2024 Gibson Les Paul Special TV Yellow Demo Shop

Background:

I bought this guitar on Reverb in Mar 2025.  I was looking for a Les Paul Special that was lightweight.  I had just bought a 7.4 lb/3.4 kg  LP Special in Satin Winter Cherry from Reverb that was originally from the Gibson Mod Collection, and loved it.  But when I saw this extra-lightweight 6.8 lb/3.1 kg TV Yellow LP special come up on Reverb from the Gibson Demo Shop, I knew I had to get it. 

This guitar is modified with 4 improvements:  1) noiseless P90 Hidden Humbuckers from Creamery Pickups, 2) coil splitting via push/pull tone pots using the PRS/Lindy Fralin “resistor” method, 3) locking tuners (Gotoh SD90-MGT), and 4) strap locks (Schaller S-Locks). 

The new pickups sound nice – they are like a medium strength humbucker with a lot of articulation.  They minimize the 60 cycle hum with the standard Gibson P90s, which sound great, but are kind of “unplayable” with medium and high gain settings. 

The coil splitting via 500K push/pull tone pots uses the PRS/Lindy Fralin “resistor” method which results in a richer single coil sound and retains some single coil noise cancellation.  The individual coil splits allow a lot of sound options:  2 options in the Treble/Rhythm positions and 4 options in the middle pickup selector position. 

The standard tuners are fine, but the locking tuners make string changes a lot quicker, and may improve tuning stability a little bit.The strap locks benefits are clear.The original pickups, tone pots, tuners, and strap locks will be included.  Portland Fretworks executed the mods.

The playability of this guitar is fantastic.  The neck is great – these are Plekked from the factory, and it shows.  The frets are well finished.  The action is low.  The bridge is rock solid.  The stock pickups are adjusted down a bit – they are way too “high and hot” from the initial setup.  The weight is light and well balanced.

The finish quality is really very good.  The Gibson Warranty Evaluation is very critical and overly pessimistic in my opinion – it was the same for my Mod Collection LP Special.I have detailed flaws that I could perceive from the list in the Condition section and with highlighted pics.However, I must say that I believe this guitar is well finished, is consistent with or even above its American made price point (it’s not a Custom Shop LP), and it looks great. 

It’s got a black 4-screw pickguard, black Top Hat knobs, black pickup selector tip, black poker chip (with gold Rhythm/Treble), plain black truss rod cover, and white Gibson Deluxe vintage butter bean tuners.  The bridge, jack plate, and strap buttons are chrome.  The fretboard is a subdued “medium roast coffee” grained rosewood with a somewhat dull finish.  The fret markers are subtle, somewhat dull too, but nice – I cannot tell if they are MOP or pearloid.  The headstock has a gold Les Paul Special stencil and the Gibson logo mother of pearl – the MOP is EXCEPTIONAL, perfectly cut, bright, strong iridescence, even striations.

I am perfectly happy with this guitar but would be glad to pass it on to a buyer who appreciates its simplicity, great back-to-basics character, smooth playability, thoughtful mods, and a nice lightweight body. It’s pure Les Paul Special goodness!

Condition:

1.Please find a pic of the original Warranty Evaluation in the case.  It quite a few items.  Per my same experience with my Mod Collection LP Special, these minor markdowns are very hard to see – I just cannot find some of them.  I have documented in highlighted pics the ones I could find.  Gibson only provided 2 defect pics on their Demo Shop listing.  Any mention of “light scratches” are pretty much imperceptible.I’ve included the exact text from the Gibson Reverb listing as well.  I still maintain this is Mint condition because this is exactly how it came new from Gibson Demo Shop.

2.Very light circular scratch around the bridge pickup volume (Gibson pic).

3.Rear body finish/paint/body filler touch up (Gibson pic).

4.Top of headstock finish bubbles flaw in the crease and a small dark mark on the edge.

5.Truss rod not centered.

6.Neck/body joint uneven finish.

7.High E string side of the neck near pickguard marred finish in neck-body joint.

