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50th Anniversary 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:28:49 +0000

50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard

It might seem laughable, even absurd, that the guitar world’s failure to appreciate the original Les Paul would lead to its deletion from the Gibson line up after 1960, but so it often goes with creations that are so far ahead of their time. Just a few years later, scores of groundbreaking artists would discover the incomparable power of this instrument, and its premature scarcity would also make it an extremely valuable guitar while the model was really still just a toddler, thus rendering it the first collectible “vintage” electric guitar.

Fast forward 50 years, and the Les Paul of 1958-’60 has become the most prized electric guitar on the planet. But to say “the” Les Paul is actually somewhat misleading: while all of the fewer than 2,000 Les Pauls manufactured in this brief three-year timeframe are exceedingly desirable, they were often quite different guitars, too, varying not only from year to year as the model’s specs evolved, but varying even within the same year of manufacture.

None embodies this “work in progress” so completely as the final issue of the line, the 1960 Les Paul Standard—or, should we say “Standards”—now brought back to life in the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standards. To accurately present the variations in specifications and finish that original examples from 1960 exhibit, Gibson’s Custom Shop is creating this limited Anniversary model in three versions, each of which embodies in period-correct detail the final three steps along the journey before this hallowed electric guitar was pulled from production.
The End of an Era, the Beginning of a Legend

At the start of 1960, the Les Paul retained the same specs as its predecessor from 1959, although it did receive the official “Les Paul Standard” designation in place of the former “Les Paul Model” (a name that its headstock nonetheless still retained). Among these details were the full, rounded neck profile, top-hat control knobs, and Heritage Cherry Sunburst or Heritage Dark Sunburst finish, and these are the very characteristics with which the Custom Shop has imbued Version 1 of the 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard, which might be confused for a 1959 Les Paul Model if not for the 1960 serial number stamped into the back of the guitar’s headstock at the dawn of this new decade, and the R0 serial number of this 50th Anniversary model.

Version 2 represents the neck’s transition from full to slim—a progression that was gradual, rather than sudden—in the form of a Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard with thinner, yet still somewhat rounded and “elliptical” neck profile, based on painstaking research and detailed scans of several transitional ’60s Les Pauls that were studied by the Custom Historic and Engineering team. To represent this alteration visibly, Version 2 will be offered in two classic “faded” ’Burst colors: Light Iced Tea and Sunset Tea Burst. The final version of the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard is represented by a guitar with the slim-taper neck for which late-’60 Les Pauls have become famous, along with the double-band tuners and gold top-hat control knobs with the “new” silver inserts that were fitted to these guitars.

Furthermore, Version 3 accurately represents the changes in the finishing process at Gibson in the latter part of 1960, in its more vibrant, colorfast Cherry Sunburst, a finish that stood the test of time somewhat better than many of the sunbursts that preceded it.

In addition to these pertinent details, the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standards pack all the tonal nuances and unparalleled playability that really helped to make these guitars legendary in the hands of artist like Eric Clapton, who wielded a slim-necked 1960 Les Paul Standard on the most influential blues-rock album of all time, John Mayall Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, often referred to as the “Beano” album. The time-tested tonewood combination of mahogany and maple, the classic duo of Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, and a pair of Gibson’s lauded PAF-style BurstBucker humbucking pickups all work toward a tonal splendor that no other guitar can equal.

Add to these the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standards’ long-tenon neck joint, traditionally back-angled headstock, and thin, breathable nitrocellulose finish, and you’ve got a guitar that sings and resonates like no other. A total of only 500 Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standards will be produced in a blend of all three versions. All will include a Custom Shop hardshell case and a 50th Anniversary Certificate of Authenticity.

Body and Finish
Crafted from a book-matched figured maple top and a lightweight one-piece mahogany back, these guitars are finished in low-build nitrocellulose lacquer, and are available in a range of colors to suit each Version, including Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Heritage Dark Sunburst, Light Iced Tea Burst, Sunset Tea Burst and Cherry Sunburst.

In every way, these details represent careful study of several actual 1960 Les Paul Standards that were examined in the course of reproducing the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard.

Neck and Headstock
The guitar’s neck and headstock are made in the classic tradition of the original 1960 Les Paul. Carved from a single piece of quarter-sawn mahogany, and topped with a rosewood fingerboard, the design incorporates Gibson’s lauded 17-degree back-angled headstock, which contributes greatly to the instrument’s resonance and sustain.

Pickups and Electronics
The Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard carries a complement of pickups and hardware that accurately reflect the original equipment on the most desirable Les Pauls ever made.

A pair of BurstBucker pickups captures that highly sought-after “PAF” style tone, while quality CTS potentiometers with “bumblebee” tone caps translate the signal in pure vintage style.

