This 1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Model is simply amazing — visually stunning, with other-worldly tone and perfect playability. It is one of the most coveted solid-body guitars ever produced, and justifiably so. This one is what we call excuse-free: no issues, no changes, no repairs. Every part original. Every solder joint original. Every piece of hardware original. In near mint condition after nearly 70 years.

While it may look like a Les Paul Junior in TV yellow, Gibson's own catalog and price list considered this an entirely different model — the "Les Paul TV Model," defined by its single pickup, slab mahogany body, and the finish Gibson called "Limed Mahogany" or "Limed Oak." There is much debate about where the TV name came from — one theory says the pale limed finish was designed to stand out on the era's black-and-white television screens. What is not debated is what the guitar does sonically: one dog-ear P-90 in a slab mahogany body with a wraparound bridge, wired to one volume and one tone control. Everything that makes a guitar sound good, and nothing that doesn't. The single P-90 in the bridge position makes for a surprisingly versatile and simple guitar.

Five hundred and fifty-two Les Paul TV Models were made in 1957. That year the pickup position moved approximately half an inch forward from the bridge — a subtle but documented specification change that distinguishes 1957 production from the earlier examples. The dog-ear P-90 on this guitar reads 8.37k — correct, original, and healthy for a 1957 unit.

The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays is near mint. The original Kluson Deluxe tuners, original wraparound bar tailpiece, original black pickguard, original pots, original wiring and solder joints are all intact. The TV yellow limed mahogany finish is original and presents in excellent to near mint condition — the specific mustard-yellow character that this finish develops over decades, the color that is immediately recognizable and virtually impossible to replicate artificially. 

Solid mahogany neck in the 50s rounded medium C profile at .884" at the first fret and .965" at the tenth. Action set at 2/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. At 6 lbs 14.5 oz this is a light, resonant, acoustically alive instrument. Non-original 1970s Gibson hardshell case included — there is a broken latch at the neck end.

Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase.   Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.

No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Color: TV Yellow
• Finish Original?: yes
• Finish Condition: near mint
• Weight: 6lbs 14.5oz
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Nut Width: 1-11/16"
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .884"
• Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .965"
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2.023"
• Body Length: 17-3/8"
• Lower bout: 13"
• Waist: 7 3/16"
• Upper bout: 9 3/16"
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 3/4"
• Overall Length: 38 5/8"
• Pickguard Color: Black
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Pickguard Condition: near mint
• Pickguard Screws Original?: yes
• Neck Material: Solid Mahogany
• Neck Profile: 50s Rounded Medium C
• Neck Condition: near mint
• Neck Repairs: none
• Neck Finish Original?: Yes
• Tuner Brand And Model: Kluson Deluxe
• Tuners Original?: yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: none
• Tuner Condition: near mint
• Tuner Screws Original?: yes
• Truss Rod Cover: yes, original
• Nut Material: Synthetic, original
• Nut Repairs: none
• Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dot
• Fretboard Material: Brazilian rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: near mint
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Fret Condition: excellent
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 22
• Body Material: solid mahogany
• Body Condition: near mint
• Body Repairs: none
• Body Finish Original?: yes
• Body Finish Condition: excellent
• Bridge Brand: Nickel-plated Wraparound bar tailpiece
• Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: fixed
• Bridge Original?: yes
• Bridge And Saddle Screws Original?: yes
• Bridge Condition: excellent
• Bridge Pickup Brand: Gibson Dog Ear P-90
• Bridge Pickup Original?: yes
• Bridge Pickup Reading: 8.37k
• Bridge Pickup Condition: near mint
• Bridge Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Bridge Pickup Cover Color: black
• Bridge Pickup Cavity Condition: near mint
• Solders Original?: yes
• Wiring Original?: yes
• Control Cavity Cover Original?: yes
• Control Cavity Condition: near mint
• Potentiometer Count: 2
• Potentiometers Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Condition: near mint
• Output Jack Plate Color: black
• Output Jack Plate Condition: near mint
• Output Jack Plate Original?: yes
• Screws Original?: yes
• Output Jack Original?: yes
• Knob Color: black
• Knob Count: 2
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Knob Condition: near mint
• Case Brand: Gibson - 1970s hardshell
• Case Original?: no
• Case Condition: very good, broken latch at neck
• Case Smells?: none
• Accessories Included: none
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• String Gauge: 10-46
• Documentation: none
• Smells?: none

Shipping Policy
By completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to .

Stringed Instruments: Multiple shipping speeds are available for orders on our website — Ground, 2 Day, 3 Day, and Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb orders: customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.