Gibson Les Paul Special Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957)
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Item # 13514
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Gibson Les Paul Special Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 7-0770, limed mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a super nice example of an early 1957 single-cutaway Gibson Les Paul Special, showing light signs of use but still in overall very clean shape for well 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 limed mahogany Specials were shipped out, which is not a huge total even for the 1950s. The Les Paul 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 first pattern 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 7.31 Lbs. this is really pretty light for one of these and it handles beautifully. The neck has a slimmer feel than many '57's, quite a bit less chunky than some with more dress-away on the sides, almost leaning into the hint of a "V. This is quite unusual for a '57 Special and feels very sleek. This is simply a great all-around guitar, one of the nicest we have had, very clean and a great player 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.).
This guitar shows light signs of use but really very clean overall, remaining beautifully original with no repairs or modifications except new buttons on the original Kluson tuners. The "limed mahogany" finish is beautiful with some minimal checking and crazing; there are only very small dings, dents and chips scattered around. The back of the neck has a few tiny feelable dinks, the deepest just below the first fret. The back of the body has some light disturbance to the finish possibly from something being taped there long ago, or possibly a wide vinyl strap; in any case it is pretty inconspicuous. There is also a melt mark on the rear upper tip of the headstock edge and a few chips on the face.
All hardware and electronics are original with untouched solder joints. The stop tailpiece has plating wear on the top, the tuners show some light corrosion and as noted the plastic buttons are not original. The jackplate is original and amazingly uncracked. The guitar has been refretted very neatly with larger frets than '57 spec; these have hardly any subsequent wear. While not original this makes for an especially excellent player (the original wire being pretty small for modern tastes) with the expected killer sound; even not plugged in this one really rings. Really this is one of the nicest we have had playability and sonically, this Special lives in a later hardshell case (most came originally in chipboard). Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a super nice example of an early 1957 single-cutaway Gibson Les Paul Special, showing light signs of use but still in overall very clean shape for well 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 limed mahogany Specials were shipped out, which is not a huge total even for the 1950s. The Les Paul 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 first pattern 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 7.31 Lbs. this is really pretty light for one of these and it handles beautifully. The neck has a slimmer feel than many '57's, quite a bit less chunky than some with more dress-away on the sides, almost leaning into the hint of a "V. This is quite unusual for a '57 Special and feels very sleek. This is simply a great all-around guitar, one of the nicest we have had, very clean and a great player 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.).
This guitar shows light signs of use but really very clean overall, remaining beautifully original with no repairs or modifications except new buttons on the original Kluson tuners. The "limed mahogany" finish is beautiful with some minimal checking and crazing; there are only very small dings, dents and chips scattered around. The back of the neck has a few tiny feelable dinks, the deepest just below the first fret. The back of the body has some light disturbance to the finish possibly from something being taped there long ago, or possibly a wide vinyl strap; in any case it is pretty inconspicuous. There is also a melt mark on the rear upper tip of the headstock edge and a few chips on the face.
All hardware and electronics are original with untouched solder joints. The stop tailpiece has plating wear on the top, the tuners show some light corrosion and as noted the plastic buttons are not original. The jackplate is original and amazingly uncracked. The guitar has been refretted very neatly with larger frets than '57 spec; these have hardly any subsequent wear. While not original this makes for an especially excellent player (the original wire being pretty small for modern tastes) with the expected killer sound; even not plugged in this one really rings. Really this is one of the nicest we have had playability and sonically, this Special lives in a later hardshell case (most came originally in chipboard). Overall Excellent Condition.