Electric Guitar Review

Hot on the heels of their Epiphone branded Les Paul Tribute Standard, Gibson this week announced the release of a high-end Custom Shop model –– the Les Paul Tribute 1952 –– in honor of the legendary musician/innovator behind the name, Les Paul himself.

Billed as the closest match yet to Les’ original specs, the guitar looks to be a beauty of classic styling and guitar-history nostalgia… even the brass trapeze tailpiece and top-wrapped bridge (a Les Paul patented creation,) are present and accounted for.

According to Gibson the Les Paul Tribute 1952 is being built around a two-piece mahogany body (Grade-A) that’s been topped with a two-piece maple top (Grade-C,) and glued together with super-strong Franklin Titebond 50 glue.

And as per the earliest LP models, the guitar will be hand-finished with Gold nitrocellulose on the top (90-sheen lacquer –– no poly here) while the rim, back and neck have been left to show off that Grade-A mahogany grain, and coated with a high-gloss lacquer.

Other stand-out features will include a solid quarter-sawn Grade-A mahogany neck with ’50s neck profile, headstock with Gibson logo inlaid in mother of pearl and“prototype” stamped into the back, and a 22-fret fretboard of Grade-A mahogany (12″ radius,) with acrylic trapezoid inlays and antique neck binding.

Electronics will include a pair of cream-colored single-coil P-90 pickups, dual Volume controls with Gold Speedvolume knobs, dual Tone controls with Gold Speedtone knobs, 3-way pickup switching via toggle switch, and a Switchcraft 1/4″ outback jack. Tuners are vintage-style, with press-in bushings.

The Gibson Les Paul Tribute 1952 will ship with a hardshell case and Certificate of Authenticity, including a photo of Les Paul and detailed specs of the instrument. It carries an MSRP of $5,581.00.