Up for sale, a 2001 Gibson Custom Shop Historic ‘57 Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty” LPB7 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, all hangtags, and CoA. Faithful to original 1957 specs, this Black Beauty hails from an increasingly heralded era of Gibson production colloquially known as the “good wood” era, featuring a mahogany body (including a carved mahogany top) and a mahogany neck capped with a bound ebony fingerboard, loaded with a pair of ‘57 Classic PAFs.

This Les Paul was ordered by Gibson’s Japanese distributor Yamano; Gibson’s USA-made guitars distributed via Yamano are often considered to be among their absolute best, featuring the highest quality woods picked for Gibson’s discerning Japanese audience.

At 8lbs 11oz, this Les Paul Custom delivers plenty of midrange warmth and fundamental richness thanks to the all-mahogany construction, and these qualities are balanced by the glassy treble cut and note attack of the ebony fingerboard. Offering plenty of punch, detail and ample sustain, the medium-wind ‘57 Classic PAFs have spongy lows, detailed treble growl, and a tailored midrange that interacts well with high gain. This Les Paul Custom benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: ‘50s-style “baseball bat” C, measuring .920” 1st fret, 1.030” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, block inlays
• Frets: Slender, moderate wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-9
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
• Tuners: Kluson “waffleback”
• Serialization: Six-digit inked dates to ‘01

Body Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Pickups: ‘57 Classic PAF humbucker x2
• Harness: CTS pots (one replacement, original included)
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: ABR-1 bridge, stopbar
• Plastics: Five-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs, amber switch tip

The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish is framed by ambered 7-ply binding, with an area of concentrated shallow buckle wear at the bass-side waist on the back, some pick wear across the strum path, and various minor finish scratches and small nicks. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, save for some faint chatter central to the carve behind frets 1-6.

The original black Gibson USA Historic hardshell case is included, along with the CoA and all Gibson/Yamano hangtags.