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Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom 2-Pickup Black Beauty Electric Guitar (with Case)

The Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom 2-Pickup offers classic tone. With a pair of Burstbuckers, the 1957 Les Paul Custom 2-Pickup sounds great. (250) Read 5 reviews for this product | Rate and Review This Product
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Product Description

The 1957 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty is the ultimate solid body Gibson Electric Guitar now with 2 humbucking, adjustable pickups. This new and improved Les Paul Custom has increased power, greater sustain, and a clear, resonant, sparkling tone.

Constructed with a solid Mahogany body, a carved Mahogany top, and bound with alternating white-black binding on the top and bottom of the body. This - along with a Mahogany neck, Ebony fingerboard, and deluxe pearl inlays - add to the beauty of this guitar.

Two BurstBucker pickups, with gold-plated polepieces, double combination ABR-1 bridge and stopbar tailpiece-adjustable both horizontally and vertically.

This combination provides sustaining tone qualities and precision adjustment. Finished in an Ebony lacquer finish for a rich contrast with the gold-plated hardware.

About the Les Paul Series
No matter where Gibson Les Paul is seen - in the hands of a star performer, silhouetted in a guitar dealer's ad, or cast in brass and incorporated into the architecture of a restaurant - it is universally recognized as the symbol of rock and roll music. From the basic no-frills guitars to elegant showpieces, the guitars of Les Paul are the standard-bearers of Gibson's excellence. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Gibson products.
Materials: Carved Mahogany top and body, 1-piece Mahogany neck

Binding: Body/Neck/Peghead

Hardware: Gold

Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR-1 Tune-o-matic/Stop bar

Pickups: BurstBucker 1 (rhythm) and BurstBucker 2 (treble)

Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch, CTS pots and bumble bee capacitors

Fingerboard: 22-fret bound Ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay

Scale Length/Nut Width: 24-3/4 in./1-11/16 in.

Strings: Vintage Reissue .010

Finish: Ebony

Case: Custom Shop case

Includes: Certificate of Authenticity
Gibson Warranty If you have additional warranty questions, please call the manufacturer at 800-4GIBSON
Our extended 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies on this product. Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!
What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds "I love zZounds' Play as you Pay installment plan. It enables me to get better gear and pay over several months with no hassle. My orders are always processed in a timely manner and their shipping is fast." - customer on May 6, 2013
Customer Reviews
5 out of 5 (250 ratings) Rate and Review This Product
"Black Beauty is the perfect words for this guitar~!"
Sound: Great sound, like an electrified guitar should sound. Sweet and responsive to it's master. Feature: I have the 3 pickup model and it has a variety of sounds so no matter what syle you play you can find your own sound. Quality: Gibson guitars in my opinion are made the best, and this custom shop one is even a touch better Value: Worth the money and watch the value go up Manufacturer Support: never needed any,and thats the best kind of support The Wow Factor: I bought it Overall: It's a keeper, if I eveer got ride of it, it would be to my son and then only if I didn't play anymore, never!
Style of Music: southern, country gospel
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"One of the closest to perfection."
Sound: I play jazz. In comparison to other LP models this one is suited better for a jazz guitarist. It has a warmer tone, woodier & rich and that's probably why Les Paul himself used it on many of his TV appearances. It can be adapted for rock but the other LP's, i.e Standards, Classics, etc tend to be more metallic sounding. Feature: I bought mine in South London, England in 1984 at a time when Gibson were having huge difficulties. There were just no Black Custom LPs anywhere to be found. There were a few in Cherry Red floating around. I had to wait about 10 months for one to be imported and it came to me without accessories(just in a case). The components are first class. Everything was set just right. Ease of Use: The first thing i noticed about it was the very low action. Fast but wide neck which is chunky. I have small hands and the neck width took getting used to but the low action compensated for this.(i think the LP Standard has the thinnest neck and is great for small hands) String bends can prove a problem though with very low action. Again if you play jazz then you don't bend strings all that much. You can acheive a variety of sounds but i tend to prefer to switch to middle position where one gets a unique, hollow, almost semi-acoustic tone. The biggest problems i have with this guitar is the weight (11 lbs) and the heavily lacquered neck which tends to get grabby when hot. I have been told the remedy is to use wire wool to take a layer of lacquer off. Quality: Overall the product is excellent apart from a few minor snags. The nut had sharp edges to it and for some reason the grooves on the nut won't accept any other guage but .09-.42 strings. This must have something to do with the problems Gibson were having in the early 1980s. One day i will change the nut. But the guitar is rock solid! Built to last, and i'm sure it will outlive both me & my family. After 23 years it still looks almost brand new. Value: The thing to remember about LP Customs is that the only customised specs are the colour, gold trimmings,pearl inlays. Other than this the electric components are no different to any other LP models. So bearing this in mind i'm not sure why the price difference is so vast between the Custom & other models. It should be alot cheaper and more accessible to those less likely to afford it. Manufacturer Support: Tried to contact the company back in 1984 concerning the minor problems but nothing transpired. The Wow Factor: If you're intending to stand all night onstage with it then it might be advisable to wear an athletic support. It's hard to look sexy if your back is curving. But if you are seated then it's comfortable. The Les Paul Custom is an eye catcher and looks just the way Les Paul intended ( like an expensive Tuxedo). Overall: Well, i've had it for 23 years and i'm not sick of it yet. We humans are hard to please and we're always on the search for the ultimate. I have considered getting a lighter instrument but then perhaps the sustain would not be the same as on the Custom(?) In certain ways once you play one of these all other electric guitars feel inferior. But the price should be slightly less. It has quadrupled since i bought mine in '84.
Style of Music: Jazz, Blues.
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Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!

Fast approval.
We approve everyone, with very few exceptions, as long as we can verify your identity.
No interest. Ever.
It's just as if you paid the whole amount up front!
No paperwork. Nothing to track.
No application to mail or fax, no bills to pay. We automatically charge the payments to your credit card.

We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!

When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.

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Available on
orders $249+
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Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!

Fast approval.
We approve everyone, with very few exceptions, as long as we can verify your identity.
No interest. Ever.
It's just as if you paid the whole amount up front!
No paperwork. Nothing to track.
No application to mail or fax, no bills to pay. We automatically charge the payments to your credit card.

We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!

When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.

close [x]
on most orders $49+

Just $2.99 on
smaller orders

Really heavy stuff might cost you a
little more

learn more

Why fight traffic and pushy salesmen when we'll bring your gear straight to your home, free of charge?

zZounds free shipping is really free!
No hidden charges or hassles on returns.
Fast, reliable delivery
We have warehouses on both coasts, so most shipments arrive in 3 days or less.
We don't collect sales tax. Bonus!
Only NJ residents pay tax during checkout.
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