Gibson Les Paul Special Solid Body Electric Guitar (1956)

Gibson  Les Paul Special Solid Body Electric Guitar  (1956)
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Item # 10450
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Gibson Les Paul Special Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1956), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 612482, limed mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.

This is a truly superb example of a late 1956 single-cutaway Les Paul Special, showing only the lightest signs of use and in exceptionally good condition for 65 years on. The features are typical of the first variant of this model with a beautiful light "limed mahogany" finish on the body and neck, two powerful P-90 pickups with black plastic "soapbar" covers, black bonnet knobs, a multi-ply beveled-edge black celluloid pickguard and the nickel-plated bar bridge/tailpiece assembly. The headstock carries the pearl Gibson logo and silkscreen "Les Paul Special" designation. The original wiring is complete and intact including the much-loved "bumblebee" capacitors.

Although 1956 was a fairly high production year for this model, only 1345 of this model were shipped out. The two-pickup LP Special is not nearly as common as many folks seem to think; by comparison the single pickup LP Junior sold over 3,000 units that year alone. These single cutaway Specials are much more solid in construction than the double-cutaway version that replaced it a couple of years later; many find the handling and sound more pleasing as well.

This is simply a great all-around guitar; it excels at rampaging Rock'n'Roll to hard blues but has a softer purr as well when dialed back and can even handle twangy country. As the iconic Gibson solid bodies from the ever-receding 1950s become more venerable, the original single-cutaway Special represents the greatest value in a genuine "Golden Era" Les Paul. This one is still housed in a very clean original 4-latch brown Gibson hard shell case, a considerable collector's item in its own right as it also is correct for the same year's Les Paul Standard. Simply a sublime package of Kalamazoo goodness from the true golden era of Gibson electrics!
 
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

This guitar is simply extremely clean overall, one of the nicest 1950s Gibsons we have seen in a while showing just some very light wear. The TV Yellow finish is superbly well-preserved; it has retained the attractive "limed" very pale yellow patina and not darkened, faded or checked heavily. It does shows some very fine checking overall but little actual play wear, just some tiny random dings overall including on the face near the bridge and a few deeper dinks on the back and several up around the heel and the upper end of the neck. There is none of the typical armwear on the upper front body edge, just a little finish worn down on the back edge above the switch plate. Even the usually-worn headstock edges show only some very minor dings and dents.

The hardware remains original down to the screws except the buttons on the Kluson Deluxe tuners have been replaced, the 1950s plastic ones having nearly always crumbled by now. The electronics are all original with untouched solder joints and the "Bumblebee" capacitors in fine fettle. Even the thin black plastic jack plate is amazingly still original (nearly all of them are broken by now) as are the plastic rhythm/treble ring and amber tip on the selector switch.

The guitar retains the original small frets which show only very light wear in the lower positions, as does the fingerboard. Obviously no on played this lovely TV much at all when it was new. It has survived over six decades splendidly and remains a superbly attractive, great sounding and playing Les Paul ready to go for the next 60 years. The fabulous case is also very well preserved, showing dings and scuffs to the outside but no heavy wear and a nice clean interior, with an old soft leather strap in the pocket for good measure. Excellent + Condition.