I am offering here a Gibson Custom Shop Collectors Choice CC 01V Melvin Franks Les Paul '59 Standard Greeny from 2010, a manufactured in the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee (USA), limited-edition reissue model (300 pieces) of the '59 Les Paul “Greeny”, with resonant mahogany body (4.08kg total weight!) in characteristic solid-body construction, spectacularly figured flamed maple top, set one-piece mahogany neck with '59 “C/D” neck profile and 42.8mm nylon nut, bound rosewood fingerboard with aged acrylic trapezoid inlays, two warm-sounding Gibson Custom BurstBucker humbucker pickups with the neck pickup being wired out-of-phase, Gibson ABR-1 bridge with aluminum Stopbar and Sperzel tuners in a radiant Butterscotch VOS high-gloss nitrocellulose finish, in very good condition, including Gibson Custom luxury hardshell case, manufacturer’s paperwork, and professional setup with 10-46 Elixir Optiweb strings.

Hardly any other Les Paul boasts such an extraordinary history as the legendary “Greeny” . The original 1959 Les Paul Standard first gained fame through Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac and later came into the possession of Gary Moore, who played it for decades and immortalized its unmistakable tone on numerous recordings. It owes its distinctive tonal character, among other things, to the famous “Out of Phase” sound, which was installed on this instrument by accident. Gibson dedicated one of the first and most significant models in its renowned Collector’s Choice series—the Collector’s Choice #1—to this historic instrument. The CC 01V #241 offered here is one of only 300 units produced, making it not only an exceptional instrument for playing but also a highly intriguing collector’s item.

For this series, the Gibson Custom Shop went to great lengths to recreate the characteristic features of the historic original. The traditional, solid Les Paul construction combines a resonant mahogany body with a spectacularly figured, arched flamed maple top and a glued-in one-piece mahogany neck. The substantial C/D ’59 neck profile conveys the solid feel of an original late-1950s Les Paul, while the bound rosewood fingerboard with a 12"-radius and 22 Historic Medium Jumbo frets provides an excellent foundation for bends, vibrato, and expressive solo playing.

Sonically, the focus is, of course, on the famous “Greeny” sound. Two Gibson Custom BurstBucker 3 humbuckers deliver an open, dynamic, and overtone-rich PAF-inspired tone with powerful mids and excellent response. The neck pickup is wired “out of phase” in keeping with the historical model, producing in the middle position that unmistakable hollow, nasal, and at the same time incredibly expressive tone that is inextricably linked to Peter Green and Gary Moore. The neck and bridge positions also deliver powerful classic Les Paul sounds ranging from warm and creamy to biting and assertive.

A sound sample of the model can be found above at the end of the photo gallery.

The instrument’s electronics are also consistently based on historical specifications. 500k Audio Taper potentiometers and Bumble Bee paper-in-oil capacitors enable a distinctly musical response from the volume and tone controls. This makes it easy to control the guitar’s tone directly on the instrument, ranging from transparent, almost clean tones to rich, singing overdrive sounds. The classic ABR-1 Tune-o-Matic bridge and the lightweight aluminum stop bar complement the traditional construction and enhance the direct response and long sustain.

Visually, this Collector’s Choice is a striking homage to one of the most famous originals in Gibson history. The three-dimensional flamed maple top takes on a fascinating depth depending on the angle of the light, while the aged VOS nitrocellulose finish conveys the authentic character of a decades-old instrument. Aged acrylic trapezoid inlays, cream-colored binding, nickel VOS hardware, and the Sperzel tuners characteristic of the original model complete the unmistakable “Greeny” look.

Technical Specifications:

• Origin: Nashville, TN, USA
• Year of Manufacture: 2010
• Limited Edition: Collectors Choice CC 01V #241 of 300
• Body: Mahogany (solid)
• Top: Arched flamed maple top (solid)
• Neck: One-piece mahogany neck with mortise & tenon joint, set-in
• Neck profile: C/D ’59
• Fingerboard: Indian rosewood with aged acrylic trapezoid inlays, bound
• Fingerboard radius: 12"
• Frets: 22 Reissue Medium Jumbo
• Nut: Nylon, 42.8mm
• Pickups: 1x Gibson Custom BurstBucker 3 Wired “Out of Phase” humbucker (neck), 1x Gibson Custom BurstBucker 3 humbucker (bridge)
• Electronics: 3-way switch, 2x volume and 2x tone controls; 500k audio taper pots and Bumble Bee paper-in-oil capacitors
• Tuners: Sperzel
• Bridge: Gibson ABR-1 Tune-o-Matic with aluminum stopbar
• Hardware: Nickel VOS
• Bindings: Cream, 1-ply
• Finish: Butterscotch VOS, nitrocellulose
• Scale length: 628mm
• Weight: 4.08kg
• Serial No.: CC 01V 241
• Includes Gibson Custom deluxe hardshell case, manufacturer’s paperwork (including C.o.A.), case candy

The Gibson Custom Shop Collectors’ Choice Melvin Franks Les Paul ’59 Standard Greeny was produced in a limited run of only 300 units and is extremely rare.

This guitar is in very good condition and technically flawless. Visually, there is some superficial wear that, taken together, contributes to an authentic-looking vintage patina (see photos). The frets are flawless.

The instrument has been professionally set up with 10-46 Elixir Optiweb strings, and I (a long-time guitar teacher) will ship it fully insured with DHL for €49.99 within Germany or for €199.99 within the EU. Worldwide shipping is available—individual shipping costs upon request.

All images shown are of the actual instrument for sale.