Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $12,866

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

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Standard

High-end

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Description

The Gibson Custom Collector's Choice #12 1957 Les Paul Goldtop is not just a guitar; it’s a piece of musical history. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this limited edition instrument is a tribute to the legendary 1957 Goldtop. With fewer than 300 produced, it captures the essence of vintage charm and modern playability. Featuring a chunky late-'50s mahogany neck, this guitar offers a satisfying grip that invites you to explore its rich tonal possibilities. The bound rosewood fingerboard, adorned with classic trapezoid inlays, ensures a smooth playing experience.

At the heart of this masterpiece lie two Custom Shop humbuckers, engineered to deliver the ultimate Les Paul tone. These pickups provide a versatile palette, from sparkling cleans to searing leads. Encased in an aged nitrocellulose lacquer finish, the guitar exudes a timeless allure, with each mark and patina carefully crafted by Gibson's talented aging team. This finish not only enhances the guitar's vintage aesthetics but also its tonal qualities, allowing the wood to resonate freely.

Whether you're a collector or a performer seeking that authentic Les Paul sound, the Collector's Choice #12 offers an unparalleled blend of history and craftsmanship. It comes complete with a Custom Shop hardshell case and a certificate of authenticity, ensuring that this guitar is as much a joy to own as it is to play.

Key Features:

  • Limited edition rendition of the iconic 1957 Les Paul
  • Mahogany body with a maple top for tonal warmth and sustain
  • Rounded late-1950s neck profile
  • Bound rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays
  • 2 Custom Shop humbucking pickups
  • Aged nitrocellulose lacquer finish
  • Includes Custom Shop hardshell case and certificate of authenticity
  • Handcrafted by Gibson's USA Custom Shop luthiers

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson Custom Collector's Choice #12 1957 Les Paul Goldtop.

Comparisons

  • The Custom '57 Reissue features a long neck tenon, unlike the short tenon in the Standard, potentially affecting tonal sustain and depth.

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  • Custom '57 Reissue uses Custom Buckers, which are favored by some over the Standard's Burstbuckers for their tone, capturing classic Gibson sound.

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  • The 1957 reissue has a solid mahogany body, unlike many Les Pauls with maple caps, resulting in a darker and warmer tone.

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Features and functionality

  • Unlike the Standard, the Custom '57 Reissue has an ABR-1 bridge screwed directly into the top, enhancing resonance and vintage accuracy.

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  • The 1957 reissue from 2004 often includes Burstbucker 1 in the neck and Burstbucker 2 in the bridge, designed to emulate vintage PAF humbuckers.

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Build quality

  • The '57 Reissue features a nylon nut compared to the graph tech nut on the Standard, with some preference for the latter's modern performance.

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Value and pricing

  • Some find the mid-2000s R7 models as bargains, offering similar quality to the Custom '57 Reissues at lower prices if purchased second-hand.

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  • A user found a used 2004 Les Paul '57 reissue priced around $3,400, considered a good deal for its condition and rarity.

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Use cases and applications

  • The 2004 Les Paul '57 reissue paired with a Soldano SLO-30 amp delivers exceptionally heavy, chunky riffs suitable for hard rock.

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User experience

  • It's noted that even within the same model, Les Pauls can vary widely in weight, playability, and tone, emphasizing the need to try multiple guitars.

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Artist usage

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See how Jason Isbell uses Gibson Custom Collector's Choice #12 1957 Les Paul Goldtop

Jason Isbell

Guitarist, Singer

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

...
Verified via Premier Guitar

Listed in this July 30, 2015 Premier Guitar interview.

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson Custom Collector's Choice #12 1957 Les Paul Goldtop, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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