Gibson SG Special Electric Guitar,Worn Brown Satin

• Powerful, intense, and affordable 6-string electric guitar with solid mahogany body and '50s rounded neck profile
• 490T and 490R pickups--"T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm
• Swirl acrylic inlays for classic "pearl" look
• Gibson Tune-O-Matic bridge; 2 volume and 2 tone controls plus 3-way toggle
• Worn brown finish with chrome hardware; comes with Gibson Deluxe Gig Bag

When it comes to rocking the house, this cool-looking, great-playing SG won't fade on you! That's right - Gibson's SG Special Faded solidbody gives you all the hallmarks a great electric guitar needs to bring the rock: awesome tone, big output, and a great-playing neck. It's all here, at a price you're gonna love! You know what a monster of a guitar the SG is; this axe has been played by the best in the business, from the '60s to the present. And, it's more popular than ever! Now's your chance to get your hands on a truly legendary guitar!

Packing the same power and intensity as the SG Standard, but without all the trimmings, the Gibson's SG Special electric guitar retains the heart and soul of the SG--solid mahogany body and '50s rounded neck profile--while adding dot inlays, silk-screened logo, a pair of Gibson’s hot 490 humbuckers and a deluxe gig bag.

The Gibson SG Special in worn brown. Click here for a larger image.

Key Features

'50s Rounded Neck Profile

No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The more traditional '50s neck profile on the SG Special is the thicker, rounder profile, emulating the neck shapes found on the iconic 1958 and 1959 Les Paul Standards. The neck is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest--including the final sanding--is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.

Click here for a larger image (black finish shown).

 

Click here for a larger image.

 

Gibson's 490 (R) Rhythm and (T) Treble Pickup

The mid to late 1960s saw the emergence of a very different type of music coming from the clubs of England. It was an interpretation of the blues that hadn't been heard before, and it was much harder, more rocking, and definitely louder than anything else before it. As such, this new genre's players were demanding more powerful amplifiers with increased volume outputs to satisfy their sonic explorations. This led to a call for a more versatile pickup that could split coils through a push/pull knob, and prevent microphonic feedback from occurring when the volumes were turned up to maximum levels.

Gibson answered this call with the introduction of the revolutionary 490T and 490R pickups ("T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm). The 490R is a humbucker with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The 490T bridge pickup is calibrated to match the 490R, with pole pieces aligned a little further apart to accommodate the spacing of the strings at the bridge, which is different than the spacing of the strings at the neck.

Solid Mahogany Body

Probably the most central of all the SG Special's features is its solid mahogany body--lightweight, strong, with a thick, warm tone. The mahogany goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the Gibson factories.

Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This ensures all woods are dried to a level of "equilibrium," where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, in addition to reducing the weight. It also helps with improving the woods' machinability and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that a Gibson guitar will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.

Dot Inlays

Over the years, the classic dot inlay has been one of the more traditional features of many Gibson models, including the SG. A figured, swirl acrylic gives these inlays that classic "pearl" look. They are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers.

Nitrocellulose Finish

This guitar features a nitrocellulose finish--one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making process--which dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane finish, meaning there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone.

A nitro finish is also a softer finish, which makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the same on a poly finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not "seal" wood in an airtight shell--as a poly finish does--and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.

What's in the Box

Gibson SG Special electric guitar, Gibson Deluxe Gig Bag, and owner's manual.

List Price: $ 1,164.00

Price: $ 640.00

Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard VOS Electric Guitar, Faded Tobacco

Gibson's Les Paul Standard model from 1959 is the most highly acclaimed, widely recognized solid body electric guitar in the entire world, coveted by both players and collectors as the ultimate example of playability, attractiveness and tone among all six-stringed instruments. In 1959, the only major change to the Les Paul Standard was the addition of wider, fatter, "jumbo" frets, which facilitated more dramatic bends. The real force of the change was not felt until the late 1960s when rock and blues players like Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, and Peter Green began to discover the fat, warm voice of the '59 Standard. The 1959 Les Paul Standard reissue features Gibson's traditional hand-carved figured maple top and solid, non-weight relieved mahogany body. The headstock is made from Holly head veneer. Vintage-style tulip tuners are mounted in a straight line, as they were on the original.Gibson's Les Paul Standard model from 1959 is the most highly acclaimed, widely recognized solid body electric guitar in the entire world, coveted by both players and collectors as the ultimate example of playability, attractiveness and tone among all six-stringed instruments. In an industry filled with imitations and replicas, the iconic 1959 Les Paul Standard simply has no equal.

The most highly acclaimed, widely recognized solid body electric guitar in the entire world.

