Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Les Paul Standard Reissue.

What more can be said about the original 1958-60 Les Paul Standards (or Bursts) that hasn’t already been said a gazillion times? These guitars are legendary and highly sought after for a very good reason.

Here is a fantastic Gibson Custom Shop reissue of a 1958 Les Paul Standard. This one dates from 2014 and features a curly flame maple top of the sort usually seen on the more expensive ‘59 reissues. 2013 and 2014 are generally considered to be two of the best years for these reissues and this one does not disappoint.

Following on from the controversial ‘laminated’ fretboards used in 2012, Gibson responded to the outcry from players and collectors and reverted back to the period correct one-piece rosewood board in 2013 along with the introduction of genuine cellulose nitrate inlays and aniline dyes to get even closer to correct vintage spec. In 2014 they also started using the correct vintage hide glue to make these the closest thing to the original ’58-60 Bursts that Gibson had produced yet.

In 2015 Gibson decided to split the Historic Les Paul reissue line into two variations – the Standard Historic and the True Historic. The True Historic line was essentially the same as the 2014 reissues but with changed plastics and pick-up covers and saw a considerable price hike, whereas the Standard Historic line featured an incorrect short (and cheaper to manufacture) neck tenon. So the 2014 Historic reissues became sought after as being the last of the Standard reissues to feature the correct long neck tenon, hide glue and aniline dye.

This one plays and sounds as you’d expect from a ’58 reissue from this period. The neck has a chunky C profile that is nice and full but not overly so, and the pair of Custom Buckers produce very authentic PAF tones. All in all as close as you might reasonably expect to get to a vintage ’58 Les Paul Standard but without the second mortgage.

The overall condition is close to mint with a handful of very light and barely visible surface scratches and some slight tarnishing of the pick-up covers. There is a small amount of ‘binding bleed’ on the bass side of the neck which is common.

A great playing and sounding ’58 reissue with the added bonus of a very attractive flame maple top that has the right amount of curl to give it an authentic vintage look.

The previous owner stored this guitar in a flight case and kept the original brown Lifton reissue case untouched, so the case itself is also in mint condition. Comes with the Certificate Of Authenticity, a spare pick guard and all of the case candy.

Weight: 9lb 6oz

Pickup readings: Neck 7.9k, Bridge 7.9k