Gibson Custom Shop Collector’s Choice #4 “Sandy” ’59 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue 2012 Dirty Lemon Aged. Excellent Condition 9.5/10

If you made it here you know how good these collectors choice guitars are. These are easily a full step up from a standard custom shop model in both playability and tone. Gibson Custom built these guitars to demonstrate the ability of Gibson Custom to replicate the authentic sound, looks and tone of iconic guitars from years 1958-1960. At the time they painstakingly analysed every detail of each guitar with full tone matching, pickup analysis, chemical analysis of components, 3D scanning accurate profiles and hand ageing almost every detail to duplicate the real guitar. This particular guitar is super resonant and a fantastic weight as you would expect at 8.2lb. A real joy to play and has hardly seen any use.

CC04A 9 1228 “Sandy” is one of the most highly prized collectors choice models ever made, hand aged by the legendary custom shop team headed by Tom Murphy himself at the time.

As a re-known owner and collector of Gibson Les Paul’s Tom Wittrock allowed the Gibson Custom Shop to replicate one of his most prized guitars. A 1959 Les Paul nicknamed “Sandy”. With the highest attention to detail, 2012 saw the release of the guitar from the Gibson Custom Shop. Painstakingly replicated from the original ’59, the top carve, neck contours and pickup outputs were all matched to perfection to ensure the truest version of this historic guitar. Every mark, scuff, ding and detail is exactly replicated from the original guitar. This particular “Sandy” has just the right amount of wear too, feeling played in and comfortable in the hand. Almost like it really is 65 years old! The tone-woods are all hand-selected and are matched to the original guitar as close as physically possible just as you would expect from the very best Gibson has to offer.

With an exceptional 2 piece Maple top on a lightweight Mahogany body, Sandy is rich, resonant and sounds exceptionally punchy just like the original. The time tested tonewood combo has been around since the very start and with results like this it is easy to see why. The maple top on this particular example is exceptional and very close to the original guitar. It really changes a lot in different lights. This guitar is also true historic spec with the factory using old production methods and difficult to work with real hide glue to attach the top, a big plus for tone purists as hide glue is known to improve the resonance and sustain of the guitar as it crystallises. Finished in the super cool Dirty Lemon Burst matched to Sandy, the finish has been digitally scanned and re-created by Gibsons very best to replicate the exact checking and wear patterns.

Fine details of the reproduction include precise neck and top carves; closely matched maple grains for the guitar’s exquisite top; exposed zebra-coil humbuckers with Alnico 3 magnets, accurate coil winds, and offset square-window bobbins; and wear patterns that capture the current state of “Sandy” near to perfection. In addition to accurately replicating the faded “dirty lemon” sunburst finish, Gibson Custom even replicates the lacquer over-spray that a previous owner ordered for the neck to preserve it from further wear.

You really can’t get much closer to the real thing!

Limited to just 300 guitars worldwide, the Gibson Custom Shop Sandy 1959 Les Paul Standard #9 1228 replica is a guitar for players and collectors alike.

The original case, certificate and candy is included. The case shows a small amount of UV fading to upper and one missing stud. See photos.

Specs below:

Serial number: CC04A 284

Colour / Finish: Dirty Lemon “Sandy” Burst Aged

Technology: Solid Body

Body Shape: Single Cut

Strings: 6 string

Neck construction: Set in neck Long Tenon Hide Glue Fit

Frets: 22

Scale Length: 24,75″ (629 mm)

Body Material: Mahogany

Top: Figured Maple

Neck: Mahogany

Neck Profile: ’59 C, “Sandy”

Fretboard: Rosewood Hide Glue Fit

Fretboard radius: 12″

Truss Rod: 50’s Tubeless

Fretboard Inlays: Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid

Pickup Configuration: H-H (2x Humbucker)

Neck Pickup: Gibson Custom Bucker Alnico III (Custom Voiced To Original Guitar)

Bridge Pickup: Gibson Custom Bucker Alnico III (Custom Voiced To Original Guitar)

Pickup Selector Switch: 3 way toggle

Controls: 2x volume, 2x tone

Bridge / Tremolo: Tune-O-Matic

Hardware: Nickel

Strings thickness ex factory: .010 – .046

Including: Aged hard case & accessories

Special Features: Limited special model, Hand Aged.

Country of Origin: USA

Guitar will be well packed and sent fully insured. Thanks for viewing!

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