In the Shop: Mid-80s Lawsuit Era Chibson Refurb

A friend of mine, a passionate guitar player and tinkerer, recently passed away. Among his collection was a mid-80s “Chibson” Les Paul, a Chinese-made guitar from the Lawsuit Era. It had been sitting in his shop for years, and eventually, it found its way into my hands. When I first got it, it was in rough shape—there was even mouse poop in the cavities!

Determined to bring it back to life, I rolled up my sleeves and gave it the care it deserved. I thoroughly cleaned it up, polished the body, and completely rewired it. For the pickups, I chose a pair of Sweet Serrano humbuckers from Bootstrappickups.com, which gave it the perfect blend of clarity and power. I kept the Gotoh hardware, which was still solid and reliable, and added a personal touch with a custom truss rod cover from CAM Custom Guitars.

Now, this guitar is a stunning tribute to my friend’s spirit and love for music. It’s not just a looker; it’s a screaming rock machine that plays like a dream. What do you think—snappy, right?