Gibson Custom Shop Historic Collection 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 1995 BRUGT

This 1995 Gibson Custom Shop Historic Collection ’57 Les Paul Custom is an early reissue of the two-pickup Black Beauty from 1957, finished in Ebony with gold hardware.

Gibson introduced its Historic Collection in 1993, concentrating on recreating the specifications of its classic 1950s instruments. By 1995, these reissues were a distinct part of the Custom Shop range, offering more historically accurate construction than the regular production Les Paul models. The ’57 Les Paul Custom, designated LPB7, featured a solid mahogany body with a carved mahogany top rather than the maple top found on the regular Les Paul Custom.

The guitar has a classic mahogany neck, a bound ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays, and the familiar split-diamond headstock inlay. The period specification includes two Gibson ’57 Classic humbuckers, an ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece and Grover Rotomatic tuners.

This particular example has seen a lot of gigs and has the cosmetic wear to prove it. There are scratches, dents and finish marks across the body, neck and headstock, with visible buckle wear on the back. The gold hardware has wear tarnishing, and the binding has yellowed with age. It would have originally included a pickguard, but this is not fitted and not included.

Importantly, there are no breaks, the original frets are 95% there, and the overall impression is just of a well worn rock ‘n roll workhorse. Weight is 4600 g. Includes brown Gibson USA hardshell case which is also worn but works as it should. No paperwork is included.

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Gibson
Model: Custom Shop Historic Collection 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue (LPB7)
Year: 1995
Country of manufacture: USA
Series: Historic Collection
Body type: Solidbody, single-cutaway Les Paul
Body material: Mahogany
Top: Carved mahogany
Finish: Ebony
Finish type: Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
Body binding: Seven-ply front, five-ply back
Neck material: One-piece mahogany
Neck construction: Set neck with long tenon
Neck profile: 1950s-style chunky C
Scale length: 628.65 mm (24.75″)
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard radius: 304.8 mm (12″)
Fingerboard binding: Single-ply
Fingerboard inlays: Mother-of-pearl blocks
Number of frets: 22
Fret type: Medium jumbo
Fret condition: Original, approximately 95% remaining
Nut: Nylon
Nut width: Approximately 42.9 mm
Headstock: Les Paul Custom with mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and split-diamond inlay
Headstock binding: Five-ply
Truss rod cover: Black, engraved Les Paul Custom
Tuners: Gold Grover Rotomatics
Neck pickup: Gibson ’57 Classic humbucker (factory specification)
Bridge pickup: Gibson ’57 Classic humbucker (factory specification)
Pickup covers: Gold
Pickup rings: Black
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone
Pickup selector: Three-way toggle switch
Control knobs: Black top-hat knobs with numbered inserts
Bridge: Gold ABR-1 Tune-o-matic
Tailpiece: Gold stopbar
Hardware finish: Gold
Weight: 4600 g
Case: Brown Gibson USA hardshell case, heavily worn but functional