Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Standard Reissue Goldtop 2003 Electric Guitar

This is a Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Standard Reissue in Goldtop finish. Made in the USA in 2003, this guitar comes from Gibson’s finest luthiers in the Custom Shop, and is a faithful recreation of the 1957 Les Paul Standard specification. Of course featuring a set-neck construction, this instrument comprises a Mahogany body with Carved Maple top, Mahogany neck and 232 fret Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid Trapezoid inlays. Nickel hardware is fitted including a StopBar tailpiece, ABR-1 ToM bridge & a set of Gibson Deluxe tuning machines with Keystone buttons. A pair of Gibson Burstbucker humbucking pickups are installed, with a BB1 in the neck & a BB2 in the bridge. These are wired to a 3-way toggle switch & independent volume & tone controls.

The Mahogany neck plays very well, and provides an authentically vintage-inspired playing experience in all fingerboard positions. The ‘50s Rounded ‘C’ profile is certainly on the thicker side, and provides plenty of substance to grasp when chord playing & riffing. That said, there is of course still plenty of scope for melodic lead lines & solos, with a vintage feel & vibe that is really rather inspiring in the hands. The Rosewood of the fretboard is pleasant under the fingers, and with the traditional 12” radius is practical & comfortable for a wide range of playing styles & techniques.

The Burstbucker was introduced in the early ‘90s as a faithful modern recreation of the legendary PAF humbucker, the pickups make use of AlNiCo II magents, unbalanced & un-potted coils, just as the original PAFs did. This makes them uncannily similar in tone and produce an authentically vintage sound. Indeed, the neck position is round & warm, making lead lines sing through the mix. The bridge is brighter and slightly hotter, easily driving your amp into a saturated distortion.

Gibson’s legacy through accuracy, authenticity and attention to detail is legendary, and this R7 is no exception. This authentic recreation exemplifies Gibson’s tireless quest for accuracy to the original year of production, from the wood selected to the construction to the parts and precise contours throughout. Each Reissue is every bit the instrument and statement piece as the priceless vintage examples, providing an ownership experience that is endlessly fun.