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Les Paul Custom Reissues 1954 to 1956?

samdjr74

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Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
196
Hello all,

One guitar I've always had on my bucket list is the 54 to 56 Les Paul Custom. Considering a good one is selling for $20K and up, I'm better off looking at a reissue. My question is, what years were reissued? Was it just a 1954 or did Gibson reissue the 55 and 56 custom? I know the one built in 72 is going for a pretty penny and they are based on the 54 but I want to make my search as broad as possible.

Thank you,
Sam
 

Tim Plains

Active member
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
795
54 and 57.

Gibson also made R5 Standards and Customs but those were more of a mixed bag. Some had ABRs, some didn't.
 

samdjr74

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
196
54 and 57.

Gibson also made R5 Standards and Customs but those were more of a mixed bag. Some had ABRs, some didn't.

Gotcha, thanks. I remember the 55's with their wrap around tail pieces but I'm after the 54 P90/Staple top, original custom.
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
54 Custom Black Beauty with Alnico 'staple' neck, P-90 bridge.

57 Custom Reissues abound, both 2 and 3 pickup, stop tail and Bigsby, black and special-run colors, also some all mahogany 'natural' tops.

Also...

54 Standard Reissues, gold top with wrap tail and P-90s, some all-gold, 'double-gold'... also some dealer-spec bursts

55 Standard Reissues, mostly dealer-spec. Hot Mod burst with wrap tail. Some P-90s, some 'buckers.

56 Standard Reissues, gold top with P-90 + ABR. Also some special dealer runs in custom colors and bursts.

[Not to mention the Special, Junior reissues for those years]

:salude
 

samdjr74

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
196
54 Custom Black Beauty with Alnico 'staple' neck, P-90 bridge.

57 Custom Reissues abound, both 2 and 3 pickup, stop tail and Bigsby, black and special-run colors, also some all mahogany 'natural' tops.

Also...

54 Standard Reissues, gold top with wrap tail and P-90s, some all-gold, 'double-gold'... also some dealer-spec bursts

55 Standard Reissues, mostly dealer-spec. Hot Mod burst with wrap tail. Some P-90s, some 'buckers.

56 Standard Reissues, gold top with P-90 + ABR. Also some special dealer runs in custom colors and bursts.

[Not to mention the Special, Junior reissues for those years]

:salude


Good info, thanks. I do own an older 57 reissue, it's a 2000 so pre COA with a worn cherry finish and 3 humbuckers. Just need the 54 to round it out. Also, not a reissue but I have a 52 tribute, which if I found the right 54 custom, I might sell to off set the price. As much as I enjoy playing the 52, I think the 54 would fill my needs better.

Picture 1123.jpg
Picture 007.jpg
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
I got one of the 2016 True Historic versions of the 54 BB. Stellar sounding and wonderful to play. You will notice the bridge came from the factory as the ABR. Not wraptail.

35503278093_3a8bc42327_k.jpg


35915806580_fd7b117d3e_k.jpg




35915819260_42977696ae_k.jpg

IMG_2954 by renderit@swbell.net, on Flickr
36175741121_0879acd79d_k.jpg


36175746281_4ae8cf8b4b_k.jpg
 

samdjr74

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
196
I got one of the 2016 True Historic versions of the 54 BB. Stellar sounding and wonderful to play. You will notice the bridge came from the factory as the ABR. Not wraptail.

35503278093_3a8bc42327_k.jpg


35915806580_fd7b117d3e_k.jpg




35915819260_42977696ae_k.jpg

IMG_2954 by renderit@swbell.net, on Flickr
36175741121_0879acd79d_k.jpg


36175746281_4ae8cf8b4b_k.jpg

That looks awesome, ebony board or richlite? Looks ebony to me but I thought they stopped using ebony from 2011 to just this year
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
It be ebony.

Actually that was one reason I bought it.

The other is complete gas attack when I realized it was one piece mahogany.

The bridge was a slight disappointment as I am a wraptail fanatic but it really is a fantastic piece.

And it was serial #1 for the year.

Wildwood is an addiction.

The complaints about that model usually centered around the yellowed clear coat used. In person it looks old and does not bother me at all. More like I got on the first and last pictures posted above. But the others show how lighting and cameras seem to accent the yellow. It is not really bad and I think they did it right.
 

samdjr74

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
196
It be ebony.

Actually that was one reason I bought it.

The other is complete gas attack when I realized it was one piece mahogany.

The bridge was a slight disappointment as I am a wraptail fanatic but it really is a fantastic piece.

And it was serial #1 for the year.

Wildwood is an addiction.

The complaints about that model usually centered around the yellowed clear coat used. In person it looks old and does not bother me at all. More like I got on the first and last pictures posted above. But the others show how lighting and cameras seem to accent the yellow. It is not really bad and I think they did it right.

See, I dig the yellow clear coat, gives it that nice aged looked. I've got my eye open for one ow. They seem a little rare compared to a 57 and pricey.
 

Vince Q

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
43
That's my next guitar. Fantastic sounding and looking axe.

The reissues came with both the waffle back tuners and kidney bean tuners … I prefer the waffle backs.

Check out this vid.


<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HQylXSTPG2w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe>
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
I have one of the 72/73 RI's and it is an amazing sounding guitar. It's super honky, that sort of scooped but rich sound...no doubt a lot to do with the all Mahogany body. Nice medium to larger neck. Light. Look for one of those if you can.
 

samdjr74

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
196
I have one of the 72/73 RI's and it is an amazing sounding guitar. It's super honky, that sort of scooped but rich sound...no doubt a lot to do with the all Mahogany body. Nice medium to larger neck. Light. Look for one of those if you can.

As much as I'd love to get the 72/73 reissue, I think it's way out of my price point. I'm looking in the $3 to $4K area.
 

AA00475Bassman

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Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
I bought two 71's back in the 80's in one month one from Southworth one from Garys Guitars neither guitars were impressive to say the least . The Historic LPC 54 guitars Ive played are hands down more to my liking .

Disclaimer : Age does not qualify a great guitar !
 

samdjr74

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
196
I bought two 71's back in the 80's in one month one from Southworth one from Garys Guitars neither guitars were impressive to say the least . The Historic LPC 54 guitars Ive played are hands down more to my liking .

Disclaimer : Age does not qualify a great guitar !

Good to know, thanks!
 

Vince Q

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
43
I bought two 71's back in the 80's in one month one from Southworth one from Garys Guitars neither guitars were impressive to say the least . The Historic LPC 54 guitars Ive played are hands down more to my liking .

Disclaimer : Age does not qualify a great guitar !


I understood that the early 1970s reissues used actual '54 parts, including (and especially) the pickups.
 

latestarter

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Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
I bought two 71's back in the 80's in one month one from Southworth one from Garys Guitars neither guitars were impressive to say the least . The Historic LPC 54 guitars Ive played are hands down more to my liking .

Disclaimer : Age does not qualify a great guitar !

That is true!

Maybe I'm lucky - having owned (and still owning) many R4's through to R9's, my '73 is in the same space playability and finish wise (well, aside from natural age). Without a doubt it sounds better than any modern P-90 guitar I've owned (and a good number of vintage P90 instruments too).
 

AA00475Bassman

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Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
I understood that the early 1970s reissues used actual '54 parts, including (and especially) the pickups.

This may be the case I don't know this , IMO age dose not define or qualify a great guitar . Debating a opinion is pointless . The OP was asking about reissues is a medium age 70's RI LPC better because it might have 50's pickups as a Historic has modern day pickups ?
 
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