Links:

YouTube Peach Guitars:  youtu.be/CmX3tcCjbzo?si=64tskwZPzyCH2jp8

YouTube Mark Agnesi:  youtu.be/oz9Xz8dO20Q?si=Yj7Mr9x6P6iq3H-B

Sweetwater:  sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPSPTVNH--gibson-les-paul-special-tv-yellow

Creamery P90 Hidden Humbucker sample by Paul Stafford Cook:  youtu.be/_5GovxLtY28?si=3V2KISboEcOmY3eL

Creamery Pickups (P90 Hidden Humbuckers):  creamery-pickups.co.uk/p90-sized-humbucker-pickups/92/p90-sized-humbucker-set-detail.html

Fralin Pickups humbucker coil splitting (see Method #3: Partial Split):fralinpickups.com/2021/01/27/5-powerful-ways-to-coil-split-your-humbucker

Gotoh tuners (SD90 MG-T):  g-gotoh.com/product/sd90-mgt/

Schaller strap locks (S-Locks):  schaller.info/en/s-locks/

Portland Fretworks:  portlandfretworks.com/

Reverb posting 2024:  reverb.com/item/86881225-gibson-les-paul-special-tv-yellow-demo

Features:

P-90 pickups and a period neck

Classic, lightweight mahogany slab body

Hand-filling vintage ’50s mahogany neck

Rosewood fingerboard with Plek’d medium jumbo frets

2 single-coil P-90 pickups

Handwired with Orange Drop capacitors

Exact copy/paste text from Gibson Demo Shop Reverb listing:

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Gibson Les Paul Special, TV Yellow | Demo

Details:

•            Modifications: Back of headstock stamped DEMO.

•            Noted Cosmetic Defect(s): Finish Top: Discoloration in finish bass side edge, Inconsistent finish on both sides of fretboard extensions, Uneven finish leveling on bass side waist area. Finish Sides: Debris under finish lower bout at strap button, Inconsistent finish around heel, Scratch bass side lower bout near strap button. Finish Back: Uneven finish leveling throughout back. Finish Neck: Light scratches on heel. Binding: Minor binding ledge on both sides of fretboard extensions. Tuners: Light scratches and oxidation on surfaces. Finish Peg Head: Inconsistent finish on tip, Discoloration on bass side wrist, Light scratches on Truss rod cover. Bridge: Light scratches and oxidation on surface. Pickups / Transducers: Light scratches on both pickup covers. Neck Relief / TR Adjust: Slightly off center Truss rod in cavity, Does not affect playability.

Included:

•            Hard Shell Case

•            Demo Shop COA

•            Demo Shop Pro Setup

•            Gibson Limited Warranty (Products may have minor cosmetic defects which are listed in the Warranty Evaluation for each product. These defects are AS-IS and are not covered under the Limited Warranty.)

Spec Notes:

Neck Profile: Vintage 50's

Neck Material: Mahogany

Depth at 1st (in): .885

Depth at 12th (in): .989

Nut Width (in): 1.694"

Nut Material: Graph Tech

Scale: 24.75"

Fingerboard Material: Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius: 12"

Fret Count: 22

Body Shape: Les Paul

Body Material: Mahogany

Finish Type: Gloss Nitro

Tuners: Gibson Deluxe

Bridge: Wraparound

Neck Pickup: P-90

Bridge Pickup: P-90

Mid Pickup: N/A

Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, & 3-way Pickup Switch

Strings: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046

Weight (lbs): 6.8

Year: 2024

Serial Number: 211440131

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Supplemental Details:

Weight: 6.8 lb/3.1 kg

Year: 2024

Serial Number: 211440131 (2-decade, 114-day of year, 4-year, 0-batch of day, 131-production number)

Accessories:  Gibson case, tan exterior with Gibson logo, yellow clasps, pink plush interior; case candy includes: Certificate of Authenticity, Warranty Evaluation, black strap, multitool, keys, warranty brochure, Gibson cleaning cloth, 2 Gibson pearliod picks.

Parts from mods included:  2 x original Gibson P90 pickups, 2 x tone pots, 2 x strap buttons.

Terms:

Free shipping in the Continental US.

Shipping provided for other locations – Canada, EU, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia.

Free hand delivery within 2 hours of Portland, OR – I will drive to meet you with the item.

Packing will be provided by The UPS Store to ensure full insurance value coverage.

Shipping is insured for full value – if any damage, photograph and report immediately to the carrier.

I am offering Reverb’s standard returns policy – any flaws are described in the listing, I will do my utmost to ensure you are satisfied, feel free to contact me after receipt of item with any questions/comments.