I believe there was a period in the late 60s / early 70s when the price of 2nd hand Gibson electrics
were just within the reach of young musicians signing record contracts,
or semi pros prepared to sign up to HP...

They still weren't cheap, but at a time when the only other option was Burns Guitars, or European imports..
it was more feasible for British players in their 20s to obtain 'affordable' used 1958 - 1960 Les Pauls
and play them to death touring, and recording what are now classic LPs.

If they lived long enough and held on to them,
those Gibsons are now their pensions...