Hardware
As befits a Custom Shop Anniversary Les Paul of this caliber, the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard is equipped with Gibson’s most accurate, period-correct reproduction hardware, including Kluson-style tuners, a Tune-o-matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece both made from the correct metals and plated in nickel, and Gibson’s original aluminum strap buttons, all of which contribute to the vintage look and tone of the instrument.

Gibson les Paul Classic Goldtop 1960 Reissue with Double Locking Floyd Rose
	$1,200.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 2:29:33 PST Buy It Now for only: $1,600.00 Buy It Now \| Bid now

Gibson Custom Shop 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue
	$4,495.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 4:55:18 PST Buy It Now for only: $4,495.00 Buy It Now

Gibson Les Paul 1960 Corvette Tuxedo Black 12 200 Mint Unplayed Condition NOS
	$7,995.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 8:04:48 PST Buy It Now for only: $7,995.00 Buy It Now

Gibson Les Paul Studio 1960s Tribute Gold Top MINT Condition

$775.00
End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 8:26:07 PST

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Gibson Les Paul Classic 1960 Reissue Video Inside
	$1,350.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 12:17:48 PST Buy It Now for only: $1,700.00 Buy It Now \| Bid now

1960s 70s GIBSON LES PAUL ES 335 SG 175 Truss Rod Cover
	$89.99 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 12:41:16 PST Buy It Now for only: $89.99 Buy It Now

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Gibson Releases Les Paul Tribute 1952 Goldtop

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:33:51 +0000

Hot on the heels of their Epiphone branded Les Paul Tribute Standard, Gibson this week announced the release of a high-end Custom Shop model –– the Les Paul Tribute 1952 –– in honor of the legendary musician/innovator behind the name, Les Paul himself.
Billed as the closest match yet to Les’ original specs, the guitar looks to be a beauty of classic styling and guitar-history nostalgia… even the brass trapeze tailpiece and top-wrapped bridge (a Les Paul patented creation,) are present and accounted for.

According to Gibson the Les Paul Tribute 1952 is being built around a two-piece mahogany body (Grade-A) that’s been topped with a two-piece maple top (Grade-C,) and glued together with super-strong Franklin Titebond 50 glue.

And as per the earliest LP models, the guitar will be hand-finished with Gold nitrocellulose on the top (90-sheen lacquer –– no poly here) while the rim, back and neck have been left to show off that Grade-A mahogany grain, and coated with a high-gloss lacquer.
Other stand-out features will include a solid quarter-sawn Grade-A mahogany neck with ’50s neck profile, headstock with Gibson logo inlaid in mother of pearl and“prototype” stamped into the back, and a 22-fret fretboard of Grade-A mahogany (12? radius,) with acrylic trapezoid inlays and antique neck binding.

Electronics will include a pair of cream-colored single-coil P-90 pickups, dual Volume controls with Gold Speedvolume knobs, dual Tone controls with Gold Speedtone knobs, 3-way pickup switching via toggle switch, and a Switchcraft 1/4? outback jack. Tuners are vintage-style, with press-in bushings.

The Gibson Les Paul Tribute 1952 will ship with a hardshell case and Certificate of Authenticity, including a photo of Les Paul and detailed specs of the instrument. It carries an MSRP of $5,581.00.

Gibson Les Paul 57 Historic Goldtop 7 3963 w Buzz makeover beyond Package B
	$3,500.00 End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 22:50:57 PST Buy It Now for only: $3,500.00 Buy It Now

Gibson les Paul Classic Goldtop 1960 Reissue with Double Locking Floyd Rose
	$1,200.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 2:29:33 PST Buy It Now for only: $1,600.00 Buy It Now \| Bid now

Gibson Les Paul Studio 1960s Tribute Gold Top MINT Condition

$775.00
End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 8:26:07 PST

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GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD TRADITIONAL GOLD TOP NEW 2011 UNPLAYED GREAT FINISH
	$1,899.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 9:20:09 PST Buy It Now for only: $1,899.00 Buy It Now

GIBSON LES PAUL DELUXE GOLDTOP 2011 MINT LEFT HANDED MINI HUMBUCKER
	$2,499.99 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 10:08:13 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,499.99 Buy It Now

Gibson Les Paul Standard Traditional Gold Top 2009 with OHSC

$1,450.00 (2 Bids)
End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 12:29:29 PST

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Gibson USA Les Paul Studio Guitar

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:42:14 +0000

Sometimes less is better. In the case of the Les Paul Studio from Gibson USA, however, a little less is breathtaking! Ever since hitting the streets in 1983, Gibson’s Les Paul Studio has been the ultimate offering of traditional Les Paul performance with a modern, no-frills attitude. Introduced as a guitar mainly for studio musicians, the Les Paul Studio has become one of the most desired – and popular – Les Pauls for its tremendous harmonic and sonic qualities. All of the essential elements of a Les Paul Standard are there, including a carved maple top, solid mahogany back and genuine Gibson humbucker pickups. What the Les Paul Studio lacks in extras, it makes up for in performance. If you don’t believe us, ask any one of the thousands of musicians who call it their No. 1 axe. The Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson USA’s best-selling instruments. Don’t you want to find out why?

