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Guitar Wishbook for 10-27-08

- Rated: 54 ↑
Oct 27, 2008 9:41 p.m. tartan phantom:

An iconic classic for the Wishbook this week.

From the 1955 Gibson Guitars catalog:

The Les Paul Custom!

The original "Fretless Wonder", shown here with P-90 pickups (Seth Lover's Humbucker had not quite made it off the test bench yet). 1955 was the first "official" release of the ebony-finished "Black Beauty".

Although I've never been a huge fan of Les Paul guitars, for many folks they are the pinnacle of guitardom-- partly because of the seemingly never-ending list of star players who have been associated with them. Not a whole lot for me to say here that hasn't already been said-- volumes have been written about this guitar!

Remember, clicking on the image should bring up the full-sized (zoomable to 1000 pixels) image in a new window. New installments in the series will be posted every Monday. (Next installment will be posted on 11/3/08)
- Rated: 13 ↑
Oct 27, 2008 10:08 p.m. Catdaddy1967:

Given a choice, I'd much rather have one of these over a 56 Gold Top or 58/59 Standard - the cap as well as the body on these was mahogany, so I believe... Some design error or something... Plus the allure of those P90s...

Thanks for posting, TP!
- Rated: 41 ↑
Oct 27, 2008 10:16 p.m. bwallace1:

sorry, Rob. but I still prefer my '73 Deluxe. and you know why.brent

thanks for the posting.
- Rated: 12 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 8:51 a.m. Chonny:

Yep the 50s Customs were all mahogany. It wasn't till 68 that they came with a maple cap. Also back in the 50s there was no mahogany cap, it was a solid piece of mahogany with only electronic/cavity routing.

The current historic Customs do come with a mahogany cap.

I have a '68 Custom RI, it has a maple cap, nickel hardware, and I stuck some Bare Knuckles in it, truly a great guitar.
- Rated: 66 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 8:57 a.m. Walter Broes:

I think a single coil custom is one of the classiest solidbodies out there. Some day, when I can afford it, I'm getting a reissue.
- Rated: 31 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 9:01 a.m. Danman:

Yes they really are beautiful guitars, black with the P90's. I do however like the goldtop with white soapbars a little bit more.
I like the other picture too though: that's my 55 LP jr laying there.
- Rated: 8 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 9:08 a.m. ChuckH:

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a mahongany, or maple cap? I've got 70 Les Paul Custom, heaviest darn guitar I ever played.. I swear they put lead in it
- Rated: 31 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 9:13 a.m. Danman:

That means that they put a layer of maple on top of the mahogany body, on the front of the guitar. The arched part is maple in that case. Yes they can be ridiculously heavy. I sold my LP custom for that reason. But I got a light weight LP jr from 55 to replace it.
- Rated: 54 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 10:25 a.m. tartan phantom:

By the way, anybody notice that LP Junior Amp?

Is it just me, or does it remind you of the current Fender Champ/G5222??
- Rated: 35 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 11:25 a.m. crowbone:

I trashpicked a 55 LP jr amp. when I was a kid.

I played with a 66 strat my friend's dad had lying around, and it burned up the transformer. I took it to an amp shop, and the guy said it was trash, so I tossed it. Lesson learned.
- Rated: 10 ↑
Oct 28, 2008 11:45 a.m. Zol:

tartan phantom - you're in luck! Gruhn's has one for 30k!

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