Coming to us from a long-time owner of over 50 years, this exceptional 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard is everything we hope to find in a ‘Burst. Cherished and played through the years, this guitar embodies the very best of what makes these instruments so legendary.
The original frets have been previously leveled and the guitar plays effortlessly with a bell like tone, acoustically. Both original PAF humbuckers are every bit as magical as their reputation suggests, producing that unmistakable bloom and harmonic richness that has inspired players and builders for generations. The neck pickup is open and deep with clarity to spare, and the bridge pickup covers everything from a spanky country tone to an absolutely massive and searing wall of sound. This is a ‘59 Standard that stands tall among the finest we’ve had the pleasure to offer.
The guitar comes with a story as well. As you look through the pictures, you will notice that the serial number now reads "9 MK," the MK, being carved in by hand. The guitar was loaned to a musician friend to play some shows long ago and he loved the guitar so much that while under the influence of infatuation with the instrument, he carved his own initials into the headstock; a testament to how great the guitar is that he wanted to make it his. Thankfully, the guitar was returned to the owner, one new story under its belt. Later, the area was sanded to try to remove the carving, however it went into the wood so instead of continuing to be sanded, light finish was brushed onto the headstock to seal the exposed mahogany.
Condition-wise, it shows the aforementioned modification to the headstock, a small spot of black touch up on the bass side headstock face, changed Grover tuners a la Jimmy Page, one replaced saddle for the B string, and some minor binding separation on the cutaway which is stable. Otherwise, it is very clean by any standard and especially in the right places, namely the pickups, electronics, plastics, hardware (aside from the tuners) and the beautiful finish on the body and neck. The original sunburst, now faded to lemon, highlights the mineral streaking in the maple with flashes of bird's eye, ribbons, and waves as you turn the guitar in the light; something that can't be captured in photos. It even has just a touch of red left where the hang tag was, similar to another famous 'Burst.
All in all, a truly outstanding Les Paul full of life, music, and stories, ready to inspire its next caretaker for decades to come.