History

Gibson's legendary Burstbucker pickups and Tune-o-matic bridge.

22-fret rosewood fingerboard outfitted with acrylic trapezoid inlays matching the size of color of the originals.

Named after Lester William Polsfuss, aka Les Paul--legendary American jazz guitarist, and true pioneer in the development of recorded music--the Les Paul model guitar became the "Standard" in July 1958 after company president Ted McCarty and his staff decided to add the new designation and forego the guitar's traditional Goldtop finish for a new, brighter finish dubbed Cherry Sunburst, which allowed the natural beauty of the Les Paul Standard's maple top to be showcased. The company was hoping the changes would improve its sales of solid body electric guitars, which had been declining since 1953 when the Gibson shipped 2,245 Les Paul Model guitars.

Unfortunately, sales of the new Les Paul Standard continued to dip, and after shipping only 643 guitars in 1959 and another 635 during the early part of 1960, Gibson once again instituted another redesign of the guitar, abandoning the Les Paul design as we know it today and creating the SG Standard. No one could have imagined, however, that those 1,278 Les Paul Standard guitars--especially the 643 from 1959--would become the most sought after guitars in the world.

Body
While the full impact of the 1959 Les Paul Standard was still several years away from being realized, its influence on guitar design was already well underway. Besides its exceptional tone and playability, the 1959 version of the Les Paul Standard was renowned for its two "bookmatched" pieces of maple wood that made up the top of the guitar. While most of the Les Paul Standard tops in 1958 were considered "plain," some of the maple tops in 1959--and into 1960--were "flamed" or "figured," adding a three-dimensional, cosmetic element never before seen on any solid body guitar. The beautiful patterns, however, went largely unnoticed at the time, with Gibson paying no particular attention to selecting wood with distinct grain patterns. Other cosmetic changes on the 1959 Les Paul Standard included a slightly thinner neck profile, a smaller heel, and a change to larger "jumbo"-sized frets, which are still in use today.

Finish
The guitar's new Cherry Sunburst finish also saw its first full year of use in 1959, despite problems with the consistency of the red pigment used to paint it--a problem that wasn't corrected until late 1960. This caused the finish on many guitars to fade to some degree of amber, honey or yellow hue, further adding to the beauty and mystique of the instrument.

Famous Players
One of the first guitarists to recognize the potential of the 1959 Les Paul Standard was The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who obtained a 1959 model in 1964 that had been outfitted with a Bigsby tremolo tailpiece. Around 1966, emerging British guitarist Eric Clapton--himself influenced by the early 1950s Les Paul models played by Freddie King and Hubert Sumlin--also recognized the Les Paul Standard's exceptional tone and playability, and began playing them almost exclusively. Before long, the Les Paul Standards of the late 1950s had found their way into the hands of future guitar legends Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, Peter Green and Michael Bloomfield, among others, eventually helping to reshape the sound of a worldwide musical movement, while forever changing the standard by which all other electric guitars are measured.

Near-perfect Recreation
The 1959 Les Paul Standard reissue produced today by Gibson Custom is true to all of the original instrument's features and characteristics, including Gibson's traditional hand-carved "figured" maple top and solid, non-weight relieved mahogany body. The headstock is made from Holly head veneer, as opposed to fiber, just like it was in 1959, and the vintage-style tulip tuners are mounted in a straight line, also as they were on the original. The 24 3/4-inch scale length neck is made from one solid piece of mahogany, and attached to the body using a long neck tenon--one of the Les Paul's more distinguishing characteristics of the 1950s. The neck is topped by a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard outfitted with acrylic trapezoid inlays matching the size and color of the originals. Of course, two of Gibson's legendary Burstbucker pickups deliver all the subtle variations of true, classic "Patent Applied For" humbucker tone by using historically "unmatched" bobbin windings and Alnico II magnets. Other historical appointments include CTS potentiometers, bumble bee capacitors, rolled creme-colored fingerboard binding, single-ply creme-colored binding around the body, and a period-correct thin toggleswitch washer and jackplate. The 1959 Les Paul Standard comes in either a V.O.S. or Gloss finish, and with the standard Gibson Custom case, custom care kit and certificate of authenticity. They are available in Faded Tobacco Burst, Washed Cherry Burst and Iced Tea Burst.

