Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue VOS, Double Gold

Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue VOS, Double Gold Overview

The Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue VOS is a remarkable recreation of a historic Les Paul model, capturing a unique year in the guitar’s evolution when it featured P-90 pickups paired with the ABR-1 bridge for the first time. This reissue honors that rare combination, offering the classic Les Paul aesthetic, authentic tone, and exceptional craftsmanship from Gibson’s Custom Shop.

Key Features:

1. Body:

   • Construction: The 1956 Les Paul features an all-solid wood construction with a mahogany body and maple top. This combination offers rich, warm tones with exceptional sustain and resonance, typical of vintage Les Pauls.
   • Finish: The guitar is wrapped in the iconic Double Gold nitrocellulose lacquer finish, which not only enhances its appearance but also allows the guitar to age naturally, improving over time with wear.
   • VOS (Vintage Original Spec) Finish: Gibson’s VOS treatment provides a lightly aged look and feel, giving the guitar an authentic vintage patina without the extreme wear of a heavy relic.

2. Neck:

   • Material: Solid mahogany neck for warmth and sustain.
   • Neck Profile: The reissue features the coveted chunky '50s “C” profile, providing a substantial and comfortable feel that many Les Paul players seek for enhanced grip and stability during play.
   • Fretboard: The rosewood fingerboard offers smooth playability and a rich tonal response.
   • Frets: Historic narrow/tall frets, which provide precise intonation and easy bending.
   • Neck Construction: Hot hide glue construction, a vintage-correct technique that enhances the bond between the neck and body for better resonance and sustain.

3. Pickups:

   • P-90 Single-Coil Pickups: The guitar is equipped with two P-90 pickups, which were the standard on Les Pauls before the introduction of humbuckers. These pickups deliver a distinctive, raw sound with a blend of fat, warm lows and bright, cutting highs. The P-90s excel in versatility, able to shift from smooth jazz tones to gritty blues and rock, offering clarity and punch.
   • The bridge and neck P-90s are well-balanced, providing both the warmth and growl associated with vintage Les Pauls.

4. Hardware:

   • Bridge: The guitar is fitted with a vintage-style ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, introduced in 1956, which allows for better intonation adjustment and increased sustain.
   • Tailpiece: Lightweight aluminum stopbar tailpiece, designed to enhance the overall resonance of the instrument.
   • Tuners: Vintage-style Kluson tuners with single-line green keys for an authentic 1950s look and reliable tuning stability.
   • Nickel Hardware: The use of nickel for the hardware adds to the guitar’s vintage appearance, with a slightly aged finish that complements the VOS aesthetic.

5. Playability:

   • Scale Length: Standard 24.75" Gibson scale length, offering a familiar playing experience for Les Paul enthusiasts.
   • Fretboard Radius: Traditional 12" radius, perfect for smooth bends and fast playability.
   • Nut Width: 1.687" width at the nut, providing a comfortable and familiar feel for most players.

6. Tone and Sound:

   • The combination of P-90 pickups and the ABR-1 bridge offers a distinctive sound that is both warm and biting, perfect for genres like blues, rock, jazz, and beyond.
   • The guitar provides a perfect blend of articulate, clear single-coil tones with enough grit and power to cut through in any band setting. The P-90s deliver a more open and airy sound than humbuckers, but with plenty of output for both clean and overdriven tones.

Historical Significance:

1956 was a pivotal year for the Les Paul model as it introduced the ABR-1 bridge, which replaced the older wraparound tailpiece, allowing for better tuning stability and intonation. Paired with the P-90 pickups, this setup provided Les Paul players with more precision and tonal versatility, making the 1956 model highly sought after by collectors and players alike.