Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $25,556

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

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Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

Step back in time with the 1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, a guitar that exudes elegance and prestige. This iconic instrument was among the first true redesigns of the Les Paul, distinguishing itself with a sleek, all-black aesthetic, gold-plated hardware, and exquisite white binding. It's not just about looks; the Black Beauty is revered for its incredible sound and playability. Known affectionately as the "Fretless Wonder," it features super low frets that make it a dream to navigate, whether you're bending notes or gliding through scales.

Under the hood, this model boasts a unique tonal prowess thanks to its combination of P-90 and Alnico V pickups. The resonant mahogany construction—including the body, top, and neck—paired with an ebony fingerboard, offers a warm, rich sound with a pronounced midrange that guitarists crave. Its versatile design elements, like the three-way pickup selector and classic Tune-o-matic bridge, provide a range of tonal possibilities, from smooth jazz to gritty rock.

Whether you're a collector or a performing artist, the 1955 Les Paul Custom is more than just a guitar; it's a piece of musical history. Played by legends like Jimmy Page and Neil Young, this guitar is a testament to Gibson's craftsmanship and enduring legacy.

Key Features:

  • Single cutaway solid body style
  • All-black finish with gold-plated hardware
  • Mahogany body, top, and neck with an ebony fingerboard
  • P-90 and Alnico V single-coil pickups
  • Super low frets, known as "Fretless Wonder"
  • Block inlays and headstock inlay
  • Kluson deluxe tuners and black pickguard
  • Three-way pickup selector, four control knobs
  • Stopbar tailpiece and Tune-o-matic bridge
Carter Vintage Guitars

Carter Vintage Guitars

1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom played by Nick Perri

Video thumbnail for 1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom played by Nick Perri by Carter Vintage Guitars

1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom played by Nick Perri

Carter Vintage Guitars

Carter Vintage Guitars

Video thumbnail for 1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom played by JD Simo by Carter Vintage Guitars

1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom played by JD Simo

Carter Vintage Guitars

Carter Vintage Guitars

Video thumbnail for 1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom "Black" by Rumble Seat Music Nashville

1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom "Black"

Rumble Seat Music Nashville

Rumble Seat Music Nashville

Video thumbnail for Gibson les Paul Custom 1955 black beauty by Miraldo Vidal

Gibson les Paul Custom 1955 black beauty

Miraldo Vidal

Miraldo Vidal

Reviews

Critic Reviews

1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom and 1956 Gibson GA-70 - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 4 Ratings

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Artist usage

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See how Billie Joe Armstrong uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Billie Joe Armstrong

Singer, Guitarist

Green Day

...
Verified via YouTube

In this live performance of "Working Class Hero" (a cover song of the original one by John Lennon), we can clearly see Billie Joe using this quite rare guitar.

We can see him holding it in some photos from a photobook too.

This guitar mixes the perfection of a Custom Shop Gibson with the aggressivity of two P90 pickups. And it's very good-looking too!

See how Kirk Hammett uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Kirk Hammett

Guitarist

Metallica

...
Verified via YouTube
Color/Finish: Black Year: 1956

In a video by Gibson TV titled "The Collection: Director’s Cut, Part One," Kirk Hammett is shown with his 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom featuring "staple" pickups, which previously belonged to Mick Ralphs, around the 18:00 mark.

See how Joe Bonamassa uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Joe Bonamassa

Singer, Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Photo

“1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom fretless wonder. Mr. Polfus’s favorite version of his signature model. His theory and correctly so was the lower the frets the lower the action hence the faster you play. He was right until the advent of extreme bending of strings in the blues rock world made the custom in its stock forum virtually unplayable. This particular guitar is a ok not a spectacular version of the 55 Custom. Proving not everything old is great," Joe Bonomassa says, on his website.

See how Ray Toro uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Ray Toro

Singer, Guitarist

My Chemical Romance

...
Verified via Photo

yong ray toro , has used gibson les paul black

See how Peter Frampton uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Peter Frampton

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via YouTube
Year: 1954

Peter Frampton talks about his customized 1954 Gibson Les Paul, dubbed the "Phenix", in this video.

See how Celldweller uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Celldweller

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

Klayton has been using this one for studio recordings.

See how Paul Kossoff uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Paul Kossoff

Guitarist

Free

...
Verified via Photo

On page 21 of this article from Guitar Interactive Magazine there's a video of Phil Harris with Paul's custom Black Beauty. Phil says about the guitar "it’s a great guitar because it actually signifies the start of Paul Kossoff’s interest and passion for the Les Paul."

See how Timo Tolkki uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Timo Tolkki

Guitarist

Stratovarius

...
Verified via YouTube

He's using it for recording rhythm sections of songs

See how Al Jardine uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Al Jardine

Singer, Guitarist

The Beach Boys

...
Verified via Photo

Al can be seen playing a Gibson Les Paul Custom with P-90s during a Beach Boys performance with Elton John.

See how Mick Ralphs uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Mick Ralphs

Guitarist

Bad Company

...
Verified via YouTube
Color/Finish: Black Year: 1956

In the Gibson TV episode "The Collection: Director’s Cut, Part One," Kirk Hammett confirms around the 18:00 mark that he purchased a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom, which was previously owned by Mick Ralphs and referred to as Ralphs' "house guitar."

See how Jim Peterik uses Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957

Jim Peterik

Singer, Guitarist

Survivor

...
Verified via YouTube

At 3:52, Tim shows off his 1956 Black Beauty.

Album Usage

The Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957 has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson Les Paul Custom 1953-1957, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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