List Price: $ 8,033.00

Price: $ 5,699.99

Gibson ES-335 Block Inlay Electric Guitar, Antique Tea Burst

• Plain maple top, back, and rims 3-ply maple/poplar/maple body construction Lightweight maple center block

The ES-335 electrified the guitar world in the late '50s and quickly became a favorite axe for all styles of music. The reissue faithfully recreates the original body design of the ES-335, combining it with a slim-taper 1960-style neck. The ES-335 features a maple body and a mahogany neck with pearloid block inlays. Add vintage-toned Burstbucker Pro humbuckers, and you have a guitar that's both a stunning instrument and a piece of music history. There are few other guitars that match the ES-335 for sheer star power.Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and other formative players in the evolving early days of rock and electric blues had already immortalized the Gibson ES-335 when the company's engineers fine-tuned the guitar in 1963. Today's Custom Shop ES-335 Block Inlay Reissue model reflects those original refinements, which enhance the guitar's playability and beauty.

Countless music legends have immortalized Gibson's ES-335.

Two '57 Classic humbucking pickups and stopbar tailpiece.

Headstock with rich holly veneer and vintage tulip style tuners.

History
The popularity of the ES-335 was already secure and continued to grow, but in1963 when the first generation of the revamped ES-335s left Gibson's Kalamazoo factory sales peaked. That year the dots on the fingerboard of the standard ES-335 inaugurated in 1958 were replaced with the block inlays that give this Custom Shop model its name. They provided easier visibility in live playing situations, where lighting is often less than ideal, and an extra touch of eye-catching class. The other refinement to the '63 was the use of the tapered, thinner-profile neck common to Gibson's built in the '60s.

Near-perfect Recreation
The ES-335 Block Inlay guitars made by Gibson's Custom Shop in Memphis today benefit from the exacting standards of contemporary guitar building technology, resulting in a much more consistent instrument than those that originally rolled off the assembly line. And before each finished guitar leaves the Custom Shop floor it is examined and adjusted by one of the company's state-of-the-art Pleck machines, so it leaves set up for maximum playability.

To recreate a vintage look, the plain maple top, back, and rims of the ES-335 Block Inlay come finished in antique red or antique teaburst. Like the Fat Neck model, it has a lightweight maple centerblock to provide its classic semi-hollowbody resonant and tonal characteristics. Unlike the all-maple 1963 ES-335 Block reissue model, the ES-335 Block Inlay has a three-ply maple/poplar/maple body construction. There's single-ply cream binding on the top and back and a five-ply '63 style long pickguard. The hardware is nickel, with an ABR bridge and stop tailpiece.

The ES-355 Block Inlay models' neck is one-piece mahogany shaped to a 1963 slim taper profile that's 24-inch scale length and 1 11/16th-inches wide at the nut. The guitar has a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearloid small block inlays and single-ply cream binding. The tuners are vintage tulip shaped, handsomely complimenting the headstock.

Unlike the Custom Shop 1963 ES-335 Block reissue, which has a pair of Gibson '57 Classic humbuckers, the ES-335 Block Inlay comes with Burstbucker Pro 1 and 2 pickups. They are controlled by two volume pots, two tone pots, and a three-way selector switch. And these guitars leave the factory strung with Gibson Brite Wire .010 strings inside a black levant case, to enhance their historic feel and presence.

Nitrocellulose Finish
Applying a nitrocellulose finish to any Gibson guitar is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making process. A properly applied nitro finish requires extensive man hours, several evenly applied coats, and an exorbitant amount of drying time. But this fact has never swayed Gibson into changing this time-tested method, employed ever since the first Gibson guitar was swathed with lacquer back in 1894. Why? For starters, a nitro finish dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane finish, which means there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone. A nitro finish is also a softer finish, which makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the same on a poly finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not "seal" wood in an airtight shell--as a poly finish does--and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.

All VOS (Vintage Original Spec) series guitars will use a proprietary process that includes unique steps for staining, wet-sanding, and hand-rubbing; subsequently the guitars reflect what a well-cared for 40-year-old guitar looks like. The result is a remarkable patina that will delight even the most discriminating enthusiast.

List Price: $ 5,174.00

Price: $ 3,799.00

Gibson ES-175 Classic Electric Guitar, Vintage Sunburst

• Body: plain laminated Maple top, curly laminated Maple back, and rims
• Body Binding: Multi-ply binding on top, single-ply on back
• Neck Species: 1-piece Mahogany

The ES-175 debuted in 1949. With a comfortable body size and stylish pointed cutaway, it quickly became the most popular guitar of the jazz world.

List Price: $ 5,409.00

Price: $ 3,999.00

Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar, Cherry Sunburst

• Designed to benefit all musicians
• Crisp Bright tone
• Heritage Cherry SB
• Body: Carved Maple top, Mahogany back
• Neck/Profile: Mahogany/'59 Rounded Les Paul
• Binding: Multi-ply top, back, and headstock, single-ply fingerboard

Les Paul CustomThe introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments.

The Incomparable Les Paul Custom Guitar

History

Powerful 490R and 498T pickups and Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece.

