Gibson Les Paul Custom 1968 Reissue Gloss EB
Product information "Gibson Les Paul Custom 1968 Reissue Gloss EB"
At the end of 1953 a more luxurious version was launched, probably at Les Paul's express request, as he wanted a more elegant-looking guitar. He wanted a black guitar so that it would "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 adopted from the carved Archtop Super 400. The pickups were a P-90 in the bridge position and a Seth Lover-designed Alnico V pickup in the neck position.
In mid-1957 Gibson began fitting the Les Paul Custom with the new PAF pickup developed by Seth Lover. Most Customs had three PAF pickups, although there were a few that retained the traditional two-pickup configuration. Gibson Custom Shop has taken inspiration from these instruments and now presents you with a very special Custom Shop piece modelled on a vintage Les Paul Custom.
The Gibson Les Paul Custom 1968 Reissue Gloss EB is a classic single-cut style electric guitar with a two-piece mahogany body and a maple top. Mahogany was used on the original Les Paul guitars and provides the basis for the perfect vintage tone. The mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard is shaped in an Authentic '68 Medium C profile and equipped with a classic, flat 12" fretboard radius. The guitar is fitted with a classic HH pickup combination consisting of a Gibson '68 Custom Humbucker at the bridge and a Gibson '68 Custom Humbucker at the neck position. Other features include Gibson Vintage Deluxe tuners with white buttons, black top-hat control knobs, a Tune-O-Matic bridge with stop tailpiece and a three-ply black pickguard.
This model is finished in classic Ebony. The thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish allows the wood to resonate particularly well and ensures that the finish ages attractively. The guitar looks as if it were brand new but bought in the 1950s or 60s. The instrument is crafted to vintage specifications but shows no wear, faded finish, chipped hardware or other signs of ageing. This type of (non-)aging is perfect for you if you want everything that defined Gibson guitars back then, but prefer every scratch and dent to come from your own experiences and hands.
The Gibson Les Paul Custom 1968 Reissue Gloss EB is delivered with a certificate of authenticity in a luxurious original Gibson Custom Shop case, allowing you to safely transport and protect your new dream guitar from external influences.
- Binding: Antique White
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Body Shape: Single Cut
- Body finish: High Gloss
- Bridge / Tremolo: Tune-O-Matic
- Bridge Pickup: Gibson '68 Custom Humbucker
- Color/ Finish: Ebony
- Colour: Black
- Controls: 2x volume, 2x tone
- Country of Origin: USA
- Custom shop: yes
- Factory Stringing: Gibson Brite Wire
- Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Fretboard: Ebony
- Fretboard Inlays: Block inlays
- Fretboard radius: 12"
- Fret material: Nickel silver
- Frets: 22
- Fret size: Medium Jumbo
- Hardware: Gold
- Includes: Hard case + accessories
- Neck: Mahogany
- Neck Pickup: Gibson '68 Custom Humbucker
- Neck Profile: Authentic '68 Medium C-Shape
- Neck construction: Set in neck
- Neck finish: High Gloss
- Nut Width: 1.685" (42.8 mm)
- Nut material: Graph Tech
- Pickguard: Black 3-Ply
- Pickup Configuration: H-H (2x Humbucker)
- Pickup Cover: Gold
- Pickup Selector Switch: 3 way toggle
- Pickup type: passive
- Pot Caps: Black Top Hats with Silver Reflector
- Scale: 24" (610 - 634 mm)
- Scale Length: 24,75" (629 mm)
- Serial number: 400198
- Signature Model: no
- Strings: 6 string
- Strings thickness ex factory: .010 - .046
- Technology: Solid Body
- Top: Maple
- Translation: 1:14
- Tuning Machines: Gibson Vintage Deluxe with white Knobs
- Weight: 4,25 kg
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.
