Gibson Custom Shop Collector’s Choice #43 Mick Ralphs ’58 Les Paul Standard Reissue. Excellent Condition 9.75/10.

If you made it here you know how good these collectors choice guitars are. These are easily 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. A real joy to play and has hardly seen any use in its limited life stored under a bed.

Mick Ralphs is a British guitar hero, a founding member of both Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, he is considered rock royalty. His monster tone and slick lead work cement his place in rock n roll history.

A long time user of Gibson Les Paul’s, 2017 saw the release of the Gibson Custom Shop Mick Ralphs 1958 Les Paul Standard #8 7049. Painstakingly replicated from Ralphs original ’58, the top carve, neck contours and pickup outputs were all matched to perfection to ensure the truest version of this historic guitar. The neck profile is particularly interesting as it feels and plays much more like a shallow ’59 C profile. It has just the right amount of wear too, feeling played in and comfortable in the hand. Almost like it really is 64 years old! The rosewood fingerboard is beautifully dark and with a really tight grain as you would expect on the very best Gibson has to offer.

With a 2 piece Maple top on a lightweight Mahogany body, it is rich, resonant and authentically vintage. This time tested tonewood combo has been around since the very start and with results like this it is easy to see why. The flame maple top on this particular example is exceptional and very similar to the original guitar. It really changes a lot in different lights. This guitar is also true historic spec with the factory using 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 Ralphs Burst, the finish has been digitally scanned and created by Gibsons very best to replicate the exact checking and wear patterns.

A pair of PAF custom wound Custom Bucker pickups provide the rich, deep tones we have heard on many records. The pickups in the guitar have been re-created to the same specs and outputs of the original PAFs used in Micks guitar. You really can’t get much closer to the real thing!

Limited to just 300 guitars worldwide, the Gibson Custom Shop Mick Ralphs 1958 Les Paul Standard #8 7049 replica is a guitar for players and collectors alike.

Specs below:

Serial number: CC43A 072

Colour / Finish: Aged Ralphs Burst

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: ’58 C

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

Bridge Pickup: Gibson Custom Bucker Alnico III

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, Aged.

Country of Origin: USA

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

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