22-fret ebony fingerboard outfitted with figured acrylic block inlays.

The introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Yet Gibson president Ted McCarty and the guitar's namesake, Les Paul, also sought to introduce a "deluxe" version of the soon-to-be iconic model. The final design for the new Les Paul Custom was completed in early 1954, and the guitar made its official debut at the Chicago NAMM show in July 1954.

Initially, the goal had been to introduce the "deluxe" version in conjunction with the original 1952 Les Paul, yet Gibson's drive to achieve excellence resulted in several unexpected delays. The final product, however, would eventually become Gibson's top model in the original Les Paul line.

The 'Fretless Wonder'
The first version of the Les Paul Custom was nicknamed the "Fretless Wonder" for its low frets and "Black Beauty" for its rich, contrasting ebony color. It was also introduced at the same time as the Gibson Les Paul Junior and represented the ultimate in Gibson solid body design at the time, with an original price tag of just 5, which was 0 more than the regular Les Paul Model.

Aside from its obvious visual enhancements, the Les Paul Custom was the first Gibson guitar to offer the revolutionary ABR-1 Bridge, which was invented by McCarty. This pioneering achievement was a true revelation in intonation and remains one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed, setting a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered.

Other standard appointments included a thicker body design and seven-ply body binding on both the front and back of the guitar, along with a multi-bound headstock that featured a prominent five-piece split diamond patterned inlay of genuine mother of pearl--a design that still graces every Les Paul Custom made today.

Near-perfect Recreation
Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments. The body of the guitar is crafted with a hand-carved maple top, which is then fitted to a body made from a solid piece of mahogany with strategically routed holes to lessen the weight of the guitar, resulting in a Les Paul with enhanced acoustic qualities and improved resonance. The 24-3/4 inch scale length neck is also made from one solid piece of mahogany then topped by a 22-fret ebony fingerboard outfitted with figured acrylic block inlays, and given Gibson's traditional rounded profile. The pickups are Gibson's 490R in the neck position, which offers the tonal characteristics of the original PAFs, and the 498T in the bridge position, which swaps the 490R's Alnico II magnet for an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs.

Other appointments include Gibson's legendary Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, metal tulip tuners, multi-ply white and black binding on both the top and back, gold hardware, and a 1 11/16" nut width. The Les Paul Custom is available in Antique White, Ebony, Heritage Cherry Sun Burst, Wine Red and Silver Burst, and each guitar comes with the standard Gibson Custom case, custom care kit, and certificate of authenticity.

Nitrocellulose Finish
Applying a nitrocellulose finish to any Gibson guitar is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making process. A properly applied nitro finish requires extensive man hours, several evenly applied coats, and an exorbitant amount of drying time. But this fact has never swayed Gibson into changing this time-tested method, employed ever since the first Gibson guitar was swathed with lacquer back in 1894. Why? For starters, a nitro finish dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane finish, which means there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone. A nitro finish is also a softer finish, which makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the same on a poly finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not "seal" wood in an airtight shell--as a poly finish does--and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.

All VOS (Vintage Original Spec) series guitars will use a proprietary process that includes unique steps for staining, wet-sanding, and hand-rubbing; subsequently the guitars reflect what a well-cared for 40-year-old guitar looks like. The result is a remarkable patina that will delight even the most discriminating enthusiast.

List Price: $ 5,739.00

Price: $ 3,899.99

Gibson Custom ES-335 Dot Electric Guitar, Vintage Sunburst, Plain Maple

• Ebony is available only in plain maple
• Dot Archtop Electric Guitar
• Vintage Sunburst

The Gibson ES-335 Reissue Electric Guitar is about the most versatile guitar you can have. Classic semi-hollowbody design and dual '57 Gibson Classic humbuckers combine to produce everything from full-bodied growls to singing sustain. The ES-335 also features a thin tapered 1960s neck and rosewood fingerboard (24-3/4" scale), body/neck binding, nickel-plated hardware with Grover heads, Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece, separate volume and tone controls, and a 3-way switch. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.History speaks for itself. The ES-335 is one of the most important guitars of all time. Right from its introduction in 1958 as the world's first semi-hollowbody electric guitar it has been a mainstay of players eager to balance the gorgeous, round, mellow tones perfect for jazz and blues with the edge and sustain of a full-blooded solidbody.

Countless music legends have immortalized Gibson's ES-335.

Two '57 Classic humbucking pickups and stopbar tailpiece.

Grover kidney-shaped tuners.

