Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Electric, Guitars, REDUCED, Solidbody
The Gibson Les Paul Special TV model appeared in 1955, with the ‘TV’ referring to a special ‘limed’ finish intended to make the guitar more visible on black and white televisions and films. This finish had become available in 1954 on the Les Paul TV, a single-pickup Les Paul Junior. Both models used a slab Mahogany body with no Maple cap, and a Mahogany neck, with a bound Rosewood fingerboard, which into the mid 1960’s meant Brazilian Rosewood.
Here we’re looking at a Gibson Les Paul Special TV model dating to 1958. Over the years of production, the overall construction remained pretty constant but this guitar has a feature specific to 1958. The feature is the use of a rubber washer pickup selector ‘shock mount’, which was otherwise only used on guitars like the L-5CES. Of course the serial number has a preceding ‘8’ designating 1958.
Overall this Gibson Les Paul Special TV is in good condition all round. It has been refretted so it plays quite well, and the nitro lacquer ‘TV’ finish is in good shape with natural checking and light pressure marks from honest use. The tuners are drop-in replacement single-line Kluson style tuners with creme plastic buttons. The pickup selector switch tip is a replacement – the original broken part is included. The electronics are original and the P-90’s sound great.
A well-worn period Gibson brown 5-latch case is included, and may be original.
The Gibson Les Paul Special TV model is still available, and can be viewed at this link.
- Model: Les Paul Special TV
- Year: 1958
- Finish TV
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 8 4657, built during 1958 at Kalamazoo Michigan
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 02/10/2023
- Consignment Item
- Including Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 8.052lbs 3.66kg
- Scale Length: 24.65in 626mm
- Nut Width: 1.710in 43.44mm