Available Finishes
Take your pick between four gorgeous finishes — Ebony, Wine Red, Classic White and Fireburst — all of which are applied by hand in a process that demands several coats and many hours. Unlike a lot of our competitors, who settle for a polyurethane finish, Gibson opts for a nitrocellulose finish that will encourage the natural vibration of the instrument for a purer tone. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous and actually gets thinner over time. That way your guitar’s wood can breathe and age beautifully, like it’s supposed to.

Fast & Comfortable Rounded Neck Profile
Gibson’s traditional rounded neck profile, which graces the neck of each Les Paul Studio, is a thicker, rounder profile, emulating the neck shapes of the iconic Les Paul Standards of the late 1950s. Each neck is machined in Gibson’s rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest — including the final sanding — is done by hand. That means each neck ends up with ever-so-subtle differences that make each one as exceptional – and unique – as the next.

Crank out modern tone with a vintage edge
Gibson’s 490T and 490R pickups (“T” for treble, and “R” for rhythm) have the traditional characteristics of the original “Patent Applied For” pickups of the late 1950s, but with two key modifications. First, a four-conductor wiring scheme allows the 490s to be connected to any push/pull knob, which lets players split the coils and increase versatility. These pickups also take advantage of wax potting, which does away with any air space inside the pickup, therefore lessening the chances of microphonic feedback. The result is a humbucker with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The Gibson 498T bridge pickup is the 490’s ideal complement. Taking the 490 one step further, the 498 swaps the Alnico II magnet to an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs. The pole pieces on the 498T are also aligned a little further apart to accommodate the spacing of the strings at the bridge, which is different than the spacing of the strings at the neck.

Ebony or rosewood fingerboard: get the best of both worlds
The fingerboards on Gibson’s Les Paul Studios are constructed from the highest grade rosewood and ebony on the planet. Both are personally inspected and qualified by Gibson’s team of skilled wood experts before they enter the factories to be fitted onto the neck of the Les Paul Studio. The resilience of these dense and durable woods makes these fingerboards extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates “dead” or “choked out” notes. The ebony fingerboard is only available on the Classic White Les Paul Studio, and the rosewood fingerboard is available on the Ebony, Wine Red, and Fireburst models.

Enjoy enhanced tone with Gibson’s lightweight, chambered body
The expert craftsmen at Gibson USA carve carefully mapped-out chambers in the Les Paul Studio’s solid mahogany back using a Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) router before the maple top is glued on. The positioning of the routes was established after careful examination of the resonant characteristics of the Les Paul. Gibson approached this process with the awareness that every change to the formula would have repercussions on the instrument’s sound. So, in addition to relieving the stress on a player’s back and shoulder, these lighter Gibson guitars also enhance the tone palette in a manner unique only to these guitars. The results are comfortable, lightweight guitars that are acoustically louder, with increased sustain and resonance.

Epiphone Les Paul Studio w A Few Upgrades

$177.50 (7 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 16:25:00 PST

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GIBSON LES PAUL STUDIO 60S REISSUE

$560.00 (13 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 16:59:22 PST

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2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Black

$549.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 17:45:21 PST

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Epiphone Les Paul Studio Deluxe Limited Edition
	$275.00 End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 18:26:27 PST Buy It Now for only: $320.00 Buy It Now \| Bid now

Epiphone Les Paul Studio Deluxe Limited Edition

$280.00 (2 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 18:30:47 PST

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Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded No Reserve

$550.00 (6 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 18:47:21 PST

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A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Guitars

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:53:59 +0000

Shopping for an electric guitar or any guitar for that matter is a tedious and time consuming process, and this is especially true for beginner’s electric guitar. What makes one guitar different from another? Is a guitar that costs $1000 better than one that is $500 or$100?

You only get what you pay for.
It can be a daunting task especially for beginners looking at all the different electric guitar models trying to make a decision as to what to buy. And when you add amps, effects, and everything else involved you end up saying to yourself, “Maybe I don’t need all that stuff.”

Well now, what do I REALLY need.
Let me just say for the record that I’m far from an equipment expert. There are plenty of “gear heads” out there that get something new every month. These guys always have the latest and greatest in guitars, but I find these guys can hardly play a lick because they’re too busy buying all their gear!! I’ve always been a “just let me play” kind of guy. But it’s always nice to have friends like this so you can go over to their place and try out all their cool stuff.
This page has the beginner in mind so if you’ve been playing for a while you’re probably going to think “well, duh!” But my goal here is to discuss what you need and your different options. Please keep in mind that everything below is solely my opinion.

