Gibson Custom Shop 1954 Les Paul Reissue Gloss - Oxblood
Many great off-the-shelf electric guitars have had their reputations elevated by the legendary artists who have played them. Once in a while, however, a heavily modified instrument is used to make such groundbreaking music that the erstwhile one-off becomes iconic in and of itself. The best known and most revered of these is arguably Jeff Becks Oxblood Les Paul, a guitar from the heart of tone history. Now, Gibson Custom unveils the most accurate recreation of the Jeff Beck Oxblood Les Paul ever produced. From its aged and authentic Oxblood finish to the custom-tailored neck profile modeled precisely from Becks original instrument to the blistering and powerful sounds produced by Gibsons legendary Burstbucker humbucking pickups, the new Jeff Beck Oxblood Les Paul from Gibson Custom leaves nothing to chance. It is simply one of the most exact replicas of any historic guitar ever produced by the master craftsmen at Gibson Custom.
As such, the new Jeff Beck Oxblood is available in very limited numbers. The first 50 of these historic guitars will be carefully aged by the master luthiers at Gibson Custom to look exactly like Becks original, then personally hand-signed, numbered and played by Beck himself. The next 100 guitars will be prepared with Gibson Customs pioneering V.O.S. finish, bringing the total run to just 150 rare instruments. Each one also comes with a standard Gibson Custom case and a certificate of authenticity.
History
British guitarist Jeff Beck made a big name for himself right from the start, after stepping into very big shoes in The Yardbirds as Eric Claptons replacement, then splitting off to form The Jeff Beck Group with Ron Wood and Rod Stewart in 1967, all before the age of 25. Moving into the 1970s, though, Beck began forging his reputation as a solo artist and one of the hottest guitarists of his generation with a Gibson Les Paul as his leading instrument of choice. And like so many legendary guitars, the Gibson Les Paul in question made its way into Becks hands not through an endorsement deal, or a gift from the manufacturer, but through the lucky happenstance of some down-time being killed with a little browsing at a local music shop. While recording in Memphis, Tenn., Beck paid a visit to the popular Strings and Things guitar store to check out the stock. While browsing inside, Becks attention was immediately drawn to a 1954 Gibson Les Paul (occasionally reported to be an early 1955 model), which had been dropped off to receive some very specific modifications.
Body
The first request was to swap the guitars original Goldtop finish with a deep chocolate-brown color that turned out to exhibit some oxblood tints in certain light. Others mods included the installation of full-size humbucking pickups in place of the original P-90s, altering the full and rounded early 50s neck shape to a slightly thinner profile and changing the original tuners for modern replacements. Legend has it that the customer didnt like the results but Jeff Beck did. He purchased the modified Les Paul from Strings and Things and played it extensively on the road and in the studio. It would go on to be forever etched into the minds of millions as Becks guitar on the widely recognizable cover shot of his milestone 1975 album, Blow By Blow. A tone legend was born.
The Jeff Beck Les Paul is the most detail-precise reissue of this hallowed instrument that the Gibson Custom has ever created. All of the intensively accurate craftsmanship expected from Gibson Custom is there, from the one-piece light mahogany back to the accurately-arched carved maple top to the light aluminum wrapover bridge to the one-piece Beck-profile mahogany neck with long-tenon neck joint. Beyond even these, however, the instrument exudes the vibe of the original, with a feel, sound and finish match that pay homage to Becks original modified Les Paul.
Hardware
Gibsons Burstbucker 2 and Burstbucker 3 (neck and bridge respectively) are among the most accurate vintage PAF reproductions that Gibson has ever conceived, right down to the irregular windings from coil to coil and their lack of potting, two ingredients that contribute to an authentic late-50s and early 60s humbucker tone. This guitar spoke to Jeff Beck throughout the 70s, and it defined his throaty, emotive tone and encouraged his extreme use of sustain and harmonic feedback. Along the way it also helped define the cornerstone sound of the Gibson Les Paul in the hands of a superlative artist. Check out Jeff Beck Oxblood Les Paul from Gibson Custom and hear how it speaks to you. Each guitar comes with a standard Gibson Custom case and certificate of authenticity.
Product Features
• Mahogany body with carved Maple top
• Rosewood fingerboard with aged acrylic trapezoid inlays
• Powerful Burstbucker 2 in the neck and Burstbucker 3 in the bridge
• Lightweight, aluminum wraparound bridge/tailpiece
• Nickel Schaller tuners
Q & A
Reviews
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Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
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Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
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| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 Les Paul Reissue Gloss - Oxblood | 391000 |
