Product Overview
Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Resissue Electric Guitar - Beauty of the Burst #78, Light Aged
AUTHORIZED GIBSON DEALER
BRAND NEW OPEN UNPLAYED
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Aesthetically Inspired By a True ’59 Burst
Gibson’s sunburst-clad Les Paul Standard models from the late 1950s and early 1960s are among the most sought-after instruments on the planet. If you can find one of the original 1,700 (or so) models today, its price can frighteningly approach the half-million mark. Luckily for vintage Les Paul fans, this 1959 Les Paul Standard Resissue — a member of Gibson Custom’s Greatest Hits Collection — pays wholly authentic tribute to a true “'Burst” Les Paul featured in Yasuhiko Iwanade’s defining vintage guitar tome, The Beauty of the ’Burst: Gibson Sunburst Les Pauls from ’58 to ’60. From the stunning sunburst on the hand-selected AAA flame maple top to the Cherry aniline dye on the mahogany body, this instrument’s visuals are nearly identical to the guitar so well documented in Yasuhiko’s book. And fear not, vintage Les Paul obsessives — Gibson is pleased to report all the period-correct Les Paul Standard appointments are here in full force, from the mahogany neck’s 1959 Carmelita profile to the cellulose trapezoid inlays on the rosewood fingerboard. Capped with double-white Custombucker pickups to deliver a vintage tone to match this guitar’s vintage appearance, this 1959 Les Paul Standard is a true collector-grade classic in its own right.
As seen in The Beauty of the ’Burst
Yasuhiko Iwanade’s book The Beauty of the ’Burst: Gibson Sunburst Les Pauls from ’58 to ’60 is an essential resource for any guitarist remotely interested in Gibson’s historic vintage Les Paul “'Burst” guitars. Featuring a foreword from Ted McCarty, the book exhaustively catalogs those endlessly mythologized instruments with beautiful full-color photos. This 1959 Les Paul Standard is inspired by one of the most stunning examples in Yasuhiko’s book, right down to the AAA flame maple top.
The call of the "Carmelita" neck
Of all the guitars in Gibson's storied history, the short run of sunburst-clad Les Pauls produced in the late 1950s and early 1960s is by far the most sought-after. These guitars have achieved a nearly mythological status, with only approximately 1,700 models made during the original production run. Given the handcrafted nature of these instruments, there are often minor discrepancies between historic examples — especially when it comes to the neck profile. To ensure the utmost authenticity, this Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard sports a mahogany neck that’s precisely carved to match one of the most famous 1959 “Bursts” of all time, “Carmelita.” This guitar’s neck clocked in slightly thinner than the fat ’50s profiles you’ll find on most 1950s-style “Bursts,” making it a superb choice for vintage Gibson devotees after a speedier (and still 100% vintage-correct) feel in their palm.
Artfully aged in Gibson Custom Shop's Murphy Lab
Under the leadership of Master Artisan Tom Murphy, Gibson Custom Shop's Murphy Lab performs one specific function: to craft artfully aged instruments using the most cutting-edge tools available. These guitars are targeted to one of four distinct levels of age and wear, ranging from Ultra Light to Ultra Heavy. This 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue features the unique lacquer checking and minimal playing wear of the program's Light Aged package — it's as if the guitar spent most of its life in its case! Beyond that, this Les Paul's extra-rolled fingerboard binding mimics the broken-in look and feel of a Golden-era Gibson. If you clamor for the authenticity and distinct character of a well-worn vintage-style instrument, there's a Murphy Lab-aged guitar that will feel like it was tailor-made just for you.
Hair-raising vintage-style hardware
One of Gibson’s many accomplishments during the 1950s was the development of the ABR-1 — the famous Tune-o-matic bridge — which allows for precise intonation of each string. The patent for this design was granted to Gibson president Ted McCarty, a fact that has never been in dispute. However, it wasn’t until more recently that McCarty’s many innovations have been fully recognized. Since then, millions of guitars have been built with variations on this theme. This Les Paul Custom includes an ABR-1 bridge, further enhanced by a stopbar tailpiece and Kluson tuning machines.
Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Resissue Features:
A custom-spec Les Paul from Gibson's Greatest Hits Collection, featuring appointments unavailable on standard off-the-shelf models
Visually inspired by a specific 1959 Les Paul Standard from Yasuhiko Iwanade’s book, The Beauty of the ’Burst: Gibson Sunburst Les Pauls from ’58 to ’60
Resonant and warm-sounding mahogany body finished with Cherry aniline dye
Handpicked AAA flame maple top to match the exact guitar in The Beauty of the ’Burst
Carmelita neck profile replicates the feel of a true vintage 1959 Les Paul (known affectionately as the “Carmelita”) with a thinner-than-usual C-shape profile
12-in.-radius Indian rosewood fingerboard, complete with aged cellulose trapezoid inlays
Custombucker pickups conjure the dynamic, rich, and clarity-packed sound of a true PAF humbucker from Gibson’s vintage era
Historic ABR-1 bridge with an aluminum stopbar tailpiece
Light Aged nitro lacquer finish from the Murphy Lab program provides you with a broken-in, well-preserved feel right out of the box
Eye-catching old-school Les Paul features, including gold top hat knobs and Kluson tuning machines
