Gibson Les Paul Special-Standard Conversion 1957-1959 - Sunburst

The practice of "converting" a first-run Les Paul from early-model to "golden years" specs began in the 1970s, around the same time that the Les Paul Standard had been discontinued in favor of the mini-humbucker Les Paul Deluxe models. With hardware changes (for instance, a trapeze or wraparound tailpiece swapped for the more desireable Tune-O-Matic bridge with stoptail) and routing the body for PAF humbuckers, crafty luthiers have been able to use genuine Gibson Les Pauls from the first run of instruments and bring them up to the more desirable specifications of the coveted '57 PAF-equipped guitars, and even to '58 - '60 "Burst" specs with a refinish or re-top job.