Up for sale, a 2019 Gibson Custom Shop Historic “Hand Selected” 1958 Les Paul Standard R8 in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, CoA, hangtags, and case candy. These Hand Selected models are extremely rare and represent a direct collaboration with select Gibson dealers in Japan. According to the included pamphlet from Gibson, this guitar was, “hand selected from the Gibson Custom factory in Nashville, Tennessee by the representatives of top Japanese dealers with the highest knowledge of Gibson Custom instruments.”

With a pair of double cream bobbin Custombucker PAFs and a VOS Lemon Burst nitro lacquer finish, this 1958 Les Paul is a real looker, and the Hand Selected top is deceptively figured oscillating between curly flame and birdseye figuring depending on the viewing angle. Rarely seen in the USA given their exclusive distribution by Yamano in Japan, this USA Gibson Custom Historic Hand Selected model is as cool as they come.

Extremely lightweight for a Les Paul at 8lbs 3oz, traditional tonewoods include a mahogany body, two-piece carved maple cap, and a one-piece mahogany neck with a long tenon and hot hide glue fit, capped with an Indian rosewood fingerboard. This Les Paul is loaded with its factory pair of Custombuckers, Gibson's latest highly praised PAF iteration. Featuring Alnico III magnets, these low-medium output pickups have all the chirp, honk, and bloom a player could want. The pickup set is dynamic, highly detailed, and balanced, comfortably versatile with any playing style. The bridge pickup has plenty of bite and growl, while the neck pickup has the buttery girth and power one expects without sacrificing clarity. This Gibson benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, dialed in with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: ‘50s Rounded C, “baseball bat," measuring .905” 1st fret, 1.015” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Indian rosewood, pearloid flared trapezoid inlays
• Frets: Historic (Narrow/Tall), no wear
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, nylon
• Headstock: Correct 17 degree angle, holly veneer
• Tuners: Kluson Deluxe single-line
• Serialization: 89-prefix (1958, 2019), inked

Body Specs:

• Wood: Maple, Mahogany
• Pickups: Custombucker PAF humbucker x2 (nickel covers included)
• Harness: Gibson-branded pots, Bumblebee caps, R8 stamp
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: ABR-1 no-wire bridge, lightweight aluminum stopbar
• Plastics: Cellulose acetate butyrate cream-colored plastics, gold butyrate bonnet knobs

The gloss VOS Lemon Burst nitro lacquer finish has only one tiny finish chip next to the upper strap button and some minor nicks on the back and body perimeter at the lower bout. The Lemon Burst top, by comparison, is nigh flawless. The smooth nitro gloss on the neck profile is similarly pristine.

The original Lifton-branded Custom Shop hardshell case with pink plush interior is included, along with the CoA, all hangtags, pickup covers, and alternate switch cavity cover.