What kind of beginner electric guitar should you buy and how much should you spend?

If you’re a beginner just starting I don’t recommend spending any more that $500, if that much. You can usually find something to learn on for $2-300 or even cheaper at a flea market or online. You don’t need anything more than that, especially if you lose interest. I’ve only gone through 3 guitars in my life, the first being a cheap Dean that I got for Christmas out of a Sears catalog. I then got an Ibanez 560 Frank Gambale model that I ordered from Suncoast music for Christmas when I was 16 or 17. I had that one for a long time up until 4 years ago when I went guitar shopping for the first time and got a custom made Ibanez S-Series that listed for $1500. By this time, I was advanced enough that I justified paying that much for something good.
The point is don’t spend too much money right now unless you are seriously interested in the instrument. I would focus more on playing and getting better than getting all the different gears.

Its tough to make good recommendations but I’ve always been partial to Ibanez. But, there are a lot of good guitars and companies out there. The best thing I can recommend anybody looking for an electric guitar is to go to the store and play different models. This is the ONLY way you can figure out what works best for YOU. Then you can start haggling the sales clerk at the store about the price.

Obviously, buying a beginner electric guitars online will give you significant discounts as well as special deals. You can find lots of great bargains here. Here are some great starter packages. Any one of the above packages would be perfect for a beginner, whether you want to play electric, acoustic, or the electric/acoustic combo! And the best thing about I bought one of my Yamaha acoustics from them and I’m quite happy with the customer support, and I also received it in a couple of days. I’ve since bought a couple other guitars and a Pandora PX4 and I’ve been 100% satisfied with every purchase.

What about buying beginner electric guitars amplifiers?
This is something that you have to go to the store and try for yourself before you make a decision. I have a Crate GT-200 that I played my Ibanez through at the store when I went shopping that day 4 years ago. For amps you most definitely get what you pay for. Mesa Boogie are the best amps I’ve heard, but I never could afford them. Depending on your budget, try to make the best decision based on quality vs. your personal budget. Again you will get significant discounts online, but you will definitely want to hear how your electric guitar sounds with the amp you’re looking at.

What else do you need?
If you have a beginner electric guitar and amplifier you’ll need a few other things. Some of them are optional…and mostly a matter of preference.

The most commonly accepted method of choosing a low cost electric guitar is to find an instrument with good quality wood, and at least reasonable workmanship. Guitar manufacturers tend to cut corners with cheaper guitars, by using cheaper pick-ups, and hardware, but these are all upgradeable parts.

Introducing the 2009 Limited Run Series Reserve Program From Gibson USA

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:06:54 +0000

Ellen Mallernee

What if you could own the very first guitar to ever roll off the assembly line for the model of your choice? Now you can.
Gibson USA is offering collectors and guitar enthusiasts the world over an unprecedented opportunity to reserve one of the first nine guitars built of each model in Gibson USA’s popular 2009 Limited Run Series.

There are 22 models in the 2009 Limited Run Series, with new ones being unveiled on Gibson.com each month, and only 350 total guitars made in each run. Now Gibson is making available the first nine guitars from each model’s 350-guitar production run. These guitars are hand-numbered by our design engineer and each will come with a plaque certifying their authenticity.

How To Reserve A Guitar
To reserve a guitar, simply visit Gibson.com to select the guitar in the number of your choice and provide Gibson with your contact and credit card information. You’ll be asked to select the authorized dealer of your choice, and then you’re on your way to owning a piece of history.

Note: Gibson won’t actually charge your credit card and we won’t retain any of your credit card information. Your credit card will only be used to verify the availability of funds and does not constitute payment. This will only ensure that the guitar you want will be reserved under your name. Final payment will be required when you pick up the guitar at your local authorized dealer.
After you’ve reserved your guitar on Gibson.com, a Gibson Customer Service representative will contact you via phone within one business day to confirm your reservation and to verify your preferred dealer for pickup.

Check Back For New Models Every Month
Limited Run Series guitars will continue to be unveiled throughout 2009. Keep checking back every month. You might just find that our luthiers have created the Gibson model with the very specifications you’ve always dreamed of.

Questions?
If you have any questions about the 2009 Limited Run Series Reserve Program,contact our Gibson Customer Service team.
1-800-4GIBSON (1-800-444-2766)
service@gibson.com
AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, & MSN Messenger users can IM Gibson Customer Service at customer.service1@gibson.com.

Click on the model you'd like to reserve below:

The Holy Explorer

Grabber Bass

SG Carved Top-Autumn Burst

Les Paul Florentine with Bigsby

Ripper Bass (Coming Soon!)

SG Carved Top-Ocean Blue Burst (Coming Soon!)