2003 Gibson Tak Matsumoto Les Paul Tak Burst w/ Case, CoA & Hantags, Yamano 1 of 200

Up for sale, a 2003 Gibson Tak Matsumoto Les Paul “Tak Burst” in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, CoA, and hangtags. Takahiro “Tak” Matsumoto is the guitarist and main composer of the Japanese rock band B’z, the best-selling music act in Japanese history, with over 100 million records sold worldwide (86 million units in Japan alone).

Famously associated with the Les Paul throughout his career, Tak and Gibson made history in 1999 when they partnered to make the first-ever signature Les Paul for an Asian artist. This exceedingly rare “Tak Burst” Les Paul marks the second collaboration between the two, produced exclusively for the Japanese domestic market in sparingly limited quantities, with purportedly just 200 pieces released, and boasting top-notch features including a deeply dimensional AAA quilted maple top with a custom “Tak Burst” nitro lacquer finish, black body and fretboard binding, custom-wound Burstbucker pickups, and abalone fretboard inlays.

The solid mahogany body was selected for its weight, and this Tak Burst is relatively lightweight for a Les Paul 9lbs 3oz, with a lively, dynamic acoustic quality and excellent sustain. The pair of Burstbucker PAF humbuckers comprise a Burstbucker #2 at the neck and a #3 at the bridge, both custom-wound to Matusmoto’s desired specifications. The Burstbucker #2 offers excellent woody cut, note detail and a fat sound ideal for leads, while the Burstbucker #3 at the bridge position delivers plenty of oomph, overwound and wax-potted for optimal feedback rejection with traditional Alnico II magnet construction. This Tak Matsumoto Les Paul has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, dialed in with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: Slender C, measuring .830” 1st fret, .925” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Rosewood, black binding, abalone flared trapezoid inlays
• Frets: Medium jumbo, no wear
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”
• Tuners: Gibson Deluxe double-line
• Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to 2003

Body Specs:

• Wood: AAA Quilted Maple, Mahogany
• Pickups: Custom-wound Burstbucker #2 (N), #3 (B)
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, three-way pickup selector
• Harness: Gibson-branded pots Sprague Orange Drop tone caps
• Hardware: ABR-1 bridge, stopbar (nickel-plated)
• Plastics: Gold bonnet knobs, cream pickup surrounds and switch tip

The gloss custom color Tak Burst nitro lacquer finish highlights the wall-to-wall ripples of figuring in the AAA quilted maple top, framed by black binding, with a “Tak Matsumoto” cursive accent running along the bass-side of the fretboard extension. Cosmetic wear includes a small area of moderate buckle rash on the back at the bass-side waist and a handful of minor dings on the top and back at the lower bout. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean.

The original hardshell case is included, along with the serialized CoA and hangtags.