Today the Gibson Custom Shop creates exacting duplicates of the ES-335 as it first left the Kalamazoo plant in 1958. That year just 267 were built, but the original vintage 335s grew steadily in popularity, peaking in 1967 thanks largely to Eric Clapton's high-profile use of a cherry ES-335 in the band Cream.

Body and Finishes
The Custom Shop ES-335 is available with many finish options, reflecting the color choices that have evolved over the model's 50-year history. In Satin finish, trans black and cherry colors are available, with a plain maple top, back, and rims. Ebony is available only in plain maple. With the figured maple top, back, and rims option, cherry, tri-burst, antique natural, light burst, and vintage sunburst colors are available. Wine red, trans brown, Beale Street Blue, and cinnamon burst finishes are also available in limited quantities, along with gold hardware, for figured and for plain maple models.

Regardless of color, the ES-335 retains its classic proportions: 16 1/2-inches wide, 20-inches long, and 1 3/4-inches deep. The neck is one-piece mahogany beneath a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearloid inlays and a single-ply binding. Additionally, there's single-ply binding on the top and back.

Hardware
All hardware is nickel, and there's a classic ABR-1 bridge with a lightweight aluminum stopbar tailpiece. Neck length is 24 3/4 inches with a 1 11/16-inch nut width. Satin finish models have vintage style tulip shaped tuners, while figured and plain tops come with Grover kidney-shaped tuners. All Custom Shop ES-335s have powerful '57 Classic humbucking pickups, two volume pots, two tone pots, and a three-way pickup selector switch. They are strung with Gibson Brite Wire .010 strings and come safely nestled in a black levant case.

Famous Players
Spanning numerous decades, the ES-335 has been in the hands of countless musicians. From Chuck Berry's numerous performances to Alvin Lee's incendiary performance at Woodstock to Police's 2008 tour in NYC, the ES-335 has been the instrument of choice for any players seeking gorgeous, round, mellow tones, tempered with the edge and sustain of a full-blooded solidbody electric like the Les Paul.

Nitrocellulose Finish
Applying a nitrocellulose finish to any Gibson guitar is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making process. A properly applied nitro finish requires extensive man hours, several evenly applied coats, and an exorbitant amount of drying time. But this fact has never swayed Gibson into changing this time-tested method, employed ever since the first Gibson guitar was swathed with lacquer back in 1894. Why? For starters, a nitro finish dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane finish, which means there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone. A nitro finish is also a softer finish, which makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the same on a poly finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not "seal" wood in an airtight shell--as a poly finish does--and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.

All VOS (Vintage Original Spec) series guitars will use a proprietary process that includes unique steps for staining, wet-sanding, and hand-rubbing; subsequently the guitars reflect what a well-cared for 40-year-old guitar looks like. The result is a remarkable patina that will delight even the most discriminating enthusiast.

List Price: $ 4,233.00

Price: $ 2,999.00

Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar, Silver Burst

• Designed to benefit all musicians
• Crisp Bright tone
• Silverburst
• One-piece mahogany neck
• Limited Edition Silverburst finish
• Pearl block inlays
• Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece

Les Paul CustomThe introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments.

The Incomparable Les Paul Custom Guitar

History

Powerful 490R and 498T pickups and Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece.

22-fret ebony fingerboard outfitted with figured acrylic block inlays.

The introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Yet Gibson president Ted McCarty and the guitar's namesake, Les Paul, also sought to introduce a "deluxe" version of the soon-to-be iconic model. The final design for the new Les Paul Custom was completed in early 1954, and the guitar made its official debut at the Chicago NAMM show in July 1954.

Initially, the goal had been to introduce the "deluxe" version in conjunction with the original 1952 Les Paul, yet Gibson's drive to achieve excellence resulted in several unexpected delays. The final product, however, would eventually become Gibson's top model in the original Les Paul line.

The 'Fretless Wonder'
The first version of the Les Paul Custom was nicknamed the "Fretless Wonder" for its low frets and "Black Beauty" for its rich, contrasting ebony color. It was also introduced at the same time as the Gibson Les Paul Junior and represented the ultimate in Gibson solid body design at the time, with an original price tag of just 5, which was 0 more than the regular Les Paul Model.

Aside from its obvious visual enhancements, the Les Paul Custom was the first Gibson guitar to offer the revolutionary ABR-1 Bridge, which was invented by McCarty. This pioneering achievement was a true revelation in intonation and remains one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed, setting a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered.

Other standard appointments included a thicker body design and seven-ply body binding on both the front and back of the guitar, along with a multi-bound headstock that featured a prominent five-piece split diamond patterned inlay of genuine mother of pearl--a design that still graces every Les Paul Custom made today.

