Gibson Pre-Historic Les Paul Standard Grubisa Brazilian - USA 1990

Before Gibson's Custom Shop settled on the Historic Collection naming and numbering system that gave us the R8 and R9 reissues we know today, its earliest attempts at a proper '59 Les Paul reissue came out of Nashville in the late 1980s and very early 1990s. Collectors now refer to these as "Pre-Historic" Les Pauls, and they hold a special place in the story of the modern reissue, they were Gibson's first serious attempt to recreate the look, feel and construction of an original late 50s Burst, years before the Historic Collection existed in name. Genuine examples from this window are now highly sought after in their own right.

This is a 1990 example, serial 00013, finished in a beautifully figured Amber Burst flame maple top over the classic Les Paul Standard shape. It has since been extensively and expertly reworked by Frank Grubisa, a leading Sydney luthier known for his painstaking, proprietary approach to bringing reissue Les Pauls closer to genuine vintage spec. Grubisa's work on this guitar includes re-cut vintage style fretboard inlay, thinner, more vintage correct fretboard binding, and a Brazilian rosewood board, a timber that is effectively unobtainable on new production instruments today. The neck joins the body via a long tenon, the deeper, vintage correct neck joint associated with the sustain and stability of the original late 50s Bursts. Other refinements include a new nut, DiMarzio PAF 59 pickups for a low output, vintage voiced humbucker tone, a Faber wireless ABR bridge, steel tailpiece studs paired with a Pigtail aluminium stopbar tailpiece, and reproduction Sprague Bumblebee style tone capacitors in the wiring harness.

The result is a guitar built specifically to chase genuine late 50s Burst tone and feel, on top of an already historically significant early Custom Shop reissue. It presents in excellent condition, with only light, honest play wear consistent with its age, and comes complete with its original Gibson hardshell case.

Specifications:

Weight: 4.15kg / 9.15lb

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.5mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 22.68mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 25.37mm

Nut Width: 43.86mm

Width at 12th Fret: 52.89mm

Model: Gibson Custom Shop "Pre-Historic" Les Paul Standard (1959 Reissue)

Serial Number: 00013

Year: 1990

Finish: Amber Burst

Top: Flamed maple

Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, re-cut vintage style inlay and thinner binding by Frank Grubisa

Neck Joint: Long tenon

Nut: New nut fitted

Pickups: DiMarzio PAF 59's

Bridge: Faber wireless ABR

Tailpiece: Steel studs with vintage style pigtail inserts

Electronics: Reproduction Sprague Bumblebee style tone capacitors

Case: Original Gibson hardshell case (OHSC)