In 1993 I got a call from my local guitar store. The owner had a 1953 Goldtop LP with a trapeze tailpiece and P-90s. Was I interested?
Well, I went and looked, and played it. I remember the case being opened, and the musty smell, and of course the guitar looked pretty much like Paul's, roughly the same condition. The owner wanted around $3500 for it, and that seemed like a lot to me for an old beat-up thing with green "goo" where one's forearm rests. I wandered around the store, thinking about it. I knew old guitars were starting to become valuable, but...
That's when I spotted a new Artist II hanging on the wall. It was gorgeous, played better than the goldtop, and sounded better, too. I bought it on the spot. And it was shiny and came in a leather case. I was in heaven.
So...I'm thinking maybe Paul found a really nice Artist II and is selling the goldie to fund it?