on the lives they’ve led and the environment
they’ve been exposed to. So Gibson has
developed these ten shades to satisfy any
favorite you might have burned into your mind,
from years of dreaming about owning one.
The colors are very authentic to many original
examples. We are talking about top color here
and it’s worth noting that all top color variants
share the identical back color. The example I’m
reviewing here has been named “Slow Ice Tea
Fade” and was developed while replicating the
iconic original Standard “Pearly Gates” owned
by ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, as part of
their Signature Series Limited Edition Les Paul.
It nails the color of the original quite nicely and
caught my eye immediately as a stand out.
This example is also one of the few “aged”
models, as most are made in the nitrocellulose
VOS (Vintage Patina) finish. Even the case for
this one is aged and is not part of the VOS
version. The “aged” version includes shallow
incisions, meant to artificially mimic cracks in
the lacquer, known as “checking”. Dent, dings
and scratches also contribute the look of a
well-played and worn original. This method of
aging was developed and made famous by the
great Tom Murphy, who has since passed the
techniques on to the current team of artists at
the Gibson Custom Shop. The result is quite
authentic and looks convincing to the untrained
eye.
Many features carry over the previous “True
Historic” models and are applied to the
Anniversary model as well, including a tapered
ABR-1 bridge, aged trapezoid inlays, and the
expected 1-11/16” nut width and a 24-3/4”
scale length. Proper gold knobs and pickup
covers that have been created by a 3-D scan figured Maple makes this new edition a real eye combo amp that revealed the famous tones we
process of a cover from an original pickup, catcher, when the light shows off the curves all crave from a vintage Les Paul. Aside from the
made in the late 1950’s, known as PAF’s. just right. absence of a proper set-up, Gibson has out-
done themselves with the new 60 th Anniversary
PAF’s are a collector’s term given to the original
humbucking pickups, due to the decal on their Playing the Anniversary Model, even unplugged
underbelly which reads ”Patent Applied For”. is an acoustic experience that is immediately
1959 Model Les Paul.
MAP Price: $7,299.00
obvious. Rich overtones and sustain that the
I must say that the most obvious improvement, Les Paul is famous for are present and made
that I have not seen on any previous models even more alive by plugging in to your favorite
is the correct deep-carved “dish” of the Maple amp. The folks at the Gibson booth let me plug
top. This feature, combined with beautifully- mine (yes, I purchased it!) into a vintage Gibson
118 August 2019
www.Gibson.com
Joe Riggio
Joe is the trusted owner of Riggio Custom Guitars
in Tacoma, Washington that manufactures a line
of Custom Guitars and also specializes in Vintage
Guitar restoration.
RiggioCustomGuitars.com
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