Gibson Les Paul Special (1956)

There's clean and then there's CLEAN - this amazing 1956 LP Special in TV Yellow would likely take home the blue ribbon every time.

We've had a great run of original TV Specials here at TME in recent years. They remain one of the most popular vintage electrics on the market, combining Les Paul tone and feel with single coil clarity and bite and an unmistakable aesthetic unique to the model.

But then there's this - a 1956 LP Special that defies all logic when it comes to vintage guitar condition.

We're not crazy. We know nothing its truly mint, and we're careful with that word to the point of hardly ever using it. But if a guitar is to approach that level of cleanliness, then this '56 might qualify in whatever tier or rating that is. Has the guitar been played? Well, yes. But certainly not much!

Short of a few areas where the lacquer has checked, the finish is as clean as you'll find one of these. Even the original small fretwire retains most of its original height and profile! Those mummified tuner buttons on the original Kluson tuners also continue to work ok, if you can believe it.

Rich, strong, yet balanced single coil tone is the calling card of these mid/late 50s Specials and their P90s. These pickups do not disappoint! We're loving the sound of this guitar into a clean amp just as much as we do when it's hitting some overdrive.

The fat, round neck with a hint of Soft V is prototypical mid 50s in profile, and the original small fretwire still offers great playability with unmistakable vintage feel. At 7lb 3oz, it's a particularly lightweight example of one of these models. The fatter neck and slab Mahogany body balance out very nicely as well.

It's paired with its original Gibson chipboard case which is just as clean as the guitar itself.

**Video is of the actual guitar, previously owned by Nashville session man extraordinaire Tom Bukovac.**