Near-perfect Recreation
Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments. The body of the guitar is crafted with a hand-carved maple top, which is then fitted to a body made from a solid piece of mahogany with strategically routed holes to lessen the weight of the guitar, resulting in a Les Paul with enhanced acoustic qualities and improved resonance. The 24-3/4 inch scale length neck is also made from one solid piece of mahogany then topped by a 22-fret ebony fingerboard outfitted with figured acrylic block inlays, and given Gibson's traditional rounded profile. The pickups are Gibson's 490R in the neck position, which offers the tonal characteristics of the original PAFs, and the 498T in the bridge position, which swaps the 490R's Alnico II magnet for an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs.

Other appointments include Gibson's legendary Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, metal tulip tuners, multi-ply white and black binding on both the top and back, gold hardware, and a 1 11/16" nut width. The Les Paul Custom is available in Antique White, Ebony, Heritage Cherry Sun Burst, Wine Red and Silver Burst, and each guitar comes with the standard Gibson Custom case, custom care kit, and certificate of authenticity.

Nitrocellulose Finish
Applying a nitrocellulose finish to any Gibson guitar is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making process. A properly applied nitro finish requires extensive man hours, several evenly applied coats, and an exorbitant amount of drying time. But this fact has never swayed Gibson into changing this time-tested method, employed ever since the first Gibson guitar was swathed with lacquer back in 1894. Why? For starters, a nitro finish dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane finish, which means there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone. A nitro finish is also a softer finish, which makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the same on a poly finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not "seal" wood in an airtight shell--as a poly finish does--and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.

All VOS (Vintage Original Spec) series guitars will use a proprietary process that includes unique steps for staining, wet-sanding, and hand-rubbing; subsequently the guitars reflect what a well-cared for 40-year-old guitar looks like. The result is a remarkable patina that will delight even the most discriminating enthusiast.

List Price: $ 5,739.00

Price: $ 3,999.00

Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar, Wine Red

• Designed to benefit all musicians
• Crisp Bright tone
• Wine Red
• Body: Carved Maple top, Mahogany back
• Neck/Profile: Mahogany/'59 Rounded Les Paul
• Binding: Multi-ply top, back, and headstock, single-ply fingerboard
• Bridge/Tailpiece: Tune-o-matic/Stop bar

Les Paul CustomThe introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments.

The Incomparable Les Paul Custom Guitar

History

Powerful 490R and 498T pickups and Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece.

22-fret ebony fingerboard outfitted with figured acrylic block inlays.

The introduction of the Les Paul Model in 1952 provided the fundamental template for the design of what would eventually become the most revered stringed instrument in the world. Yet Gibson president Ted McCarty and the guitar's namesake, Les Paul, also sought to introduce a "deluxe" version of the soon-to-be iconic model. The final design for the new Les Paul Custom was completed in early 1954, and the guitar made its official debut at the Chicago NAMM show in July 1954.

Initially, the goal had been to introduce the "deluxe" version in conjunction with the original 1952 Les Paul, yet Gibson's drive to achieve excellence resulted in several unexpected delays. The final product, however, would eventually become Gibson's top model in the original Les Paul line.

The 'Fretless Wonder'
The first version of the Les Paul Custom was nicknamed the "Fretless Wonder" for its low frets and "Black Beauty" for its rich, contrasting ebony color. It was also introduced at the same time as the Gibson Les Paul Junior and represented the ultimate in Gibson solid body design at the time, with an original price tag of just 5, which was 0 more than the regular Les Paul Model.

Aside from its obvious visual enhancements, the Les Paul Custom was the first Gibson guitar to offer the revolutionary ABR-1 Bridge, which was invented by McCarty. This pioneering achievement was a true revelation in intonation and remains one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed, setting a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered.

Other standard appointments included a thicker body design and seven-ply body binding on both the front and back of the guitar, along with a multi-bound headstock that featured a prominent five-piece split diamond patterned inlay of genuine mother of pearl--a design that still graces every Les Paul Custom made today.

Near-perfect Recreation
Today's Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments. The body of the guitar is crafted with a hand-carved maple top, which is then fitted to a body made from a solid piece of mahogany with strategically routed holes to lessen the weight of the guitar, resulting in a Les Paul with enhanced acoustic qualities and improved resonance. The 24-3/4 inch scale length neck is also made from one solid piece of mahogany then topped by a 22-fret ebony fingerboard outfitted with figured acrylic block inlays, and given Gibson's traditional rounded profile. The pickups are Gibson's 490R in the neck position, which offers the tonal characteristics of the original PAFs, and the 498T in the bridge position, which swaps the 490R's Alnico II magnet for an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs.

