From Our Research Team:

The '60s Les Paul Standard...What Else Is There to Say?

What can we write about the Gibson Les Paul that hasn't already been written? It all comes down to this: Ever since its introduction in 1952, the Les Paul has had an impact on both guitar players and on music itself. What started out as Gibson's answer to the introduction of solid body guitars in 1950 turned out to be perhaps the most influential of them all. What started out as a simple gold-top guitar has turned into a veritable rainbow of colors, in configurations to meet everyone's needs, wants and yes, even budget. Picking up the Les Paul Standard is like stepping into a time machine. The two-piece carved AA maple top has just enough figuring to deliver a totally vintage look. If you're not into the original baseball bat sized '50s necks, you'll really appreciate the slim-taper 1960s profile of this baby. C'mon, it's a rock and roll icon. Think '60s Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, or Mike Bloomfield all the way up to Slash with Guns N Roses or Velvet Revolver. Yeah, it's that cool.

Gibson Les Paul Standard at a Glance:

• Carved AA maple top in Cayenne red finish over a mahogany body with single-ply cream binding
  
• 1960s slim taper mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard
  
• Two BurstBucker Pro pickups with Alnico V magnets

It's a Thing of Beauty
In 1958, the Les Paul went from a simple gold-finished, painted top to a cherry sunburst finish over a carved maple two-piece top. Some of the tops were plain, while others had mild to wild figuring -- also known in guitar-speak as flamed maple. In any case, the carved top was what set the Les Paul apart from the "competition." That continued through the instrument's long and storied history. Today's Les Paul Standard is going to turn heads, no matter what color you choose. This one has a AA carved maple top with some excellent figuring in a reddish color Gibson calls Cayenne.

Slim-Taper 1960s Profile Neck
The first Les Pauls had huge necks, but by 1960 the neck underwent several modifications until it became what's known as the slim-taper design, which is actually what most of today's players prefer. Never mind that we made fun of '60s necks in the section covering '50s Les Paul Standards. We were just having fun. Honestly, if you like a neck that feels like it was made in this century, then you'll appreciate this one. Of course, the neck is mahogany, so it's absolutely rock solid and the rosewood fingerboard with those pearloid trapezoid markers has that warm, classic Les Paul feel while still allowing easy access to the upper frets so you can really dig into your solos!

Two Fat, Smoky BurstBucker Pro Pickups
Look, when you're talking about a Les Paul, you're talking about that big, fat, smoky humbucker sound. Forget all those thin "out-of-phase" guitar sounds that the session players overused in the 1980s and (sad to say) right through much of the '90s. That's not for you, is it? Of course not. You've got that nice slim-taper neck in your left hand and you're grabbing big chunky chords and soloing all up and down the fingerboard. You want that authentic Les Paul sound, not some wishy-washy compromise (though it's okay for some people, just not you). So Gibson put two huge-sounding BurstBucker Pro pickups on this baby with hot Alnico V magnets. Tone is what it's all about!

Les Paul Standard features:

• Color: Wine Red
  
• Top: Maple (two-piece AA figured)
  
• Back: Mahogany
  
• Neck: Mahogany with 1960s slim-taper profile
  
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with pearloid trapezoid inlays
  
• Number of frets: 22
  
• Pickups: Two BurstBucker Pro pickups with Alnico V magnets
  
• Controls: Two each tone and volume with three-way pickup selector switch
  
• Machine heads: Green Keys
  
• Hardware: Nickel plated
  
• Case: Black reptile pattern hardshell

Gibson: Don't Mess with a Good Thing
Gibson guitars have been around for well over a century. When guitarists are looking for an outstanding combination of superb tone and playability along with great looks and gorgeous finishes, the choice for most of those 100 plus years has been Gibson. From their amazing collection of fine acoustics to the electric guitars that literally rewrote music history, Gibson guitars have been on almost every chart-topping album from artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cream and Led Zeppelin. These "first call" instruments also cross an enormous array of diverse styles, from folk and country to blues and hard rock. With that resume, it's not surprising that so many of Gibson's best-selling instruments have changed little over the decades. Because there's just no sense in messing with a good thing!

Specification Detail Manufacturer Part Number LP6+WRNH1

What Does "Special Order" Mean? A special-order product is one that we don't normally keep in stock. We order it from the manufacturer as soon as you order from us. We have great relationships with all the manufacturers we carry, so we can get your special order to you as fast as or faster than anyone else. Remember that special orders are non-returnable and non-cancelable, so make sure the item is right for you. A Sweetwater Sales Engineer can help you decide - call (800) 222-4700 for assistance!