GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP

The most highly acclaimed, widely recognized solid body electric guitar in the entire world

Gibson’s Les Paul Standard model from 1959 is the most highly acclaimed, widely recognized solid body electric guitar in the entire world, coveted by both players and collectors as the ultimate example of playability, attractiveness and tone among all six-stringed instruments. In an industry filled with imitations and replicas, the iconic 1959 Les Paul Standard simply has no equal.

Named after Lester William Polsfuss, aka Les Paul – legendary American jazz guitarist, and true pioneer in the development of recorded music – the Les Paul model guitar became the “Standard” in July 1958 after company president Ted McCarty and his staff decided to add the new designation and forego the guitar’s traditional Goldtop finish for a new, brighter finish dubbed Cherry Sunburst, which allowed the natural beauty of the Les Paul Standard’s maple top to be showcased. The company was hoping the changes would improve its sales of solid body electric guitars, which had been declining since 1953 when the Gibson shipped 2,245 Les Paul Model guitars.

Features

The 1959 Les Paul Standard reissue produced today by Gibson Custom is true to all of the original instrument’s features and characteristics, including Gibson’s traditional hand-carved “figured” maple top and solid, non-weight relieved mahogany body.

The headstock is made from Holly head veneer, as opposed to fiber, just like it was in 1959, and the vintage-style tulip tuners are mounted in a straight line, also as they were on the original.

The 24 ¾-inch scale length neck is made from one solid piece of mahogany, and attached to the body using a long neck tenon — one of the Les Paul’s more distinguishing characteristics of the 1950s.

The neck is topped by a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard outfitted with acrylic trapezoid inlays matching the size and color of the originals.

Of course, two of Gibson’s legendary Burstbucker pickups deliver all the subtle variations of true, classic “Patent Applied For” humbucker tone by using historically “unmatched” bobbin windings and Alnico II magnets.

Other historical appointments include CTS potentiometers, bumble bee capacitors, rolled crème-colored fingerboard binding, single-ply crème-colored binding around the body, and a period-correct thin toggleswitch washer and jackplate.

The 1959 Les Paul Standard comes in a V.O.S.  finish, available in Faded Tobacco Burst, Washed Cherry Burst and Iced Tea Burst.

All VOS (Vintage Original Spec) series guitars will use a proprietary process that includes unique steps for staining, wet-sanding, and hand-rubbing; subsequently the guitars reflect what a well-cared for 40-year-old guitar looks like. The result is a remarkable patina that will delight even the most discriminating enthusiast.

Includes standard Gibson Custom case, custom care kit and certificate of authenticity.