Year of 1955 Innovation - 1955 was a year of great innovation in all areas of American life. 1955 saw the dawn of the United States space program. The first of the classic V8 Chevrolets, reflecting the spirit of change that was in the air. And don't forget there was Rock and Roll! Jukeboxes were blasting music by Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, a kid named Elvis, and his guitar player Scotty Moore.

BurstBucker 1 and 2 humbuckers - The BurstBucker 1 neck humbucker on the 1955 Gibson Custom Les Paul replicates the sounds from Gibson's original "Patent Applied For" pickups, slightly underwound, with medium "vintage" output. The BurstBucker 2 is a humbucking pickup wound in the range of Gibson's '57 Classic for replica sound. Unpolished magnets and non-potted coils, just like the original.

Soft Shoulder '55 Neck Profile - The Soft Shoulder '55 neck profile makes the Gibson Les Paul Refin Hot-Mod sit in your hand like no other guitar neck. Gibson's guitar team chose a '55 Les Paul that had a neck with a "magical feel" to serve as a model for the Soft Shoulder '55 neck. The depth is the same from the top of the fretboard to the back of the neck as the rounded '50s neck, yet has gently sloping sides that sit comfortably in your hand.

ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Bridge and Stopbar Tailpiece - The ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge was the brainchild of acclaimed Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954, setting a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. On the Gibson Refin Hot-Mod Les Paul, the ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic is slotted directly into the body of the guitar using a separate stud and thumbwheel, providing a firm seating for the strings and allowing players the ability to adjust and fine tune intonation and string height in a matter of minutes.