Up for sale, a 1993 Gibson Historic ‘57 Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty” in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Faithful to original 1957 specs and dating to the first year of the Historic Collection, this Black Beauty hails from an increasingly heralded era of Gibson production colloquially known as the “good wood” era, featuring a mahogany body (including a carved mahogany top) and a mahogany neck capped with an ebony fingerboard, loaded with a pair of early ‘57 Classic PAFs.

This Les Paul Custom delivers plenty of midrange warmth and fundamental richness thanks to the all-mahogany construction, and these qualities are balanced by the glassy treble cut and note attack of the ebony fingerboard. Offering plenty of punch, detail and ample sustain, the medium-wind ‘57 Classic PAFs have spongy lows, detailed treble growl, and a tailored midrange that interacts well with high gain. This Les Paul Custom weighs 9lbs 2oz, benefitting from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: ‘50s-style “baseball bat” C, measuring .905” 1st fret, 1.035” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, block inlays
• Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
• Tuners: Grover Rotomatics
• Serialization: Five-digit inked dates to ‘93
• Factory Markings: Historic Collection decal on peghead

Body Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Pickups: ‘57 Classic PAF humbucker x2
• Harness: Untouched solder, CTS pots date to 35th week of ‘93
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: ABR-1 bridge, stopbar
• Plastics: Five-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs

The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish exhibits subtle vertical checking, and cosmetic wear is limited to some small dings on top at the lower bout, light finish scratches, and an extra doweled rear strap button mounting hole (adjacent to the original location). The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean save for a couple shallow marks along the spine.

The original brown Gibson USA hardshell case is included.