Other appointments include Gibson's legendary Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, metal tulip tuners, multi-ply white and black binding on both the top and back, gold hardware, and a 1 11/16" nut width. The Les Paul Custom is available in Antique White, Ebony, Heritage Cherry Sun Burst, Wine Red and Silver Burst, and each guitar comes with the standard Gibson Custom case, custom care kit, and certificate of authenticity.

Nitrocellulose Finish
Applying a nitrocellulose finish to any Gibson guitar is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making process. A properly applied nitro finish requires extensive man hours, several evenly applied coats, and an exorbitant amount of drying time. But this fact has never swayed Gibson into changing this time-tested method, employed ever since the first Gibson guitar was swathed with lacquer back in 1894. Why? For starters, a nitro finish dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane finish, which means there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone. A nitro finish is also a softer finish, which makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the same on a poly finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not "seal" wood in an airtight shell--as a poly finish does--and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.

All VOS (Vintage Original Spec) series guitars will use a proprietary process that includes unique steps for staining, wet-sanding, and hand-rubbing; subsequently the guitars reflect what a well-cared for 40-year-old guitar looks like. The result is a remarkable patina that will delight even the most discriminating enthusiast.

List Price: $ 5,739.00

Price: $ 3,999.00

Gibson SG Special Electric Guitar,Worn Cherry Satin

• 50s Rounded Neck Profile
• 490R and 490T Pickups
• Solid Mahogany Body
• 22-Fret Rosewood Fingerboards
• Acrylic dot inlays

The Gibson Faded SG Special is an electric guitar that maintains the tradition of looks, functionality, and value for which the SG guitar is known. Under its attractive faded finish, the Faded Special SG is still the traditional SG, with mahogany body and neck, Tune-O-Matic/stopbar bridge, and alnico 490 pickups. The guitar's faded finish gives it the look of an electric that started its rockin' days in the '60s. A Little SG History In 1961, the Les Paul was redesigned with a thinner body and 2 sharp cutaway horns that made the upper frets more accessible while lowering production costs. The new guitar was popular, but Les Paul the guitarist behind the original Les Paul did not like it and asked to have his name removed. Gibson renamed the model the "SG" which was short for "solid guitar". Though Les Paul's name was officially removed from the model in 1961, the plastic Les Paul nameplates (positioned between the rhythm pickup and fingerboard) were in abundance in the Gibson factory and SG models having these nameplates were built and sold by Gibson up to the end of 1963. SGs have been the choice of world-class artists such as Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi, and Angus Young.Hands down, the SG Special Faded is the best combination of features and value in Gibson's iconic SG line-up. You still get the dynamic, slim mahogany body and hair-trigger quick neck that have made the SG legendary, but without all the non-essentials. The ultra-affordable price tag on this guitar is owed to fewer coats of finish than can be found on the traditional SG Standard and SG Special. This stripped-down finishing process means that not only will you enjoy more resonance but you'll be the proud owner of an SG that looks straight out of the '60s. The SG Special Faded is uncivilized. It's fierce. And it's got to hang in your guitar rack.

The best combination of features and value in the SG line-up.

Faded Finish Process

A thicker, rounder, time-honored neck profile emulates the neck shapes of the iconic late '50s Gibson models.

Industry-standard Tune-O-Matic bridge and 490 pickups.

The SG Special Faded, available in either Worn Brown or Worn Cherry, undergoes a simplified finishing process for increased resonance and the look of a well-loved road-worn guitar. Applied by hand, the Faded finishes mimic the much-desired aged finish that a Gibson from the '50s or '60s might have today. By using stain instead of paint and fewer coats of sealant, our luthiers have cut down on the extremely time-consuming finishing process to bring you our most affordable SG, without skimping on materials.

'50s Rounded Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The more traditional '50s neck profile on the SG Special is the thicker, rounder profile, emulating the neck shapes found on the iconic 1958 and 1959 Les Paul Standards. The neck is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest--including the final sanding--is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.

Dot Inlays
Over the years, the classic dot inlay has been one of the more traditional features of many Gibson models, including the SG. A figured, swirl acrylic gives these inlays that classic "pearl" look. They are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers.

Gibson's 490 (R) Rhythm and (T) Treble Pickup
The mid to late 1960s saw the emergence of a very different type of music coming from the clubs of England. It was an interpretation of the blues that hadn't been heard before, and it was much harder, more rocking, and definitely louder than anything else before it. As such, this new genre's players were demanding more powerful amplifiers with increased volume outputs to satisfy their sonic explorations. This led to a call for a more versatile pickup that could split coils through a push/pull knob, and prevent microphonic feedback from occurring when the volumes were turned up to maximum levels. Gibson answered this call with the introduction of the revolutionary 490T and 490R pickups ("T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm). The 490R is a humbucker with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The 490T bridge pickup is calibrated to match the 490R, with pole pieces aligned a little further apart to accommodate the spacing of the strings at the bridge, which is different than the spacing of the strings at the neck.

