Radiant Goldtop Darkback Reissue with Murphy Lab Aging
To many Les Paul collectors, the '57 Goldtop Darkback — so called for its darkly finished body and neck backing — is the Holy Grail of vintage guitars. The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged is a painstaking re-creation of this bygone icon, faithful from the chunky '50s-profile neck and historic no-wire bridge right down to the radiant gold paint, replica parts, and hot hide glue construction. In addition to its period accuracy, the '57 Goldtop Darkback reissue feature Gibson's Murphy Lab Light Aging to simulate the dings, checking, and patina of decades of casual wear. That's right: this is one axe that comes gently broken in, so you don't have to worry about taking it on the town for a night or two. And that's good news, because once you hear those PAF-inspired Custombucker Alnico III pickups in the flesh and wrap your hand around that heirloom Chunky "C" neck, the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged is one relic you may not be able to put down.
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Artfully aged in Gibson's Murphy Lab
Under the leadership of Master Artisan Tom Murphy, Gibson Custom Shop's Murphy Lab performs one specific function: to craft artfully aged instruments using the most cutting-edge tools available. This Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged features the Murphy Lab's Light Aging treatment, boasting intense, unique lacquer checking patterns, along with dings, pick trails, finish flaking, and softened edges. It's akin to a guitar that was subjected to 50-plus years of average playing use. VOS patina hardware puts the final touch on this exquisite instrument. Beyond that, this guitar's extra-rolled fingerboard binding mimics the broken-in look and feel of a Golden-era Gibson. If you clamor for the authenticity and distinct character of a well-worn vintage-style instrument, there's a Murphy Lab-aged guitar that will feel like it was tailor-made just for you.
Fat, satisfying '50s profile neck
The 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged features a Chunky “C” profile neck, which is considered the Holy Grail among Les Paul players who prefer thick necks. If you're in this camp, wrapping your fretting hand around a juicy tree trunk of a neck is the real deal, which makes the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged your kind of axe.
Custombucker pickups deliver timeless PAF tone
When it comes to capturing classic PAF ("Patent Applied For") tone, nothing beats the sound of Gibson's very own painstaking Custombucker Alnico III PAF re-creations. These pickups are based on Seth Lover's original 1950s humbucker design. For classic country to modern high-gain, you'll love the tight low end, complex midrange, and sweet highs you'll be able to coax out of these pickups. Les Paul lovers at Sweetwater have played loads of PAF-style humbuckers over the years, so take it from us: the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged's Custombucker Alnico III pickups are some of the most historically accurate PAF copies available today. Premium 500K CTS pots and paper-in-oil caps complete the circuit.
Historic no-wire ABR-1 bridge
Just like a real-deal '50s Les Paul, the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged sports an ABR-1 bridge without the common saddle retention wire — a feature rolled out by Gibson in 1962 for fear of players' bridge saddles and screws falling out during string changes. Some players believe this bridge was a key ingredient in the '50s Les Paul sound. Others just delight in its authenticity. Regardless of your theory behind it, if you're looking for period accuracy, the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged delivers in spades.
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged Electric Guitar Features:
- A painstaking re-creation of a bygone icon
- Historically accurate dark body and neck backing
- Murphy Lab Light Aging re-creates the dings, checking, and patina of decades of casual wear
- Satisfying Chunky “C” neck profile
- No-wire ABR-1 bridge plus lightweight aluminum stopbar are a recipe for resonant tone and solid intonation
- Unpotted Custombucker Alnico III pickups deliver vintage PAF-like tone
- Hide-glued mahogany neck delivers exceptional sustain and response
- Aged cellulose nitrate trapezoid fingerboard inlays
- Period-accurate gold paint, replica parts, and hot hide glue construction
- Thin, vintage-correct, nitrocellulose-lacquer finish
