Perhaps I missed the announcement during my grief (ongoing,) but it looks like Gibson has introduced a newly innovated re-issue of their ‘68 Custom Les Paul––the aptly titled Custom Shop 1968 Les Paul Custom Chambered.
As Gibson puts it, a “More resonant, lighter version of a classic.”
I’d heard rumor that this was already happening with many 2007 LPs (still don’t know if that’s true,) but according to the product specs, this baby sports a lighter, more resonant body than a standard Les Paul; all thanks to strategically placed chambers, which have been routed into the guitar’s mahogany back piece.
According to Gibson, the end result is an instrument with all the bite and tone of a traditional Les Paul, but with even more dramatic sustain, and higher volume… not to mention it’s got to be a hellva’ lot easier on the back.
In an interesting twist, that finish you see is actually Gibson’s gorgeous Pelham Blue, only it’s been yellowed to a cool greenish tint via some premature “aging” or antiquing in the Custom Shop.
Specs Features include a carve maple top, chambered mahogany body, lavish whit/black body binding, single-pice mahogany neck (rounded profile, long tenon,) ebony fretboard with 22 frets, pearl block inlays, and a trademark split diamond headstock inlay.
Hardware and electronics include a pair of ‘57 Classic humbuckers, dual volume & tone controls, 3-way pickup switching, ABR-1 bridge, stopbar tailpiece, “kidney bean” tuners, and of course a Gibson Custom Shop case.
There’s no official product page at Gibson as of yet, but the guitar is apparently in stock at Guitar Center and selling for a dangerous $3,349.00… gorgeous though.
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December 6th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
holy….i just crapped my pants at that beautiful green sight!
December 6th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
ok i changed my shorts….but yeah Gibson has been hollowing out their Les Pauls for quite a long time as far as I know.
yep found it.
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Chambering%20the%20Les%20Paul_%20A%20Mar/
this guitar is such a beauty…lets see, if i sell my DW drum kit and all my records and CDs…….
December 6th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
That is awesome. I demand sustain numbers! There needs to be a standard of sustain in order to compare!
December 6th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
I read in a guitar rag Billy Gibbons tribute issue that he has hollow Pearly Gates replica.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Kinda funny, since the now defunct Guild Bluesbird always (as far as I know) had a chambered body, and it certainly belongs in the Les Paul-esque camp. I think the old Fender Robben Fords were chambered as well. Lotsa other examples if I were to rack my brain. I think I read that the LP BFG is chambered as well.
And Cary, tough going man, our hearts go out to you.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Wowsie, that’s a nice one! Gives me ideas about my next project, especially the color…
December 7th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Have you folks seen the new Carvin California Single? Very sweet looking guitar!
December 8th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Nice, love that Custom.
Yea, all Les Paul Standards are now chambered.
I have a 2007 Standard Faded that has been customized ( bought from cvguitars.com ) and it rocks.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:14 am
ok i got an 68 origional the newbys would have better band width but i suspect the the freq range would be different alas !