2004 Gibson Les Paul Special SL

$725.00 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (2)

1 Review

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Page last updated Jun 30, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 30, 2026.

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5.0 (16)

$725.00 14 available Used

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Average Price: $725

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Solid Body Electric Guitars category, 2004 Gibson Les Paul Special SL is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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High-end

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Description

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The 2004 Gibson Les Paul Special SL is a modern take on a classic design, perfect for players who appreciate both vintage charm and contemporary functionality. This solid body electric guitar celebrates the fusion of simplicity and performance, making it a great choice for both budding musicians and seasoned professionals. The Special SL variant is renowned for its distinctive tonal versatility, offering a rich palette of sounds that cater to a wide range of music styles.

The guitar’s dual P-90 pickups are a defining feature, delivering a raw, gritty sound that can seamlessly transition from clean, jangly tones to robust, overdriven rock. The mahogany body and neck provide a warm resonance, while the rosewood fretboard offers a smooth playing surface. With its set neck construction, the Les Paul Special SL ensures excellent sustain, allowing notes to sing out with clarity and precision.

This model maintains the iconic Les Paul silhouette, characterized by its single-cutaway design, which allows for easy access to the higher frets. The simplicity of the controls—consisting of separate volume and tone knobs for each pickup—gives players the freedom to dial in their preferred sound with ease. The guitar's vintage-style tuners and adjustable bridge contribute to its reliable tuning stability and intonation, making it a dependable companion for any gig or studio session.

Key Features:

Solid mahogany body and neck
Rosewood fretboard
Dual P-90 pickups for versatile sound
Set neck construction for enhanced sustain
Classic single-cutaway design
Vintage-style tuners
Separate volume and tone controls for each pickup

Videos

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Evan Ogden

This Is The Best Gibson Les Paul For Under $1000!

Evan Ogden

Gibson Les Paul Special SL - Guitar Overview

James Plays Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Special SL Pickups Demo (No Commentary)

Joey the Guitar Player

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about 2004 Gibson Les Paul Special SL.

Build quality

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The "thin nitro" finish on the 2004 Special is prone to wear, revealing polished mahogany beneath with use, enhancing the neck's feel.
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The thin nitrocellulose finish was noted to develop a unique patina over time, adding character to the guitar's appearance.
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Value and pricing

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Owners acquired used models for $300-$500, noting repairs like headstock fixes don't diminish the guitar's value or playability.
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The guitar was considered a steal at $150, with the Bareknuckle pickups alone valued at approximately the same price.
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Use cases and applications

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Popular among punk rock players for its throaty, slightly dark tone, making it ideal for genres requiring heavy barre chord use.
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Owners noted the model's durability, recounting experiences of the guitar surviving drops without damage, making it suitable for live performances.
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Features and functionality

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It's essentially a cost-reduced Studio model with a belly bevel and "Special" logo, maintaining a professional playability despite budget origins.
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Mods and upgrades

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The guitar featured aftermarket Bareknuckle pickups, specifically the Steve Stevens Rebel Yell in the bridge, indicating a focus on enhancing tonal quality.
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The Bigsby mod, using a Vibramate mount, avoids drilling extra holes and allows for easy reversion to the original stop bar setup.
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User experience

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An owner appreciated the guitar's playability and sustain, mentioning the strings wrapped over the tailpiece for action ease and enhanced sustain.
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Despite tuning stability concerns with Bigsby mods, owners find the tonal and aesthetic benefits worthwhile.
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Setup and maintenance

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After adding a Bigsby, a setup is necessary; refiling the nut significantly improves tuning stability.
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Comparisons

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This model evokes a Bob Marley signature guitar aesthetic, particularly with the small inlay design.
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

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craiganthem73

111

about 11 years ago

One of the best bangs for the buck

i bought this within one minute of playing the guitar! The burstbucker stock pickups are great, the SL stands for "sans lacquer" which as this guitar has aged, there isn't any paint layer limiting its tone and vibration! So it gets great sustain, the neck isn't too thick, but then again not so thin either, and the guitar weight isn't so heavy either. I found a guy who makes pick guards that just screw in where the pickup ring screws are, and it looks great. These guitars are found for around $600-800 because they don't have all the binding and bells or whistles...just a solid piece of mahogany that rocks!

jimmarchi1

41029

11 years ago about 11 years ago

wow, they put their flagship, fancy-ass burstbuckers in a flat-top, entry level USA Gibby? I did not know that.... you could probably spray this guy yourself and keep the lacquer really thin and get any damn color you want. They do finish guitars for a good reason. Your sweat is really bad for the wood when it soaks in. Especially the enck. And if you don't sweat on stage then you're not human or you're not playing hard enough.

craiganthem73

111

11 years ago about 11 years ago

Knowing the history of the Special, John Lennon, Bob Marley, And Steve Jones all loved the same thing I do; no curved top, less body weight, and without a lot of this it gives a great high end with a noticeable punch. I agree about the sweat thing, but they did still seal the guitars, and this one has held up amazingly well for what I put it through. It is due for a setup though.

Artist usage

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Kristine Leschper

Singer, Guitarist

Verified via YouTube

The guitar appears to be a ~2004 Les Paul Special in Faded Cherry SL (sans lacquer). At least the bridge pickup appears to be modified from the original.