With an official launch in October 2020, the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Black Beauty was based on a classic 1958 Les Paul Custom. In 1957, three of Gibson’s then-new humbucking pickups replaced the P-90 and Alnico V ‘Staple Top’ pickup set of previous Customs. From its introduction in 1954 until the 1961 redesign, the Les Paul Custom had a major difference from the other carved-top Les Pauls hidden under the gloss black finish.
Black Beauty
Making its first appearance for 1954 , the Gibson Les Paul Custom has long been the top of the line for many electric guitarists. During the 1950’s, the Custom differed from the rest of the Les Paul line in an invisible way. Unlike the other models with a Maple cap, the Custom had a carved Mahogany top.
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MORE →Here we’re looking at a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom 1974 Reissue in Black, built during 2012 at the Gibson Custom Shop in Memphis, Tennessee. This guitar is in overall very good clean condition, with only light marking from use. The finish is dulling or oxidizing slightly, an expected reaction of a nitrocellulose lacquer finish over time.
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MORE →Here’s a very classy and fairly rare guitar – a Gibson 57 Les Paul Custom Reissue 3 Pickup with Bigsby, in Ebony Black with gold plated hardware! This model was marketed as the Black Beauty, and in its original form was configured with ‘Fretless Wonder’ low frets. The Les Paul Model debuted in 1952 with a Maple cap carrying a metallic gold finish, on a natural finish Mahogany back. In 1953, the ‘upmarket’ Les Paul Custom appeared, with a number of significant differences.
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MORE →First appearing in 1953, the Gibson Les Paul Custom began as an upmarket version of Gibson’s new solidbody, with a solid Mahogany cap instead of Maple and P90 pickups and a dramatic black finish. Here we’re looking at a Gibson Les Paul Custom in Black, built likely during 1974 at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At this point, Gibson was well into planning their move to Nashville, but the new plant was not ready until 1984.
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MORE →Introduced as the top of the line in elegance and function, the Gibson Les Paul Custom 1954 model was presented in tuxedo style finish – black, white trim, and gold hardware. Unlike the original Les Paul gold-top models which paired a carved Maple top with a mahogany body, the new Custom’s body was entirely Mahogany. New hardware appeared, as well; the new, gold-plated ABR ‘tune-o-matic’ bridge and stop tailpiece, and the Seth Lover designed, single coil ‘staple top’ Alnico V neck pickup with a P-90 at the bridge.
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