Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Custom B3 'Black Beauty' Reissue – USA 2004

From Gibson: 

“Gibson Custom Shop is the pinnacle of craftsmanship, quality, and sound excellence. Each instrument celebrates Gibson's legacy through accuracy, authenticity and attention to detail. 

With its elegant lines and Ebony/Pearl/Gold aesthetic, the Les Paul Custom is easily one of the most iconic and beautiful guitars ever made. It features a body carved out of a single large piece of solid mahogany, unique among Les Paul models. The resulting dark mid-range tone from the body pairs perfectly with its bright-sounding solid Ebony fingerboard. Altogether, it's the pinnacle of guitar craftsmanship, design and tone. Gibson Custom Shop is proud to revive every last detail of the original "Black Beauty" for this Les Paul Custom Reissue, from the dimensions and contours to the precise inlay patterns to the entire ownership experience.” 

Well balanced and acoustically resonant, this Les Paul has a very powerful and authoritative tone unplugged that translates well through the Custombucker pickups. The bridge position unit has a powerful and guttural sound, with an extremely musical and rich set of tonalities that range from growl and aggressive cut in the bridge position, to detailed and smooth sounds with the tone rolled back. The middle pickup has a nice Strat like quack thickened out by the two hum canceling coils. The neck position pickup is bright, precise and glassy, with a snap and articulation that pairs particularly well with the solid mahogany body.  

This guitar is in excellent condition. There are a few minor marks here and there, consistent with a 19-year-old instrument, but nothing offensive. The neck is straight, truss rod works perfectly, tuners are solid, very little fret wear and the gold hardware still gleams.  

Weight is 4.65kg / 10.25lbs. 

There is something about the Black Beauty finish that oozes class and power, and this one has superb playability to match its distinguished appearance. 

Excelling both at cleans and high gain crunch, this Custom Shop Les Paul Custom model epitomises the quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that has made Gibson's Custom, Art & Historic line a favourite with players and collectors alike. 

It comes in its Gibson CS hard case in excellent condition along with its Certificate of Authenticity and case candy. 

Features: 

Body Material 1-Piece Solid Mahogany 
 
Binding Multi-ply 
 
Weight Relief None 
 
Finish Nitrocellulose VOS  
 
Neck Material Solid Mahogany 
 
Profile Chunky C-Shape 
 
Scale Length 24.75" / 628.65mm 
 
Fingerboard Material Solid Ebony 
 
Fingerboard Radius 12" 
 
Number of Frets 22 
 
Frets Historic Medium-Jumbo 
 
Nut Material Nylon 

Action at 1st fret 0.25mm 

Action at 12th fret 2mm 

Neck depth at 1st fret 22.93mm 

Neck depth at 12th fret 27.06mm 

Nut Width 43.2mm 

12 fret width 52.58mm 
 
End of Board Width 2.24" / 56.89mm 
 
Inlays 1950s Pattern Mother of Pearl 
 
Joint Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit 
 
Hardware Finish Gold 
 
Tuner Plating Gold 
 
Bridge No-Wire ABR-1 
 
Tailpiece B3 Bigsby 
 
Tuning Machines Grover 

 
Pickguard Multiply Laminated Acrylic (in case)
 
Truss Rod Cover Authentic Stepped 2-Ply Les Paul Custom 
 
Switch Tip Amber Catalin 
 
Switchwasher Silkscreened Cellulose Acetate Butyrate 
 
Jack Plate Cover Multiply Laminated Acrylic 
 
Control Covers Black Royalite 
 
Pickup Covers Authentic Profile Gold-plated Nickel Silver 
 
Neck Pickup Custombucker 

Middle Pickup Custombucker 
 
Bridge Pickup Custombucker 
 
Controls CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors 
 
Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft 
 
Output Jack Switchcraft 
 
Case OHSC