Gibson Les Paul Slash 2023 - Natural top

What makes it different from a regular Les Paul Standard?

The important Slash-specific details are the 50s Vintage neck, Custom Burstbucker Alnico II pickups, Orange Drop capacitors, non-weight-relieved mahogany body, three-piece maple top, aluminum hardware, and the Honey Burst/Red Back finish modeled after Jessica after Slash had the original refinished.

The original Jessica is actually a 1987 Les Paul and was a factory second that Gibson sent to Slash in the late ’80s. Gibson says Slash has used it as his main stage guitar since 1988.

The production reissue doesn’t attempt to reproduce the original guitar’s heavy road wear; Gibson specifically describes the finish as reflecting Jessica’s refinished appearance while omitting the original’s considerable wear.

One interesting detail: the original Jessica was originally bright Cherry Sunburst, whereas the signature model is Honey Burst with Red Back to represent the refinished version of Slash’s guitar. Gibson Slash “Jessica” Les Paul Standard

* Finish: Honey Burst with Red Back, gloss nitrocellulose lacquer

* Body: Mahogany, no weight relief

* Top: 3-piece plain maple

* Neck: Mahogany, 50s Vintage profile

* Fingerboard: Indian rosewood

* Radius: 12”

* Frets: 22 medium jumbo

* Scale: 24.75”

* Nut: Graph Tech, 1.70”

* Pickups: 2 × Custom Burstbucker, Alnico II, exposed black coils

* Controls: 2 volume / 2 tone, hand-wired

* Capacitors: Orange Drop

* Bridge: Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic

* Tailpiece: Aluminum stop bar

* Tuners: Vintage Deluxe with Keystone buttons

* Strap locks: Schaller, factory installed

* Pickguard: Cream, supplied but not installed

* Strings: Ernie Ball .010–.046

* Case: Hardshell

* Model: LPSSP300WHCH1

* Gibson listed price: US$3,199 currently.

The interesting part is the history: the original Jessica has been Slash’s primary stage guitar since 1988. Gibson says it was one of two Les Pauls sent to Slash in the late ’80s and was originally a factory second. Slash later had it refinished, resulting in the appearance that inspired this reissue.