2019 Gibson 1959 Les Paul Reissue 60th Anniversary Gold Book Electric Guitar - Heritage Burst

Our Take:

Sometimes we create something, and when it's not received well, we throw it out and forget about it. For a time, this was the story of the '59 Les Paul; met with an underwhelming consumer response, Gibson made less than 650 of 'em and moved on. It wasn't until years later that those "failed" creations were discovered by the right people, showing the world what incredible works of art they were. Those guitars are now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars; but thanks to the Gibson Custom Shop, you don't have to spend that kind of money to get a playing experience that is scarily similar to the original. These reissues might be just that - reissues - but because of the detail that has been put into their production, these guitars are not tributes: they're clones! If you weren't a Burst Believer before handling this guitar, trust us: you'll be one after. 

Gibson's Take:

No specific Gibson model carries more intrigue and gravitas than the 1959 Les Paul Standard. It wasn't a successful model when it was released (under 650 were made) but before long it was adopted by some of the world's greatest guitarists -- Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield, and Billy Gibbons, to name a few.

The instrument was simply enchanting, from its beautiful figured maple top to its extreme sonic versatility. "It has a deep, powerful sound and you can use it to imitate just about anything – violin, sax, cello, even a sitar," says Jeff Beck.

All these reasons and more made the 1959 Les Paul Standard the most coveted and legendary guitar on the planet. Gibson Custom Shop's 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Standard is not just a tribute to the priceless original models -- it's a clone of them. From laser-scanned dimensions to chemically-recreated plastics to color-matched shades of sunburst, every element has been rendered in unbelievable detail. It represents the culmination of yearly advancements to accuracy and authenticity since Gibson Custom Shop began examining vintage Les Pauls over twenty years ago..