True or False All 1959 Les Paul Standards are Sunburst Finishes.

[audioeffects]

This is not a trick question, knowing that Les Paul Standard Gold Top finishes were discontinued after 1957, for example. Of course, the answer, generally speaking, is yes. I’m wondering if there are known exceptions - any color …

 

[charliechitlins]

Special orders were available.
I'm pretty sure, at least one factory black one is out there.

 

[seafood]

False

 

[S. Weiger]

Yes false.
Other than at least 1 black, there is also a goldtop.

 

[audioeffects]

Special orders were available.
I'm pretty sure, at least one factory black one is out there.

 

[audioeffects]

Are the Factory Black and the Gold Top documented?

 

[real59er]

The factory black appears to be:

The Factory Black '59

Shop vintage and pre-owned guitars, amps and accessories with guaranteed authenticity, protected shipments, and a money-back guarantee at Carter Vintage.

cartervintage.com

 

[Standard Magic]

False but to all intents and purposes, true. There are some very very rare exceptions.

 

[real59er]

False but to all intents and purposes, true. There are some very very rare excep

In other words, false.

 

[jb_abides]

False. Per examples cited.

Unless you subscribe to some [original meaning] non-binary fuzzy math. Or, you believe you can get 'a little pregnant...'

 

[Wilko]

There’s at least one red one

 

[S. Weiger]

Are the Factory Black and the Gold Top documented?

With a little search, found this:

Whatever happened to the 59 Goldtop?

A rare bird not seen for years, that I know of. Anybody know where this one is? :hmm

www.lespaulforum.com

 

[S. Weiger]

There’s at least one red one

Isn't that one a '58 ?
EDIT: It's a 1959. 9 0875 , featured in BOTB and Julio's burstserial.com

 

[Frutiger]

There are two black ones currently known - the Black Burst owned by Joe which is Black over Sunburst and the black one sold through Carters to Kirk Hammett.

BUT there was a third: the factory black 59 that Tom Wittrock owns (with the factory router boo boo in the bridge pickup cavity) that was stripped and refinished sunburst by Tom years ago.

 

[fakejake]

There are two black ones currently known - the Black Burst owned by Joe which is Black over Sunburst and the black one sold through Carters to Kirk Hammett.

BUT there was a third: the factory black 59 that Tom Wittrock owns (with the factory router boo boo in the bridge pickup cavity) that was stripped and refinished sunburst by Tom years ago.

Interesting, I didn't know that!
Why would have Tom stripped and refinished that guitar? To me, he seemed like someone who cares about the integrity of vntage instruments and would have cherished such a rare guitar, rather than making it another burst, of which he had several anyways.

 

[DutchRay]

Les Paul Standard Gold Top finishes were discontinued after 1957, for example.

The Goldtop finish wasn't discontinued in 1957 but in mid-1958.

 

[1allspub]

Kirk Hammett owns the black 59 now: https://www.guitarworld.com/news/kirk-hammett-factory-black-1959-les-paul-standard

 

[audioeffects]

The Goldtop finish wasn't discontinued in 1957 but in mid-1958.

Right - technically, my exact wording is “after 1957” — which means 1958 going forward so as to include the essential burst years. Read carefully and my statement should agree with the facts.

 

[Frutiger]

Interesting, I didn't know that!
Why would have Tom stripped and refinished that guitar? To me, he seemed like someone who cares about the integrity of vntage instruments and would have cherished such a rare guitar, rather than making it another burst, of which he had several anyways.

Actually, I am mistaken. Tom found it already refinished, he didn't have it stripped but I think he had it re-refinished. It was definitely a factory black guitar though. I found this while looking for more info:

 

[S. Weiger]

So, the thread's opening statement is obviously false.
But, is this statement:

"All available 1959 Les Paul Standards are sunburst finishes?"

true or false?