What’s A Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitar

by Timmy Klein

The Gibson Les Paul guitar is one of the most iconic instruments in popular music. A number of variations of the base model have been introduced over the years, including the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar. This is one of the pricier and highest quality guitars that Gibson makes. The Les Paul was designed by guitarist Les Paul in collaboration with Gibson in 1952.

The original Les Paul guitar was among the first of the solid body electric guitars following in the footsteps of the Fender Telecaster. What differentiated the Les Paul from the Telecaster was that its strings were anchored on the surface of the guitar, instead of through its body. The Les Paul was also available in different colors and finishes.

The Les Paul Custom guitar, in particular, was designed to be a more high class looking instrument. It is primarily black in color, which led to the Custom being nicknamed the Black Beauty. When he first pitched the idea, Les Paul likened the design to the look of a tuxedo. The top of the guitar was made form mahogany, whereas the standard LP was made from maple. 1957 brought about the invention of the humbucker pickup, which was then added to the Custom, giving it a thick, warm sound.

Modern Customs feature a fretboard made of ebony, which provides a sharper tone. It also has lowered frets than the norm, which has led the Custom getting an additional nickname, which is the fretless wonder.

Many notable popular musicians have used the Gibson Les Paul custom guitar as their instrument of choice at one point or another. Artists from Carlos Santana to Peter Frampton to Eric Clapton have used Customs.

A brand new Custom costs over $5,000. No longer strictly the Black Beauty, this guitar is also available in other colors and finishes such as Cherry Sun Burst and Antique White, among others.

Did you know the Les Paul Custom electric guitar is one of many variations of the standard Les Paul? Timmy Klein takes on the ultimate Gibson journey now on http://www.gibsonlespaulcustom.net) http://www.gibsonlespaulcustom.net