Essential Information About the Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Ultra Light Aged "Bourbon Burst" Guitar
- Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged: subtly cracked nitro finish and aged hardware for an authentic vintage "burst" aesthetic without excess.
- Historic Construction: one-piece mahogany back, two-piece solid maple top, hide glue and long tenon for optimal vibration transfer.
- Vintage Electronics: two un-waxed Custom Bucker Alnico 3 pickups, CTS 500k audio potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil capacitors, Switchcraft 3-way selector switch.
- 50s Rounded Medium C Neck, Indian rosewood fingerboard with 12" / 304.8 mm radius, narrow/tall frets for a very "woody" response and smooth bends.
A Faithful Reissue of a Pivotal Year
1958 marks the true beginning of the "Burst" legend. This Custom Shop reissue replicates the period luthiery methods, featuring narrow frets, a full rounded neck, and a selected mahogany/maple combination. The Ultra Light Aged finish by Murphy Lab adds just the right amount of wear to evoke a carefully preserved Les Paul, while maintaining the reliability of a new instrument.
Who Is It For and Which Styles?
Designed for intermediate to expert guitarists seeking an organic and expressive "PAF" tone. It excels in blues, rock, classic rock, and shines in jazz or pop thanks to its dynamic range and harmonic richness. The 50s profile and 12" fingerboard radius provide comfort, stability, and excellent tuning retention.
Sound Characteristics
The mahogany + maple combination delivers singing mids, dense lows, and silky highs. The un-waxed Custom Bucker Alnico 3 pickups offer an airy attack, generous harmonics, and playing sensitivity close to the original PAFs. The ABR-1 bridge and aluminum tailpiece add attack and sustain, while the 500k electronics with Paper-in-Oil capacitors preserve high-end openness. From a round, velvety neck tone to a sharp bridge sound, the palette is wide and authentically vintage.
Recommended Compatible Accessories
- Nickel string set 10?46 (original gauge) to maintain tension/response balance.
- 6.35 mm (1/4") jack cable of quality with straight or angled connectors.
- Leather strap 5 to 8 cm wide for better comfort on stage.
- "Nitro-safe" stand/support compatible with nitrocellulose finishes.
Technical Specifications
Body
- Body shape: Les Paul
- Top: 100% two-piece maple, hide-glued
- Back: lightweight one-piece mahogany
- Binding: single-ply Royalite
- Body finish: Murphy Lab Nitrocellulose Aged
Neck
- Profile: 50s Rounded Medium C
- Scale length: 24.75" / 628.65 mm
- Fingerboard: Indian rosewood
- Fingerboard radius: 12" / 304.8 mm
- Number of frets: 22
- Frets: authentic Gibson narrow/tall
- Nut: nylon
- Nut width: 1.687" / 42.85 mm
- Fingerboard width at the end: 2.239" / 56.89 mm
- Inlays: aged nitrocellulose trapezoids
- Body/neck joint: long tenon, hide glue
Hardware
- Finish: nickel, Murphy Lab "Light" aged
- Bridge: ABR-1 without wire (nickel-plated brass)
- Tailpiece: lightweight aluminum
- Tuners: Kluson, single line (single ring)
- Pickguard: laminated cellulose acetate butyrate
- Truss rod: authentic 1950s "No-Tube"
- Truss rod cover: authentic two-ply stepped
- Control knobs: Gold butyrate "Top Hats"
- Selector knob: Amber Catalin
- Selector washer: cellulose acetate butyrate replica
- Output jack plate: laminated cellulose acetate butyrate
- Control plate finish: black Royalite
- Strap buttons: aluminum
- Pickup rings: M69 cellulose acetate butyrate
- Pickup covers: authentic nickel-silver profile
Electronics
- Neck pickup: Custom Bucker Alnico 3 (un-waxed)
- Bridge pickup: Custom Bucker Alnico 3 (un-waxed)
- Controls: 2 volumes, 2 tones, CTS 500k audio pots, Paper-in-Oil capacitors
- Pickup selector: Switchcraft 3-way
- Output jack: Switchcraft 6.35 mm / 1/4" (? 0.635 cm)
Miscellaneous
- String gauge: 0.010 ? 0.013 ? 0.017 ? 0.026 ? 0.036 ? 0.046
- Case: Lifton 5-latch brown/pink reissue
- Included accessories: certificate of authenticity, mounted Custom Shop switch plate medallion, reissued backplate in case
- Serial number: 831081
- Measured weight: approx. 4,120 g (? 4.12 kg)
- Finish/color: "Bourbon Burst" Ultra Light Aged
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