Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue

The P90 guitar that proves Gibson had it perfect in 1956

The Gibson Custom Shop 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue represents the culmination of a quiet evolution. Between the first Les Paul of 1952 and the arrival of the humbucker in 1957, Gibson refined the design year after year, and the '56 is where everything fell into place: the wraparound bridge, the gold nitro finish, the P90 pickups, and the mahogany character you feel as soon as you pick it up.

The two Custom Soapbar P90 pickups are the soul of this instrument. They sound rawer and more open than humbuckers, with a midrange presence that responds immediately to your attack and your volume knob. Playing clean produces a warm, full tone with a clear attack. Playing harder reveals a snarling, characterful overdrive that you won't find with any other pickup configuration. This is a guitar that moves with the player.

The body is made of one-piece solid lightweight mahogany with a maple top, finished in nitrocellulose lacquer with VOS treatment. The neck is solid mahogany with a period-correct profile and a rosewood fretboard with trapezoid inlays and 22 frets. Scale length is 628 mm. The wraparound bridge and Kluson-style tuners are finished in nickel. The electronics consist of two Custom Soapbar P90 pickups with CTS potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors. Delivered in the matching Custom Shop case.

The Gibson Custom Shop '56 Les Paul Goldtop is the guitar for those who know the story was already complete in 1956.