❌SOLD❌ Gibson 57 Les Paul Custom Reissue 3 Pickup Bigsby Ebony, 2011

Here’s a very classy and fairly rare guitar – a Gibson 57 Les Paul Custom Reissue 3 Pickup with Bigsby, in Ebony Black with gold plated hardware! This model was marketed as the Black Beauty, and in its original form was configured with ‘Fretless Wonder’ low frets.

The Les Paul Model debuted in 1952 with a Maple cap carrying a metallic gold finish, on a natural finish Mahogany back. In 1953, the ‘upmarket’ Les Paul Custom appeared, with a number of significant differences. The most obvious first difference was a gloss black finish, gold plated hardware, L5-inspired binding and inlays, and a ‘Staple Top’ Alnico pickup in place of the standard P-90 in the neck position. As well, the new ABR adjustable bridge and appeared paired with a stop tailpiece.

Not immediately obvious and not visible was the lack of a Maple cap. The Les Paul Custom body was built from a single block of Mahogany, with the top carved to match the Les Paul design. This continued even when the Les Paul model was completely redesigned into what’s now known as the SG. However, when the original Les Paul design was re-introduced in 1968, the Les Paul Custom was built with a Maple cap like other models.

The Gibson 57 Les Paul Custom Reissue uses the original specifications of an all Mahogany, carved top body, with Mahogany neck, Ebony fingerboard, L5-type multi-layer binding and Mother of Pearl headstock inlays and block position markers. The hardware is gold plated, and the tuners are Kluson types with plastic keystone buttons. Most of the production of the 57 reissue model does not have the full set of options, specifically lacking the third, middle pickup and Bigsby V7 dual roller vibrato tailpiece. The reissues also use modern, larger fretwire, not the Fretless Wonder low frets.

This Gibson 57 Les Paul Custom Reissue was built during 2011 and would in the normal course of events would have been made in Nashville. However, Nashville experienced flooding during 2010 that severely impacted the Gibson shop, so it may have been built in Memphis. In any case, this spectacular piece has the full package of options, and is in overall good condition with only light play wear. The black nitrocellulose lacquer finish is in clean condition, and slight dulling to the gloss, the natural patina as happens naturally over time. Fret wear is minor. The biggest indicator of wear is the wear to the gold plating, particularly on the bass side of the bridge where the player’s hand rested. It plays well, has a wide range of good tones, and is a really eye-catching guitar.

The original Gibson Custom hard shell case by TKL is included.