The Gibson Les Paul may carry the distinction of having the most special editions, variations, and custom models of any single guitar model. The first of these many redesigns came just one year after the original Les Paul in the form of the Les Paul Custom. The Custom differed from the normal Les Paul in a few key ways. Cosmetically, it featured all black appointments and finish, gold-plated hardware, and a generous helping of white binding on the pickguard, fingerboard, and body. The Custom also included super low frets (hence the nickname, the Fretless Wonder), an inlayed deco decal on the headstock, and a Mahogany top where the standard used maple.

Years of Production: 1953 - 1957 (switched to PAF Humbuckers mid-year)

Body Style: Single cutaway solidbody

Unique to these Years: P-90/Alnico V pickups.

Wood Composition: Mahogany body, Mahogany top, Mahogany neck, Ebony fingerboard

Design Elements:  Two single-coil P90 pickups, block inlays, Kluson deluxe tuners, four control knobs, three-way pickup selector, black pickguard, bound fingerboard, stopbar tailpiece and Tune-o-matic bridge, gold-plated hardware, headstock inlay. Available with factory Bigsby vibrato

Finish Specifications: All standard Les Paul Customs from the '50s feature an Ebony finish. 

Notable Les Paul Players: Jimmy Page, Slash, Neil Young, Alex Lifeson, Pete Townshend