Gibson Les Paul Special Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
A great "player's" example of an early double-cutaway Les Paul Special, worn-in but not abused, and in perfect gigging condition. This is the first variant of this model, with the neck pickup close to the fingerboard and the selector switch farther back on the body�both of these features were changed in late 1959, around the time these guitars lost their "Les Paul" markings.
This is the "fattest"-sounding version of a '59 due to the neck pickup position, which is at the proper harmonic node point used on the earlier single-cutaway guitars. The realization that these new double cutaway bodies left a lot less attachment area for the neck caused Gibson to alter the design in less than a year, moving the pickup farther back to allow for a stronger joint.
This guitar features two powerful P-90 pickups with 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.
This is a great all-around guitar, suitable for rampaging rock'n'roll or many other genres (Frank Reckard used this model to great effect with Emmylou Harris for some years), and as Gibson solid-bodies from the 1950s become ever more desirable, represents a great value in a "Golden Era" Les Paul.
Overall length is 39 1/8 in. (99.4 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) deep. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.).
Well-played but perfectly set up: recent refret with correct style jumbo frets, newer bone nut, otherwise all original fittings and hardware. Tuners are original period Kluson Deluxe, at one time the guitar mounted Grovers but now only the faint rings on the headstock face remain as evidence. The now fetishized "Bumblebee" tone capacitors are unchanged. Cherry finish has faded considerably and has heavy armwear on the upper bout and average playwear overall; back of neck has a clear overspray where much of the original finish had worn away.
Neck angle is excellent with no breaks or repairs (a major problem area on these early Specials) and the guitar is ready to gig; a fantastic player with an unbeatable P-90 sound. Includes a new TKL hardshell case. Very Good + Condition.
