Gibson Les Paul Special Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 7-5884, limed mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a truly superb example of a 1957 single-cutaway Les Paul Special, showing only minor signs of use and in amazingly clean shape just about 65 years on. The features are typical of this first variant of the model with a light "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 a pearl Gibson logo and silkscreen "Les Paul Special" designation on the face and mounts plastic-button Kluson Deluxe strip tuners. The finish on this one is less yellow-tinged than many.
Although 1957 was the peak production year for this model less than 1500 were shipped out, which is not a huge total even for the period. The LP Special is not nearly as common as the single pickup LP Junior, which sold over 35oo units that year in sunburst and "TV" finishes. These single cutaway Specials are much solider in construction than the double-cutaway version introduced in late 1950, and many find the sound more pleasing as well. At just over 7Lbs. This is fairly light for one of these, and handles perfectly. This is simply a great all-around guitar, suitable for everything from rampaging Rock'n'Roll to raw blues and even twangin' country. As the iconic Gibson solidbodies from the 1950's become ever more desirable the original Special represents the greatest value in a "Golden Era" Les Paul.
Overall 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.)., 7.06 lbs.
This guitar is VERY clean overall, ALL original with no repairs or modifications. The finish is beautiful with hardly and checking and only some small dings, dents and chips scattered around, most notably on the back edges. The back of the neck has a few feelable dinks behind the 5th and 11th frets, and there are a few deeper marks into the finish on the center of the back of the body. The hardware and electronics are all original with untouched solder joints; even the tuner buttons remain unchanged. The original frets have only some light wear. Besides being exceptionally well preserved this is an excellent player with the expected killer sound. One of the nicest of these we have seen, housed in a 1970s black Gibson HSC. Overall Excellent + Condition.
