Breathtaking '57 Goldtop with Murphy Lab Aging
Do you yearn for the chunky neck of an early Les Paul? The historic accuracy of a '50s no-wire bridge? The authentic look of a case-lived Golden Era classic? The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Ultra-Light Aged is your chance to get your fretting hand around these features and more.
The 1957 Les Paul lays claim to what many guitarists consider to be the Holy Grail of neck profiles: the Chunky "C". The '57 is also known for its no-wire ABR-1 bridge and Seth Lover-designed PAF ("Patent Applied For") humbuckers. The Gibson Custom '57 Reissue brings these characteristics to a period-correct collectible that's accurate down to the gold paint, replica parts, and hot hide glue construction. Factor in an authentic Ultra-Light Aged finish brought to you by the Gibson Custom Shop's Murphy Lab — named for Master Artisan Tom Murphy — and the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue is one of the most accurate re-creations this side of vintage. Take it from Les Paul lovers at Sweetwater: if you're chasing that true '57 vibe, you're going to revel in all the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Ultra-Light Aged has to offer.
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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 Reissue Ultra-Light Aged features the Murphy Lab's Ultra-Light Aging treatment, boasting unique lacquer checking with minimal playing wear. It's as if the guitar spent most of its life in its case. 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 Reissue Ultra-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 Reissue Ultra-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 Reissue Ultra-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 Reissue Ultra-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 Reissue Ultra-Light Aged delivers in spades.
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Ultra-Light Aged Electric Guitar Features:
- Breathtaking '57 Goldtop reissue
- Murphy Lab Ultra-Light Aging simulates the look of a case-lived, Golden-era classic
- 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
