Born from a friendly bet to prove he could build an LP Custom-style guitar as good as a vintage one, it’s safe to say Tommy Rodriguez won that bet - handily.

Last summer, we had the pleasure of welcoming Thomas Rodriguez to the shop while he was in town visiting family. Anytime we get to sit down with one of our builders - fresh coffee in hand, guitars on deck - it’s a good day.

As we settled in, Tommy pulled out a Gibson-style case. Naturally, we were curious. What gem had he unexpectedly brought with him? When he cracked it open, we were let out a flurry of oohs and aahs - a jaw-dropping LP Custom-style build that immediately stole the room. Turns out, he built this one for himself, spurred on by a friendly challenge from a friend who bet he couldn’t match the feel and tone of a vintage Custom. Spoiler alert: Tommy won.

With a mahogany body, mahogany cap, and ebony fingerboard, this guitar leans into the Custom vibe. Equipped with Fralin PAFs, it’s snappier and slightly brighter than a Standard, with slightly scooped mids and more clarity on the top end. There's undeniable power behind every note, making it ideal for medium to high-gain playing. It's no wonder so many of our guitar heroes in heavier genres leaned toward Customs. Before we forget, Tommy wired this one to be out of phase in the middle position - a cool little bonus that's easy to reverse if that's not your bag.

This one was built to be played, and it shows in all the right ways. The neck is slightly wide and chunky in the hand, the setup is dialed, and the tones are as rich as they are articulate. While it does show very minor signs of use from Tommy himself (black finishes never hide anything), it’s in near-new condition and priced accordingly. Oh, and did we mention it only weighs 8.5 lbs? Custom lovers, you know that’s a big deal.