Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue VOS, Double Gold #69060

Full Description

A meticulous recreation of a classic

The ultimate Goldtop. Gibson's Custom Shop is well known for creating guitars that are nothing short of masterpieces, and the 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue is no exception. With their incredible attention-to-detail, Gibson's Custom Shop have produced the most accurate recreation of a '56 Gold Top possible. 1956 was the only full year when the Les Paul model had both the iconic P-90 pickups and the incredibly reliable ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge. Thanks to its excellent intonation options and enhanced sustain, this bridge became the standard on almost all Gibson Les Pauls.

Every detail of this guitar has been painstakingly reproduced exactly the same as as it would have been on the original model - everything from the frets to the finish. If you're looking for something that captures the soul of a vintage Gibson, the 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue is the guitar for you.

Gibson's original hot pickup

If you want classic, early '50s Gibson tone, you want P-90 pickups. Introduced in 1946 as an upgrade to their single-coil pickup used in hollow bodies, they had a much higher output than their earlier single coils. They also had adjustable pole pieces, unlike offerings from their competition. P-90's are fat-sounding single-coil pickups that are much brighter than traditional PAF humbuckers. They also provide plenty of twang, and produce a large amount of midrange thanks to their bar magnet construction.

The 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue comes fitted with custom-designed neck and bridge soapbar P-90 pickups. These offer the unmistakable tone you would expect from vintage pickups. The neck pickup has a warm, clear sound, ideal for deep chords or smooth lead playing. And the bridge pickup gives you a bright, crunchy tone that packs a punch - perfect for powerful rhythm playing or soaring riffs.

Go for gold

The Goldtop was the first ever Les Paul model Gibson created. When Les Paul was in talks with Gibson designing his guitar, he requested it have a gold finish to signify its quality and make it look flashy. This finish became the standard Les Paul colour from its creation in 1952 until 1958. Not originally called the Goldtop, it was given the name "maple top" was finished in gold, with the back left natural. This 1956 reissue, just like the original, is finished with nitrocellulose lacquer. This lets the wood naturally resonate and will age beautifully. A true vintage finish that will only get better over time.

Traditional construction

Exquisite craftsmanship. When designing this guitar, Gibson made sure to use the same construction method used in the original 1956 model. This starts with choosing the right tonewoods. The heart of every Les Paul is its mahogany body. The 1956 reissue uses a single piece of lightweight mahogany with no weight relief - exactly like the original model. This provides a warm thick sound with enhanced sustain.

A 2-piece plain maple top is then glued to the body in a traditional fashion using hide glue. This is used throughout the guitar to carry more of the sonic vibrations to different parts of the instrument, resulting in a more open, three-dimensional sound. Vintage accurate in every way.

The holy grail of chunky Gibson necks

Vintage Gibson guitars are famous for having large necks. This 1956 reissue has a chunky C-Shape neck profile that will make any classic Gibson player feel right at home. A fatter neck gives improved sustain and is comfortable to hold on to when you're playing. But there's more to a neck than its shape: the materials used play a huge part in the sound and feel. The mahogany construction produces a fat sound and an Indian rosewood fingerboard gives added warmth while providing a smooth playing feel. This is all attached with hide glue, allowing for ultimate sonic transfer.

Complete protection

Such an impeccably crafted instrument deserves the best possible protection. That's why the 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue comes with an included Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue hard-shell case. Not only does this enhance the classic look of the guitar, this durable case will help keep it in pristine condition during transit. And with 5-latches your can be safe in the knowledge your pride and joy is safe and secure. Vintage tone you can take on the road.

Specifications

Body

• Model Name: Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue VOS, Double Gold
• Body Style: Les Paul
• Material: 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
• Top: 2-Piece Plain Maple, Hide Glue Fit
• Binding: 1-Ply Royalite
• Weight Relief: None
• Neck Joint: Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
• Finish: Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina)

Neck and Fingerboard

• Neck: Solid Mahogany
• Profile: Chunky C-Shape
• Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood, Hide Glue Fit
• Fingerboard Radius: 12"
• Inlays: Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
• Nut: Nylon
• Nut Width: 1.687"
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Frets: Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
• Number of Frets: 22
• End of Board Width: 2.24"

Hardware and Electronics

• Bridge: No-Wire ABR-1
• Saddle Material: Nickel-plated Brass
• Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
• Tuning Machines: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
• Truss Rod: Authentic 1950s No-Tube
• Truss Rod Cover: Authentic Stepped 2-Ply
• Control Knobs: Butyrate Gold Top Hats
• Pickguard: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Switch Tip: Amber Catalin
• Switchwasher: Silkscreened Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Jack Plate Cover: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Control Covers: Brown Royalite
• Strap Buttons: Aluminium
• Pickup Covers: Soapbar Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Neck Pickup: Custom Soapbar P90
• Bridge Pickup: Custom Soapbar P90
• Controls: CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
• Pickup Selector: 3-Way Switchcraft
• Output Jack: Switchcraft

Miscellaneous

• Case: Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch
• Strings: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
• Accessories:
  • Gibson Custom Switchplate Medallion (w/ Historic Brown Plastic Cover in Case)
  • Certificate of Authenticity Booklet
  • Historic Reissue Hang Tags