{"product_id":"gibson-les-paul-special-solid-body-electric-guitar-1956-7669","title":"Gibson Les Paul Special Solid Body Electric Guitar (1956)","description":"Gibson Les Paul Special Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1956), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 611431, limed mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a fine example of an early 1956 single-cutaway Les Paul Special, played but in very good shape for 60+ years on. The features are typical of the first variant of this model with a \"limed mahogany\" finish on the body and neck, two powerful P-90 pickups with black plastic covers, black bonnet knobs, a multi-ply beveled-edge black celluloid pickguard and the nickel-plated bar bridge\/tailpiece assembly. The headstock carries the pearl Gibson logo and silkscreen \"Les Paul Special\" designation. Although 1956 was a fairly high production year for this model, only 1345 were shipped out-the LP special is not nearly as common as the single pickup LP Junior which sold over 3,000 that year alone. These single cutaway Specials are much solider in construction than the double-cutaway version introduced the next year-many find the handling and sound more pleasing as well. This is a great all-around guitar, suitable for everything from rampaging Rock'n'Roll to hard blues and even country. As the iconic Gibson solidbodies from the ever-longer-ago 1950's become more venerable, the original single-cutaway Special represents perhaps the greatest value in a \"Golden Era\" Les Paul.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 39 1\/4 in. (99.7 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3\/4 in. (4.4 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.). This guitar shows some typical light play wear but for its age is quite clean overall. The TV Yellow finish is very well preserved with typical fine checking, it is darker with a more amber hue than many but not heavily worn. There wear spots on the back through the finish in the standard belt buckle area, and some dings, chips and smooth wear spots on the back and edges. The electronics are all original with untouched solder joints and the waxy \"Tiger\" capacitors in fine fettle. The thin black plastic jack plate is amazingly still original (nearly all of them are broken by now) as is the amber tip and the plastic rhythm\/treble ring on the selector switch. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only alteration is to the lower quarter of pickguard-the name \"LEE\" was written in script there at some point, and though it has been removed the shadow remains. There is some scratching to that spot from the removal efforts, but none of this is particularly conspicuous. The only other alteration is the guitar has just been expertly refretted so is now ready to go for the next 60 years. Besides being well preserved this Special is an excellent player, fairly light with the expected killer sound. It comes in its original hard case, an odd variant of the typical Les Paul brown pink-lined Lifton with an extended upper bout. We have seen these cases before, and don't know if they represent an ordering error somewhere in the supply chain or just a random substitution. Whatever the story, it is definitely original to this guitar as no other wear marks appear on the interior-they have been together since the beginning! Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Gibson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853027233932,"sku":"7669","price":9500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_e1c425ff-5713-4f1a-aa50-425e464a907c.jpg?v=1774331087","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/gibson-les-paul-special-solid-body-electric-guitar-1956-7669","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}