Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom Ebony 2011 BRUGT

2011 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom in Ebony is the modern version of the classic “tuxedo” Les Paul that first appeared in the mid-1950s, with fancy multi-ply binding, split-diamond headstock inlay and gold hardware. Until 2025 these have only been built in the Custom Shop for the last 20+ years.

The spec is standard Custom Shop Les Paul Custom – a solid mahogany body with a carved maple top, mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard, paired with the long-running 490R/498T humbucker set. The neck has a medium rounded C profile with a 12″ radius and 22 medium-jumbo frets, giving a familiar modern Gibson feel. Hardware is the usual Les Paul Custom recipe: Tune-O-Matic bridge, stop tailpiece and keystone-style tuners with gold plating.

This example shows slightly more than typical playwear: a few dings on the top and some scuffs on the back, but nothing structural or otherwise serious. Frets are perfect. Weight is 4600g. It comes in a Gibson USA hard case, likely not the original Custom Shop case, with no COA or case candy included.

SPECIFICATIONS

Body

• Body material: Solid mahogany back
• Top: Two-piece carved maple cap with multi-ply binding
• Body style: Single-cutaway Les Paul, solid body (no chambering or modern weight relief on Custom Shop LPCs of this era)
• Body binding: Multi-ply (front and back) in traditional Les Paul Custom style

Neck

• Neck construction: One-piece mahogany, set neck
• Neck joint: Long-tenon set neck, as on most Custom Shop Les Paul Customs
• Scale length: 24.75″ / 628 mm
• Neck profile: Rounded medium C (similar to later “Modern/50s C” Custom specs), approx. .83″ at 1st fret and .98″ at 12th fret on documented 2011 examples
• Truss rod: Adjustable, access at headstock

Fingerboard

• Fingerboard material: Ebony (standard spec for 2011 Custom Shop Les Paul Customs; Richlite becomes common from 2012)
• Radius: 12″ / 304.8 mm
• Fret count: 22
• Fret type: Medium-jumbo
• Inlays: Mother of pearl block inlays
• Binding: Single-ply cream

Electronics

• Pickup configuration: HH
• Neck pickup: Gibson 490R humbucker
• Bridge pickup: Gibson 498T humbucker
• Magnet types: 490R Alnico II, 498T Alnico V
• Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone (individual per pickup)
• Pot values: 500k audio-taper CTS pots (Custom Shop standard)
• Switch: 3-way Switchcraft toggle (treble / both / rhythm)
• Output jack: Switchcraft 1/4″ mono

Hardware

• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic (Nashville-style)
• Tailpiece: Stopbar
• Tuners: Grover-style or keystone tuners, gold plated, depending on specific 2011 run
• Pickguard: Black multi-ply Les Paul Custom style
• Hardware finish: Gold plating
• Finish & aesthetics
• Colour: Ebony (black) gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
• Top binding: Multi-ply
• Back binding: Multi-ply
• Headstock: Bound, with split-diamond mother of pearl inlay and “Les Paul Custom” truss rod cover

Dimensions & weight

• Nut material: Corian
• Nut width: Approx. 42.8 mm / 1.69″
• End-of-board width: Approx. 56.9 mm / 2.24″
• Measured weight (this guitar): Weight is 4600g (approx. 10.1 lb)

Case

Case: Gibson USA hard case, good condition, likely non-original to a Custom Shop model, no COA or other case candy