC-TAGS_W0QQitemZ180446553287QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2a0373e4c7

A loan? ... that would take a second mortage to buy that guitar. It's a museum piece ❗
At $200 (a fair chunk of change back then) buying a dozen of these would have been a great investment.

Cheers, Barrie.

I thought I'd post some pics of my '57 Gibson acoustic. My Dad orignally bought this new back in '59 I believe. Mom had a fit but hey what guy hasn't had that happen. She got over it when he put it to good use playing in clubs in the evening hours earning extra cash. I don't recall the original price but under $200 seems to ring a bell.

He gave it to me on my 17th birthday and he borrowed it back for another 30 years 😆 This old girl has put on plenty of miles and has the patina to prove it. After my dad died, my uncle (his brother) took possession of it to do some much needed work. The pick guard was notorious for warping and lifting on these models, so he replaced it with a tribute pick guard in memory of my dad and one of his favorite tunes.

Sadly, my uncle too passed away in early November, but his and my dads memory are still strong, certainly anytime this guitar comes out of the case.

Cheers, Barrie.

Got the pickups, installed the covers and now this thing sounds sooooo sweet. Also added a set of Graph Tech saddles.

Todd ... If it sounds half as good as it looks, you should be pleased!

Cheers, Barrie.

Now I'm thinking I should do like Barrie http://charleston.craigslist.org/msg/1555613411.html

Absolutely! I went for the Squire so as not to lay out huge cash, try it out to see if I like it. I'll give it a year and access the situation then. I am playing the bass routinely and enjoy it, so if this keeps up I'll upgrade to a Precision Bass and amp then.
Personally, I'd say, go for it!

Cheers, Barrie.

Very cool to hear that there are some other musicians here. Music is what I do, and I've played since I was a kid. I'm a manager at a music store and I play out live and do recording sessions from time to time. I'm primarily a drummer and guitarist, although I've been the lead vocalist in a few bands, and I play some bass and keys as well. Got way too much gear, Gibson Les Paul through a ton of mostly boss pedals into a Mesa Triple Rec for the guitar rig, Taylor acoustic guitar, Pearl Reference Series kit with mostly Zildjian A customs for my main drumkit (and 4 other kits that never get played) have a lower end bass rig that mainly sits in the studio for others to play on during practices, have a few different keyboards/synths, as well as a decent PA and lighting rig, and a 32ch ProTools rig on a Macintosh computer. I dug the pics of those Gibson guitars that you guys have... I've always been a Gibson guy myself, although I keep telling myself that I need to pick up a nice strat one of these days, because you just can't make a Paul sound like a strat:)