Birth Of The Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitar
The Gibson Les Paul guitar is one of the most iconic instruments in popular music. A number of variations of the base model have been introduced over the years, including the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar. This is one of the pricier and highest quality guitars that Gibson makes. The Les Paul was designed by guitarist Les Paul in collaboration with Gibson in 1952.
The Les Paul came out just after the Fender Telecaster guitar, which popularized the solid body electric guitar model. The Les Paul had some notable differences to distinguish it, such as the fact that the strings on the Les Paul were connected to the top of the guitar, rather than fed through the body. The Les Paul also stood out because it was available in multiple color schemes.
The Les Paul Custom guitar was designed from the start to be a more high quality and stately guitar. It was nicknamed the Black Beauty for its slick black design. Les Paul stated that the design was meant to be reminiscent of a tux. The guitar’s surface was made from solid mahogany, instead of maple like the standard model. Starting in 1957, the Custom was outfitted with the humbucker style pickup, giving it its defining bulky and warm sound.
The Custom of today has a sharper tone due to its ebony fretboard. The frets are also somewhat lower than those on your standard guitar, which has led to some calling the Custom the fretless wonder.
Many notable popular musicians have used the Gibson Les Paul custom guitar as their instrument of choice at one point or another. Artists from Carlos Santana to Peter Frampton to Eric Clapton have used Customs.
A brand new Custom today is worth several thousand dollars. They are no longer limited to just being Black Beauties; Customs have since produced with different finished including Antique White and Silverburst.
Did you know the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar is one of many variations of the standard Les Paul? Timmy Klein takes on the ultimate Gibson journey now on http://www.gibsonlespaulcustom.net
Great article, thanks.
Really nice write up. I love Les Pauls and it’s good to learn about its origins.
very nice post i really liked it keep post in …thanks a lot
This is such a wonderful instrument and it looks so great! Its slick black design and the different way of adjusting the strings to the body makes it unique. And the sound is only just incredible.
Love the Les Paul, although I do own a fender myself but I still have quite a fond attraction to Les Paul.
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