Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $5,484
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
The Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty is a timeless masterpiece that blends vintage allure with modern precision. Celebrated for its rich, resonant tones and impeccable craftsmanship, this guitar is a staple in the arsenal of serious musicians. Its mahogany body provides a warm, full-bodied sound, enhancing the depth of every note played. The sleek ebony fretboard complements the elegant aesthetic while offering a smooth playing experience.
Equipped with Custombucker pickups, the Black Beauty delivers a classic, yet versatile sound palette, perfect for any genre. Whether you're laying down bluesy riffs or soaring solos, these pickups ensure clarity and power. The True Historic appointments add an authentic touch, making it not just an instrument, but a piece of music history.
Offered in configurations with two or three pickups, and available with or without a Bigsby, the Black Beauty caters to your specific playing needs and style. The guitar is available in both VOS and Gloss Ebony finishes, allowing you to choose the look that best suits your stage presence.
Key Features:
- Mahogany body for warm, resonant tones
- Sleek ebony fretboard for smooth playability
- Custombucker pickups for a versatile sound palette
- True Historic appointments for authentic vintage vibes
- Available in two or three pickup configurations
- Optional Bigsby vibrato
- Choice of VOS or Gloss Ebony finishes
Videos
Sonic Drive Studio
GIBSON Les Paul Custom 2021 Review & Demo! (Is It Worth The Price??)
GIBSON Les Paul Custom 2021 Review & Demo! (Is It Worth The Price??)
Sonic Drive Studio
WEEDEATER @ Oakland Metro 3/26/2016
J THEJOINT
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty.
Features and functionality
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The 2009 Les Paul Customs are the last models to feature ebony fretboards before switching to Richlite, which was used until 2019 when Gibson returned to ebony.
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The headstock of a true '57 Reissue will have a serial starting with '7', which this model lacks, confirming its standard Custom identity.
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Build quality
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Les Paul Customs from the 70s include volutes on the neck, enhancing durability and reducing the risk of neck breaks.
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The back of the headstock repair often lacks a well-refinished appearance, raising concerns about the glue-up quality underneath.
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The Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop Black Beauty from 2008 features speed knobs instead of the top hat style, indicating it's not a '57 Reissue model.
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Use cases and applications
Value and pricing
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Post-2000 Les Paul Customs generally align in price with new models, often making them a comparable alternative for buyers.
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In the U.S., a similar model in pristine condition can be found for around $3,000, suggesting $3,500 for a repaired one is overpriced.
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A player’s grade 2008 model in worn condition is estimated around $2,500, showing depreciation due to cosmetic wear.
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User experience
5.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 22 Ratings
235
One of the few
This 57' Gibson LP is one of the few I'd love to have on My Rack. The first thing I'd have done to it is a Bigsby. ( a Neil Young thing I pick up working with Him years ago )
Artist usage
Add artist
In this photo of young john fruscciante you can see his gibson les paul custom
David Gilmour used a Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty while jamming with Floyd members at the World Club in NYC after a show, as documented by Bjorn on Gilmourish in the section "Delicate Sound of Thunder 1987-90."
This was the guitar that Eric Clapton used with Delaney & Bonnie. He gave it to Albert Lee as a gift.
At 28:10 Kirk discusses his 1958 Les Paul Custom and the middle pickup being out of phase.
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Keith Richards used the Gibson Black Beauty Les Paul in this performance of "Sympathy For The Devil."
In this pic a 'smoking' Graham can be seen using a Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
During the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2025), Joe Perry played a Les Paul Black Beauty during the performance for Bad Company.
Here Matt is seen playing a Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty
This photo shows Squire playing his Black Beauty Les Paul live.
A user-uploaded photo shows Izzy Stradlin playing a Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty with three pickups.
In the first photo of this rig rundown, John Fogerty's Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, from 1974, can be seen.
He owns several of these guitars, as Billboard reports.
...and beside him rests a highly coveted Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty” that was used to record “Bad Moon Rising” and “Lodi” in 1969 (“I don’t tour with that one; it’s iconic to me”). With time the wood has dried, the glue has hardened, and the value has increased substantially: the Les Paul that retailed for $545 is now likely worth an estimated $10,000. “I still take them out because they sound better with age,”
Album Usage
The Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty has been featured on the following albums:
Healing (Shattered Heart)
Jonas Brothers & Kygo (2024)
Whose Feet Are These That Are Walking
Bob Lanzetti (2017)
Life Starts Now
Three Days Grace (2009)
Every Six Seconds
Saliva (2001)
Five Hundred Pounds
Big Sugar (1993)
Metallica (Remastered)
Metallica (1991)
En Beneficio De todos
Siniestro Total (1990)
Me Gusta Como Andas
Siniestro Total (1988)
De Hoy No Pasa
Siniestro Total (1987)
Bailaré sobre tu tumba
Siniestro Total (1985)
Ride The Lightning (Remastered)
Metallica (1984)
Kill 'Em All (Remastered)
Metallica (1983)
Radar Love
Golden Earring (1973)
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 Black Beauty, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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