1997 GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP LES PAUL ELEGANT

Transparent Cherry Red | Figured Maple Top | Ebony Fingerboard | Nickel Hardware

Exceptional Collector Condition | Original Gibson Custom Shop Case & Certificate of Authenticity

A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN AN EXCEPTIONAL 1997 GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP LES PAUL ELEGANT!

Offered for sale is my absolutely stunning 1997 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Elegant, finished in a gorgeous Transparent Cherry Red that beautifully showcases the natural figuring of its carved maple top.

This is not your everyday Les Paul Standard or Custom. The Les Paul Elegant was Gibson's upscale interpretation of its legendary single-cutaway design, combining premium tonewoods, distinctive Custom Shop appointments, innovative chambered construction, and exceptional playability.

I purchased this guitar in 2003, and it has remained in my personal collection for more than 23 years. It has been meticulously cared for and is in virtually brand-new cosmetic condition.

For a guitar approaching 30 years old, its preservation is remarkable.

This is a serious instrument for the discerning guitarist, recording professional, or collector who appreciates the craftsmanship and character of Gibson's late-1990s Custom Shop production.

THE TRANSPARENT CHERRY RED FINISH — ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS

The first thing that separates this Les Paul Elegant from the ordinary is its breathtaking Transparent Cherry Red finish.

Unlike an opaque red finish, this beautiful translucent lacquer allows the natural grain and figuring of the premium carved maple top to shine through.

The result is an incredibly rich, three-dimensional appearance that changes subtly under different lighting conditions.

The combination of deep Cherry Red, cream binding, dark ebony fingerboard, and nickel hardware creates a striking, sophisticated aesthetic.

This is the kind of guitar that commands attention the moment you open the case.

PREMIUM CHAMBERED MAHOGANY BODY

One of the defining features of the Les Paul Elegant is its specially chambered mahogany body.

Gibson developed this construction to provide a lighter, more resonant playing experience while retaining the warmth, sustain, and unmistakable tonal character associated with the Les Paul.

The result is a beautifully balanced instrument offering rich bass response, articulate midrange, singing sustain, and outstanding dynamic sensitivity.

Whether you're playing vintage blues, classic rock, country, jazz, or modern lead guitar, the Elegant offers the familiar power of a Les Paul with its own distinctive acoustic personality.

GENUINE EBONY FINGERBOARD — A PREMIUM CUSTOM SHOP FEATURE

One of this guitar's most desirable appointments is its genuine ebony fingerboard.

Ebony has long been prized on premium instruments for its luxurious appearance, dense structure, smooth playing surface, and articulate response.

Its deep, dark appearance provides a dramatic contrast against the Transparent Cherry Red finish.

The fingerboard is adorned with beautiful abalone trapezoid inlays, offering a level of visual refinement beyond conventional pearloid markers.

Each inlay displays the natural iridescence of genuine abalone, reflecting subtle shades of blue, green, silver, and violet as the lighting changes.

This is one of the details that makes the Les Paul Elegant immediately recognizable.

COMPOUND-RADIUS FINGERBOARD — BUILT FOR SERIOUS PLAYERS

The Elegant was designed with playability in mind.

Its compound-radius fingerboard provides a comfortable playing surface for chords while accommodating expressive lead work and string bending higher up the neck.

Combined with the smooth ebony fingerboard and Gibson's familiar 24.75-inch scale length, this design offers a refined playing experience.

It's equally comfortable for expressive blues phrasing, fast lead passages, and rhythm playing.

CLASSIC GIBSON HUMBUCKER PERFORMANCE

The 1997 Les Paul Elegant was originally specified with Gibson's highly regarded '57 Classic humbuckers, designed to recreate the warmth, clarity, and harmonic richness of Gibson's legendary late-1950s pickups.

These pickups are celebrated for their musical versatility, offering warm neck-position tones, articulate cleans, and powerful bridge-pickup response.

Paired with the traditional Les Paul four-knob control layout and three-way pickup selector, the Elegant offers an impressive range of sounds.

The installed pickups should be confirmed as original before advertising them as such.

BEAUTIFUL NICKEL HARDWARE

Unlike many Les Paul models featuring gold hardware, this particular Elegant is equipped with beautiful nickel hardware.

The nickel appointments complement the Cherry Red finish without overpowering the instrument's natural beauty.

The traditional Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece provide the familiar sustain, stability, and adjustability that have made the Les Paul a professional standard for generations.

The overall appearance is understated, sophisticated, and unmistakably Gibson.

A DISTINCTIVE PIECE OF GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP HISTORY

The Les Paul Elegant debuted in 1997, making this a first-year example of one of Gibson's most interesting premium Les Paul designs.

At a time when many guitarists were seeking traditional Les Paul tone with improved comfort and premium appointments, Gibson created an instrument that combined classic construction principles with innovative features.

The chambered mahogany body, figured maple top, genuine ebony fingerboard, abalone inlays, compound-radius design, and Custom Shop headstock appointments made the Elegant stand apart from conventional production models.

Today, the Les Paul Elegant remains a distinctive chapter in Gibson's history and an appealing choice for collectors seeking something different from the usual Standard, Classic, or Custom.

EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION — PERSONALLY OWNED SINCE 2003

This is where my guitar becomes particularly attractive.

I purchased this instrument in 2003 and have personally owned it for more than two decades.

It has been carefully preserved as part of my personal collection and remains in exceptional cosmetic condition.

I would describe its appearance as virtually brand-new.

Finding a late-1990s Gibson Custom Shop instrument that has been maintained to this standard is increasingly appealing to collectors and serious players.

This is not a heavily toured, road-worn guitar.

It is a beautiful, well-preserved instrument that deserves a new owner who will appreciate its quality and history.

ORIGINAL GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP CASE