Gibson Les Paul Special, Cherry (USED, 1960)
Vintage
Golden Era Mahogany-bodied Gibson electrics are some of our most favorite vintage solidbodies in existence. The time-tested recipe of the all-Mahogany construction coupled with a single (or in this case, pair) of P90 pickups always delivers. This 1960 Gibson Les Paul Special straddles the line between the early slab-bodied Specials and Juniors with a nod of what was to come in the SG.
Gibson introduced a slim and fast neck in 1960 appealed to many players looking for a friendlier carve compared to the larger, chunkier necks of the early and late 50s instruments. This LP Special proudly sports that slim carve and taper, making it a super smooth player from first position all the way up the neck. It's been expertly refretted by luthier extraordinaire and vintage guru Laurent Brondel, along with a host of other upgrades and "fixes" that brings out the best in this doublecut. A break-free rescue of sorts, it once sported a crudely painted on peace sign on the headstock veneer in bright pink. Original Kluson tuners were replaced with Grovers long ago (a common mod still seen quite often today), but Laurent took the opportunity in cleaning up the headstock to reinstall the proper style tuners.
The original P90 pickups rock a slightly hotter wind without sacrificing the wonderful clarity these pickups inherently seem to provide. The bridge pickup has some great punchy low midrange authority - think Townsend meets Angus Young - and the neck pickup is full and sweet sounding. The unmistakable 'chirp' is there in all positions, which elevates this guitar in a mix almost effortlessly.
Laurent put some more love into this beauty by outfitting it with some high quality replacement parts like a repro pickguard, knobs, and switch ring, as well as installing a pair of curated vintage 1961 Centralab volume pots.
It's certainly a couple of notches above player-grade (we're talking a mostly original finish here with some light restorative work), and while it may not satiate the vintage collector with its somewhat storied past, it could easily match or even outshine a more original example due to some impressive revitalization by one of the best guitar makers in the business.
Priced with aftermarket hardshell case.
- Slab Mahogany body
- Mahogany neck w/ bound Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard
- Slim C neck profile: .82" @ 1st fret / .88" @ 12th fret
- Refinished peghead
- Reverse Grover-ized tuner replacement w/ vintage Klusons
- Refret and replaced nut
- Original P90 pickups: 8.16k (neck) / 8.29k (bridge)
- Replaced volume pots - original 1961 Centralab pots installed
- Repro pickguard
- Repro knobs
- Repro toggle switch ring
- Weight: 8lb 2oz
Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.
Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.
Pricing
We price vintage instruments using current market trends and our extensive in-house sales history, ensuring each piece is accurately valued and fairly positioned.
Tasteful Restoration
When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.
Accurate Listings
Every vintage guitar we list is authenticated by our seasoned team and photographed in high detail, with clear, honest descriptions that show exactly what you’re buying - no surprises.
Shipping
With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.