Solid Mahogany Body
Probably the most central of all the SG Special's features is its solid mahogany body--lightweight, strong, with a thick, warm tone. The mahogany goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the Gibson factories. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This ensures all woods are dried to a level of "equilibrium," where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, in addition to reducing the weight. It also helps with improving the woods' machinability and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that a Gibson guitar will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.

Set-Neck Construction
Like all classic Gibson guitars, the necks on SG Specials are distinguished by one of the more traditional features that have always set them apart--a glued neck joint. Gluing the neck to the body of the guitar ensures a "wood-to-wood" contact, no air space in the neck cavity, and maximum contact between the neck and body, allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The result? Better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.

Tune-O-Matic Bridge
The Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954. At the time, it was a true revelation in intonation, and set a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. It is combined with a separate "stopbar" tailpiece, essentially a modified version of the earlier wraparound bridge. To this day, the Tune-o-matic remains the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed.

List Price: $ 1,164.00

Price: $ 1,164.00

Gibson ES-175 Classic Electric Guitar, Antique Natural

• Plain laminated maple top, Curly laminated maple back, and rims
• 20 fret, bound rosewood fingerboard
• Multi-ply bound top and single-ply bound back

The Les Paul's impact on the worlds of rock 'n' roll and blues was absolutely titanic. In the realm of jazz, the instrument that had the same monumental effect is the Gibson ES-175.

When the ES-175 debuted with a run of 129 in 1949, it nudged aside the ES-150, which had been the guitar of choice for jazz innovators like Charlie Christian and Eddie Durham. The ES-175 also proved a more manageable and less costly alternative to the L-5s thanks to its smaller body size and laminated top.

Near-perfect Recreation

The modern recreation of this great guitar made by Gibson’s Memphis Custom Shop craftspeople owes its lineage to the ES-175 of ’57. The body is a comfortable 16-inches wide, 20-inches long and 3-inches deep with a curly laminated maple top, back, and rims. There’s multi-ply binding on top and single-ply on the back, with nickel hardware including a ABR-1 bridge and a trapeze tailpiece. Three finishes are available: wine red, antique natural, and vintage sunburst.

The Custom Shop ES-175’s one-piece mahogany neck supports the same 20-fret rosewood fingerboard that the guitar’s always offered, with beautiful pearl split parallelogram inlays, single-ply binding and the distinctive, comfortable classic ES-175 neck profile. Scale length is 24 3/4-inches with an 1 11/16-inch width at the nut. The tuners are vintage tulip style.

The pickups are Gibson’s versatile workhorses: ’57 Classic humbuckers – controlled by two volume and two tone pots and a three-way selector switch. The ES-175 ships with Gibson Brite Wire .010 strings in a black levant case. And before each one leaves the Memphis shop it is examined and dressed by one of the company’s state-of-the-art Pleck machines, providing high-tech assurance of optimum playability.

History

The Les Paul’s impact on the worlds of rock ‘n’ roll and blues was absolutely titanic. In the realm of jazz, the instrument that had the same monumental effect is the Gibson ES-175.

When the ES-175 debuted with a run of 129 in 1949, it nudged aside the ES-150, which had been the guitar of choice for jazz innovators like Charlie Christian and Eddie Durham. The ES-175 also proved a more manageable and less costly alternative to the L-5s thanks to its smaller body size and laminated top.

Due to its enduring appeal – a blend of comfortable playability and warm sonic versatility with presence to spare – the ES-175 has found its way into the hands and hearts of generations of players. Its success leapt across genres to play a role in defining the sound of early rock when Elvis Presley’s guitarist Scott Moore acquired his first ES-295 – essentially a model based on the ES-175 but equipped with two P-90 pickups – and accompanied the King on his Sun Records classics. Other great ES-175 players include Pat Metheny, Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Keith Richards, and Yes’ Steve Howe.

Body and Hardware

The ES-175 was the first Gibson electric guitar to feature a Florentine cutaway beneath the neck, giving easy access to all 20 frets. It also had a carved rosewood bridge. For it’s first four years the model came with one single-coil P-90 pickup. In the early ‘50s, more and more models were produced and sold, indicating the ES-175’s rapid rise in popularity.

In 1953, a two-pickup model was introduced, available in either sunburst or natural finish. The guitar received an update in 1957 when its design incorporated two humbucking pickups.

List Price: $ 3,899.00

Price: $ 4,399.00