Gibson Custom

collapse expand iconDescription

All of the '59 specs are faithfully reproduced in this 50th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Sunburst Reissue with the distinctive Cognac Burst nitrocellulose finish including wireless ABR-1 bridge, bumblebee capacitors, CTS pots, and the correct materials and shape of the bridge posts and thumbwheels, truss rod cover, strap button, and pickguard.

The only major change to the Gibson Les Paul "Sunburst" in 1959 was the addition of wider, fatter jumbo frets which facilitated more dramatic bends. The real force of this change was not felt until the late 1960s when rock and blues players like Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, and Peter Green began to discover the fat, warm voice of the '59 Les Paul, dubbed the "Sunburst' by players. This moment in history marked the beginning of the idealization of the 1959 Les Paul Sunburst as the quintessential electric guitar in the minds of guitarists and collectors everywhere.

Using a combination of traditional hand craftsmanship and modern technology, the luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop painstakingly reproduce the key elements that define stunning, vintage looks, flawless playability, and incredible tone. Solid mahogany back, historically accurate long neck tenon for superior strength and sustain, period correct neck profiles, hardware and electronics, and 100% nitrocellulose lacquer are all part of this special Gibson Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul guitar.
Gibson Custom 50th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Sunburst Reissue Cognac Burst Electric Guitar Burnt Wheat Burst
Gibson Custom 50th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Sunburst Reissue Cognac Burst Electric Guitar Burnt Wheat Burst
Gibson Custom 50th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Sunburst Reissue Cognac Burst Electric Guitar Burnt Wheat Burst

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • 2009 R9 Changed Features:
  • Nylon 6/6 nut
  • Improved ABR-1 bridge (no-wire, tighter tolerances)
  • Historically correct nickel-plated brass bridge saddles
  • Correct alloy saddle adjustment screws
  • Bridge height-adjusting thumbwheels are now thinner
  • Neck profile changed - now has less "shoulders"
  • Audio taper CTS pots
  • '50s wiring
  • Pickup routes adjusted so that pickups will be parallel to the strings
  • Top carve changed to be closer to several original '59s that were scanned
  • Body perimeter change - slightly tighter in waist, cutaway area refined to be more like originals
  • The maple cap is very slightly thinner, the mahogany body is very slightly thicker
  • The fingerboard is slightly thinner
  • The step from neck heel to back of body is taller and more correct
  • The taper of the "maple window" under the binding in cutaway is more accurate
  • The maple spline (filler strip) in the tenon is more accurate
  • The edge radius on the backside of the body is tighter (less rounded)
  • The "mustache curve" of the headstock top has been flattened slightly
  • The control cavity plate has been relocated, has the correct side taper, and now uses the correct ABS plastic
  • The pickguard shape has changed slightly
  • The pickguard bracket and screw have been changed
  • The truss rod cover has been reshaped to be more accurate
  • The serial number location is slightly lower and more correct
  • Dial pointers are less sharp
  • The strap button screws are longer
  • The jack hole is now the correct 1" diameter
  • The toggle switch nut has more correct knurled pattern

collapse expand iconSpecs

  • Cognac Burst finish
  • Rare select carved figured top
  • New nylon nut material
  • Thinner fingerboard
  • Ultrathin nitrocellulose lacquer finish
  • 24-3/4" scale length
  • '59 rounded neck profile
  • Trapezoid inlays
  • Gibson BurstBuckers pickups
  • Thin single-ply white binding on neck
  • Nickel hardware
    • Faithful recreation to original 1959 Les Paul Standard specs
    • Vintage correct body shape
    • Taller, vintage correct neck heel
    • 3 degree angle pickup route
    • Lightweight aluminum stopbar tailpiece
    • Wireless ABR-1 bridge
    • Snug fitting brass bridge saddles
    • Vintage correct thumbwheel material and shape
    • Vintage correct bridge post material and shape
    • Historically correct backplate and switchplate material and shape
    • Vintage correct pickguard shape and placement
    • Vintage correct strap button placement and screw size
    • Back and top thickness
    • Vintage tulip tuners
    • '50s style electronic wiring
    • Audio taper CTS potentiometers
    • Vintage correct dial pointers
    • Bumblebee capacitors
    • 1" diameter jack hole
    • Toggle switch nut knurling