Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard VOS, Golden Poppy Burst

Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard VOS, Golden Poppy Burst Overview

The Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue is a near-perfect recreation of one of the most legendary guitars in rock history. The 1959 Les Paul is known for its exceptional tone, craftsmanship, and beauty, and the Golden Poppy Burst edition continues this legacy with meticulous attention to detail. Handcrafted by the Gibson Custom Shop, this reissue is not just a tribute, but a true-to-original clone, with every element, from the wood selection to the electronics, carefully rendered to match the original 1959 model.

This particular reissue features the Murphy Lab Heavy Aging process, giving it the authentic look and feel of a guitar that has been played extensively for decades. With aged hardware and a heavily worn finish, this guitar delivers the vintage vibe and character of a real “Golden Era” instrument.

Key Features:

1. Body and Construction:

   • Body Shape: Classic Les Paul single-cut shape, iconic for its comfortable fit and classic looks.
   • Back: Made from one piece of lightweight mahogany, providing deep resonance and sustain.
   • Top: The top is made from two pieces of figured maple, hand-fitted with hide glue to ensure a tight bond, enhancing tonal response and resonance.
   • Weight Relief: None, keeping with the original 1959 design for maximum sustain and classic tone.
   • Binding: Single-ply Royalite binding around the body adds to the authentic vintage look.

2. Neck:

   • Material: Solid mahogany neck, contributing to the warmth and sustain of the guitar.
   • Profile: The neck is carved into the highly sought-after Authentic '59 Medium C-Shape, which provides a comfortable grip without being too bulky.
   • Nut Width: 1.687" (42.85mm), offering a familiar and comfortable feel for most guitarists.
   • Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood fingerboard, hide glue fitted for maximum resonance.
   • Scale Length: Standard Gibson 24.75" (628.65mm) scale length for smooth playability and familiar feel.
   • Frets: 22 frets, which are historically accurate narrow frets, complementing the vintage vibe.
   • Nut: Vintage-style nylon nut for enhanced tuning stability and an authentic '50s feel.

3. Pickups and Electronics:

   • Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (unpotted), designed to capture the tonal magic of original PAF pickups, offering warmth and clarity with great dynamics.
   • Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (unpotted), which provides the perfect balance of bite, growl, and sustain.
   • Controls: Traditional Les Paul control setup with two volume and two tone knobs, equipped with CTS 500K audio taper potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors. These electronics offer smooth control over the guitar’s tone, providing both clarity and warmth.
   • Selector Switch: 3-way toggle switch for easy switching between pickups or blending both.

4. Hardware:

   • Bridge: ABR-1 bridge for accurate intonation and sustain.
   • Tailpiece: Lightweight aluminum stop bar, also aged to match the overall aesthetic.
   • Tuners: Kluson single-line, single-ring tuners, ensuring accurate tuning and offering a vintage look.
   • Plating: Nickel hardware, treated with Murphy Lab Heavy Aging for a worn-in look and feel, simulating decades of play.

5. Finish and Aging:

   • Finish: The guitar features a stunning Golden Poppy Burst finish, color-matched to original sunburst Les Pauls from 1959. The finish has been aged through the Murphy Lab Heavy Aging process, giving it the appearance of a guitar that has been heavily played for many years, with authentic wear patterns, dings, and checking.
   • Aged Hardware: All the hardware, including the tuners, bridge, tailpiece, and pickups, are heavily aged to match the vintage vibe of the instrument.

6. Aesthetics and Inlay:

   • Inlays: Classic cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays on the fretboard, matching the original 1959 model’s aesthetic.
   • Knobs: Butyrate Top Hat knobs add another layer of vintage-correct detailing.
   • Case: The guitar comes with a Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-latch case, aged to match the vintage feel of the instrument and provide ultimate protection.

Tone and Playability:

• The Custombucker pickups deliver that classic PAF sound, blending warmth, clarity, and bite. The mahogany body paired with the maple top creates a rich tonal range with powerful sustain and dynamic response, perfect for blues, rock, jazz, or classic rock tones. Whether you want creamy lead tones or biting rhythms, this guitar has the versatility and depth to deliver.