Gibson 1981 Les Paul Artist Ebony

Gibson 1981 Les Paul Artist in Ebony Finish.

Mahogany Contour Body.

Maple Top.

Mahogany Neck with a Thin “D” Profile.

1 11/16” wide Nut.

Ebony Fretboard with Block Inlays & 12” Radius.

Gold Hardware.

#82311558.

It has active electronics by Moog--the three toggles activate a compressor, an expander and a bright boost. The tone controls are active bass and treble.

It was quite versatile, able to do a wide variety of tones, but the built-in buffering made it impossible to get a standard Gibson Humbucker sound without modifying the guitar with a pickup-loading circuit. Activating both the expander and compressor produced a unique sound.

There was also a matching ES-335 Artist and an RD-Artist.