Taipei, Taiwan
About this listing
Contact us to get more pictures!In 1952, Gibson launched the first Les Paul model, featuring two P90 pickups, a tailpiece bridge design, and an all-gold finish known as the "Goldtop." By late 1953, Les Paul himself introduced his vision of a more luxurious and elegant black guitar, wanting it to resemble a tuxedo. This gave birth to the Les Paul Custom, nicknamed the "Black Beauty." The 1953 Les Paul Custom was equipped with a P90 and the newly designed Staple pickup. Like the Goldtop, it had a mahogany body and neck, but it differed with its ebony fingerboard adorned with pearl inlays, all-gold hardware, and the iconic split diamond inlay on the headstock, emphasizing its status as Gibson’s top-of-the-line model. Additionally, the frets changed from medium or jumbo to narrower, flatter ones.By mid-1957, Gibson introduced the new PAF humbucker pickup designed by Seth Lover, marking a major innovation. These humbuckers, which produced higher output and broader tonal versatility than the previous P90s, were first installed on the Les Paul Custom. Most featured a three-pickup configuration, with some using two. The PAF-equipped Les Paul became an icon that would go on to dominate the rock music scene.This particular instrument is an incredible and historically significant first-year 1960 Les Paul Custom, revered in guitar history. The moment you open its case, you’re greeted by the distinctive, intense scent of aged wood that only an original-year guitar can have. At 62 years old, this Black Beauty was produced in the same year as Jimmy Page’s 1960 Les Paul Custom and was originally owned by a guitarist named Edward Ames. He purchased it in 1963 from the famous Lew Davis music shop in central London. Its tone is simply unparalleled and irreplaceable. Over 60 years of aging have given the mahogany body its uniquely dry, airy sound and perfect resonance — a sonic character that Gibson has never been able to fully replicate through pickups or circuitry alone.The guitar is in exceptional condition, completely original since the 1960s. It retains all three original PAF pickups, the original wiring, solder joints, screws, and even the frets and nut, all untouched. Included are Edward Ames’s original purchase receipt dated May 15, 1963, payment records, Lew Davis sales documentation, handwritten notes, and original strings.For a guitar over 60 years old, its overall condition is close to 90% original. There is none of the severe finish peeling or large cracks commonly seen on other guitars from this era, only minor, normal signs of use. The gold plating on the hardware is still largely intact, and the original frets remain about 60% preserved and fully playable, showcasing the masterful 1950s and 1960s Gibson craftsmanship. It is nearly impossible to find another first-year Les Paul Custom in such remarkable condition with fully documented provenance and original components. In today's era of ongoing inflation, investing in a vintage first-year guitar like this is truly one of the best choices. Serious collectors should not miss this rare opportunity.The shipping fee includes insurance. We usually declare alow value on the shipping invoice and the insurance will follow the full value of the goods.=====================About Guitar Shop Taiwan:Guitar Shop Taiwan is the largest high-end guitar specialty store in Taiwan founded in 2007, located in Taipei, Taiwan. We offer high-end guitars and have shipped all around the world, so we have tons of experience with international shipping and received high praise from players around the world. All guitars will be insured with full value and go through professional checks and adjustments before being shipped to ensure that our customers receive the best possible experience, please kindly place an order with us without any worries.We usually use FedEx, DHL, or UPS to ship worldwide, and the shipping carrier used depends on the country or region where the buyer is receiving the item.Return Policy:Please note that the 4.4% PayPal handling fee is non-refundable in case of returns.Please note that due to insurance company regulations, it is necessary to open the package within 24 hours of receiving the guitar. The entire process of opening the package must be recorded on video. If there is any damage caused during transportation, please notify us immediately; otherwise, the insurance company will not be able to compensate for any damage caused during transportation of the guitar.All items have a 2-day return policy from the date of receipt. However, items sold as "Pre-order" are excluded from the return policy.The buyer is responsible for all return shipping costs. Items must be returned in their original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and without any signs of use.Please note that the 4.4% PayPal handling fee is non-refundable in case of returns.
Original PriceR$577,858.79
5% price drop
New PriceR$554,617.67
+ R$2,112.83 Shipping
