To many Les Paul collectors, the '57 Goldtop Darkback — so called for its darkly finished body and neck backing — is the Holy Grail of vintage guitars. The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged is a painstaking re-creation of this bygone icon, faithful from the chunky '50s-profile neck and historic no-wire bridge right down to the radiant gold paint, replica parts, and hot hide glue construction. In addition to its period accuracy, the '57 Goldtop Darkback reissue feature Gibson's Murphy Lab Light Aging to simulate the dings, checking, and patina of decades of casual wear. That's right: this is one axe that comes gently broken in, so you don't have to worry about taking it on the town for a night or two. And that's good news, because once you hear those PAF-inspired Custombucker Alnico III pickups in the flesh and wrap your hand around that heirloom Chunky "C" neck, the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback Reissue Light Aged is one relic you may not be able to put down.

Specifications

• body style: Les Paul
• body shape: Les Paul
• top: 2-piece Plain Maple, Hide Glue Fit
• back: 1-piece Lightweight Mahogany
• binding: Single-ply Royalite
• body finish: Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• neck profile: 50s Rounded Medium C
• scale length: 628.65 mm / 24.75 in
• fingerboard material: Indian Rosewood
• fingerboard radius: 304.8 mm / 12 in
• neck material: Solid Mahogany
• number of frets: 22
• frets: Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
• nut material: Nylon
• nut width: 42.85 mm / 1.687 in
• end of fingerboard width: 56.89 mm / 2.239 in
• inlays: Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
• neck joint: Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
• hardware finish: Nickel, Murphy Lab Light Aged
• bridge: ABR-1
• saddle material: Nickel-plated Brass
• tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
• tuning machines: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
• truss rod: Authentic 1950's No-Tube
• truss rod cover: Authentic Stepped 2-ply
• control knobs: Butyrate Gold Top Hats
• switch tip: Amber Catalin
• switch washer: Replica Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• jack plate cover: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• control covers: Brown Royalite
• strap buttons: Aluminum
• pickup mounting rings: M69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• pickup covers: Authentic Profile Nickel Silver
• neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
• bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
• controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
• pickup selector: 3-way Switchcraft
• output jack: 1/4" (6.35 mm) Switchcraft
• case: Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue with 5 Latches
• accessories: Certificate of Authenticity, Custom Shop Medallion on Switch Plate; Historic Reissue Switch Plate Cover in Case

#74165