Gibson Les Paul Custom 1957 VOS EB #2
Product information "Gibson Les Paul Custom 1957 VOS EB #2"
At the end of 1953 a more luxurious version was introduced, probably at the express request of Les Paul himself, as he wanted a more luxurious and elegant-looking guitar. He requested a black guitar because he wanted it to "look like a tuxedo". The guitar, nicknamed the "Black Beauty", featured a mahogany body and neck, an ebony fretboard and mother-of-pearl block inlays on the fretboard. The split-diamond inlay on the headstock was taken from the carved archtop Super 400. The pickups were a P-90 in the bridge position and a newly developed Alnico V pickup by Seth Lover in the neck position.
By mid-1957 Gibson began equipping the Les Paul Custom with the new PAF pickup developed by Seth Lover. Most Customs had three PAF pickups, although a few retained the traditional two-pickup configuration. The Gibson Custom Shop has taken inspiration from these guitars and now presents a very special Custom Shop single piece model that is based on a vintage Les Paul Custom.
The Gibson Les Paul Custom 1957 VOS EB is a classic single-cut E-guitar with a two-piece mahogany body and a maple top. Mahogany was already used on the original Les Paul guitars and provides the basis for the perfect vintage tone. The mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard is carved in a '57 Chunky C profile and fitted with a classic, shallow 12" fretboard radius. The guitar is equipped with a classic H-H pickup combination consisting of a Gibson Custombucker at the bridge and a Gibson Custombucker at the neck position. Further features include Kluson single line tuners, black top hat knobs, a Tune-O-Matic bridge with Stop Tailpiece and a three-ply black pickguard.
This model is finished in a beautiful Ebony. The thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish allows the wood to resonate particularly well and enables the finish to age more attractively. The VOS, or Vintage Original Specs guitar, looks as if it were brand new but purchased in the 1950s or '60s. The instrument is built to vintage specifications but shows no wear, faded finish, dinged hardware or other signs of ageing. This type of (non-)aging is perfect for you if you want everything that characterised Gibson guitars of that era, but want every scratch and dent to come from your own playing and hands.
The Gibson Les Paul Custom 1957 VOS EB is delivered with a certificate of authenticity in a luxurious original Gibson Custom Shop case, allowing you to transport your new dream guitar safely and protect it from external influences.
General Information
- Strings: 6 string
- Country of Origin: USA
- Strings thickness ex factory: .010 - .046
Body
- Technology: Solid Body
- Body Shape: Single Cut
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Binding: multi-layered
- Body finish: Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina)
Neck
- Neck: Mahogany
- Neck Profile: 1950s Chunky D
- Neck finish: Gloss
- Fretboard: Ebony
- Fretboard radius: 12"
- Fretboard Inlays: Block inlays
- Nut Width: 1.69" (42,85 mm)
- Nut material: Nylon
- Frets: 22
- Fret size: Reissue Medium Jumbo
- Fret material: Nickel silver
- Neck construction: Set in neck
- Scale Length: 24,75" (629 mm)
Electronics
- Pickup Configuration: H-H (2x Humbucker)
- Neck Pickup: Gibson Custombucker Alnico 3
- Bridge Pickup: Gibson Custombucker Alnico 3
- Pickup Cover: Gold
- Pickup Selector Switch: 3 way toggle
- Pickup type: passive
- Controls: 2x volume, 2x tone
Hardware
- Hardware: Gold
- Tuning Machines: Kluson Waffleback
- Pickguard: 4-lagig schwarz
- Pot Caps: Black Top Hat
- Bridge / Tremolo: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Finish
- Color/ Finish: Ebony
- Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Aging: VOS
Includes
- Includes: Case & certificate
The American Gibson Guitar Corporation, founded in 1902 by Orville Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan, first became known for the production of mandolins and banjos. Today the company’s headquarters are in Nashville, Tennessee, and Gibson is one of the world’s most renowned and respected manufacturers of electric guitars.
The model Les Paul, named after its creator Lester William Polsfuss, is one of the most famous and best‑selling electric guitar shapes of all time and established the single‑cut guitar form, which has been copied, adopted and reinterpreted by numerous other manufacturers. The Les Paul is mainly prized for its sound, characterised as warm and full. The humbucker pickup largely responsible for that sound, in its now common design, was developed by Seth Lover at Gibson.
In the early 1960s the Gibson SG appeared as another solid‑body electric from Gibson. Originally intended as the successor to the Les Paul, it became — helped by Angus Young of AC/DC — another rock‑history icon and is the basis for the double‑cutaway guitar type.
With the Flying V and the Explorer Gibson is responsible for two body shapes that, although they were far ahead of their time when introduced in the late 1950s, have over the years also achieved legendary status. They still serve as the foundation for a host of heavy guitars today, for example from makers such as Jackson or ESP.
The Gibson Custom Shop produces custom orders, high‑quality one‑offs and precise replicas of famous models and legendary instrument years. These are often subjected to an artificial ageing process called relicing.
Almost as long as the company has existed, acoustic guitars have also been produced. The J‑45, the Hummingbird, the L‑00 and the SJ‑200 are among the world’s most beloved steel‑string acoustics and were the instruments of choice for Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and John Lennon.
Besides the instruments already mentioned, you can of course also buy picks, bags and cases or merchandise from Gibson with us.
We are particularly proud to host a Gibson Flagship Store in our Frankfurt branch. There you’ll find not only a large selection and exclusive models to try out in person, but you’ll also benefit from the expertise of our Gibson‑trained and certified staff when choosing the perfect guitar.