Gibson Les Paul Model Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, gold lacquer top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany body with maple cap, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a beautifully played-in "real Relic" example of one of Gibson's most important guitars, the original gold-topped Les Paul Model. This one dates to early/mid 1954 and is the second major variation of this all-time classic solid-body, with the much more player-friendly stop tailpiece replacing the earlier "Les Paul" trapeze the model was introduced with. Les Paul himself was very unhappy with the initial models, constructed so the strings wrapped UNDER the bar of the trapeze unit instead of over it as intended. Gibson president Ted McCarty personally designed the stud-mounted bridge/tailpiece unit used here that both corrected that problem and eliminated the trapeze altogether.
Other features of this 1954 model include the bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid trapezoid inlays, twin P-90 pickups under shallow-depth cream plastic covers with center-mount screws and Kluson Deluxe tuners with keystone-shaped buttons. In an idiosyncratic touch, the pearl Gibson logo is set lower down on the headstock than later '50s models. Another oddity on this guitar is the plastic used for the pickup covers which has a slight swirl pattern in the cream color. This is specific to guitars from this 1953-4 period, and sometimes also seen on early ES-295 archtops.
From the first full year of Gibson's improved "stoptail" Les Paul, this is a MUCH more player-friendly guitar than the 1952 or '53 models with the strings mounted under the trapeze bar. This one has a particularly good neck angle with plenty of room for bridge adjustment, which is not always the case with these. This is a fine example of these revolutionary guitars which arguably established the Les Paul as the "other" prime contender in the new solidbody market and Fender's greatest competition. There were just over 1,500 of these instruments sold in 1954, and while this one has seen some solid play time it has no major alteration or repair.
The first solidbodies with the class of a Gibson, these guitars convinced many players to lay down their electrified arch-tops and enter the new world of higher volume. Later developments of the Les Paul line included the upscale Custom, down-market Special and Junior, and reworked Standard in gold and sunburst but this is the guitar that started it all. To this day many players feel these pre-Tune-O-Matic, P-90 Les Pauls are as flat-out bad-ass a solidbody guitar as has ever been made.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 8.99 lbs.
This 68 year old Les Paul remains all original except for a later nut, repro cream plastic jackplate and a changed volume pot on neck pickup; the rest of the wiring is original. It shows moderately heavy wear overall but no structural damage or repair. The original finish is untouched with no overspray anywhere; it shows less checking than many but a large and varied collection of dings, dents and scrapes overall. There are some larger chips through the top finish but only minor flaking and greening across the top edge of the gold lacquer, where heavier loss often occurs. The back of the neck has some dings and dents and finish worn off the edges in the lower positions.
All hardware is intact and correct except as noted above; the pickup covers have some minor pick wear. The original narrow frets have been recently crowned and some very light subsequent wear; there is some very light divoting to the rosewood fingerboard in the first position. At just a hair under 9 Lbs. this guitar has a solid and truly inspiring feel, very playable with a really superb sound. When all-time classic solidbodies are discussed, these gold top 1953-6 Les Pauls are always in the mix. This one is worn in just right with a killer vibe. It is housed in an original period "Cali Girl" brown case with the longer upper bout area that long ago held a Bigsby equipped Les Paul. This is also quite well worn but still solid. Overall Very Good + Condition.
