Gibson Les Paul Special Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957)
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Gibson Les Paul Special Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 7-4303, limed mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a great playing example of a 1957 single-cutaway Gibson Les Paul Special, showing signs of use but still in overall quite clean shape for over 65 years on. The features are typical of this first variant of the model with a 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 a pearl Gibson logo and silkscreen "Les Paul Special" designation on the face and mounts plastic-button Kluson Deluxe strip tuners. The finish on this one is a medium-banana shade, with less yellow hue in the finish than some.
Although 1957 was the peak production year for this model less than 1500 were shipped out, which is not a huge total even for the 1950s. The LP Special is not nearly as common as the single pickup LP Junior, which sold over 3500 units that year in sunburst and "TV" finishes. These single cutaway Specials are much solider in construction than the double-cutaway version introduced in late 1958, and many find the sound more pleasing as well.
At 8.27 Lbs. this lighter than some of these and handles beautifully. The neck is a medium-C profile with a substantial feel but less chunky than some. This is a great all-around guitar, suitable for everything from rampaging Rock'n'Roll to raw blues and even twangin' country. As the iconic Gibson solidbodies from the 1950's become ever more desirable the original Special still represents the greatest value in a "Golden Era" Les Paul.
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.)., 8.27 lbs.
This guitar is nice clean guitar overall, remaining original with no major repairs or modifications. The "Limed Mahogany" finish is lovely with minimal checking and small dings, dents and chips scattered around, most notably rubbed-away spots to the body edges. The back of the neck has a few small feelable dinks and some wear to the wood along the edges. A previous owner brushed a light coat of clear lacquer over the top end of the headstock, probably because he saw a flake in one of the letters on the "Gibson" logo! This is visible on close inspection but not too distracting. There are a few very small similar spots on the body, around where the first finish chips appeared.
The hardware and electronics are all original with untouched solder joints. The tuners are correct originals but have been restored; something else was on previously leaving small rings on the headstock face. The tuner buttons remain unchanged. The original frets have only some light wear. Besides being nicely preserved this is an excellent player with the expected killer sound, housed in a 1970s black Gibson HSC. Excellent - Condition.
This is a great playing example of a 1957 single-cutaway Gibson Les Paul Special, showing signs of use but still in overall quite clean shape for over 65 years on. The features are typical of this first variant of the model with a 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 a pearl Gibson logo and silkscreen "Les Paul Special" designation on the face and mounts plastic-button Kluson Deluxe strip tuners. The finish on this one is a medium-banana shade, with less yellow hue in the finish than some.
Although 1957 was the peak production year for this model less than 1500 were shipped out, which is not a huge total even for the 1950s. The LP Special is not nearly as common as the single pickup LP Junior, which sold over 3500 units that year in sunburst and "TV" finishes. These single cutaway Specials are much solider in construction than the double-cutaway version introduced in late 1958, and many find the sound more pleasing as well.
At 8.27 Lbs. this lighter than some of these and handles beautifully. The neck is a medium-C profile with a substantial feel but less chunky than some. This is a great all-around guitar, suitable for everything from rampaging Rock'n'Roll to raw blues and even twangin' country. As the iconic Gibson solidbodies from the 1950's become ever more desirable the original Special still represents the greatest value in a "Golden Era" Les Paul.
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.)., 8.27 lbs.
This guitar is nice clean guitar overall, remaining original with no major repairs or modifications. The "Limed Mahogany" finish is lovely with minimal checking and small dings, dents and chips scattered around, most notably rubbed-away spots to the body edges. The back of the neck has a few small feelable dinks and some wear to the wood along the edges. A previous owner brushed a light coat of clear lacquer over the top end of the headstock, probably because he saw a flake in one of the letters on the "Gibson" logo! This is visible on close inspection but not too distracting. There are a few very small similar spots on the body, around where the first finish chips appeared.
The hardware and electronics are all original with untouched solder joints. The tuners are correct originals but have been restored; something else was on previously leaving small rings on the headstock face. The tuner buttons remain unchanged. The original frets have only some light wear. Besides being nicely preserved this is an excellent player with the expected killer sound, housed in a 1970s black Gibson HSC. Excellent - Condition.