Gibson Custom Shop 2018 Historic Collection 1958 Les Paul Standard

The Beginning of the Burst

In 1958, Gibson parted ways with the gold finish on the Les Paul Model and introduced the “Les Paul Standard,” a refresh that featured a center-seam maple top, red aniline dye back and sides, and a beautiful transparent Cherry Sunburst finish. While only that one color was available originally, exposure to sunlight and subtle variations have made each original example unique in color. Gibson Custom picked four beautiful sunburst variations for the new 2018 Historic Collection, each bringing out all the character of the unique maple tops. And just like the 1958 originals, the neck profiles on these Historic models are just a bit beefier on average when compared to a 1959 – a comfortable chunky C-shape. Two new updates for 2018 include the inclusion of all True Historic-spec parts and, for the first time, narrow/tall frets which bring the tone and playability closer to the character of the originals. Available in Gloss or VOS (vintage patina, shown) finishes. Left-handed models are available as well!

Vintage Heart and Soul

The Gibson Custom Shop Historic Series has evolved so much since its inception. Over time, the Custom Shop team has gotten closer and closer to recreating the magic of the coveted vintage treasures of the late '50s and early '60s. Pulling inspiration from the various eras of production in their storied history, Gibson has managed to identify all the characteristics of a great Les Paul and put all them into one irresistible package. Thanks to their hide-glue construction to premium tone woods, these instruments are closer than ever to instruments that defined a generation and inspired millions. Building off of the presentation of the 2017 Les Paul Standard models, the all-new 2018 Historic Collection takes things to the next level with new neck profiles, period-correct fretwire and all new “Fade” finishes. Make no mistake, you don’t just see the difference–you FEEL it, too. Obsessively perfect, ultra-accurate aesthetic appointments compliment stellar finish options like aniline-dyed 1-piece mahogany backs, old-school deluxe Kluson tuners, and gorgeous maple tops to make these Les Pauls look and feel like vintage instruments. A pair of so-close-to-vintage-it’s-scary Custom Buckers complete the package by unleashing the rich harmonic content of these phenomenal instruments. Wildwood Guitars is proud to present the Gibson Custom Shop 2018 Historic Collection!

Tonal Evaluation

This Honey Lemon LP sounds sweeter than a pitcher of tea with two cups of sugar! In general, this serial is defined by its woody midrange, its sweet, chiming top-end, and its raunchy, fat bass response. The Jeykll-and-Hyde dynamic between the mean lows and the sweet highs really sets this guitar's voice apart from the pack. Because it has such an expressive voice, it makes me want to play blues drenched in soul (because, man, does that high end SING!), but it also made me want to play loud, aggressive rock and roll. Why? Well, when a guitar sounds this inherently pleasant, it's nigh-impossible to make it sound harsh no matter how much gain you pile on. So, it works great for hard rock, metal, and punk! The neck pickup is warm and transparent, but the growling low-end gives it a satisfying edge. The bridge position has a sugary, delectable high-end, and you can get some nice Jimmy Page-esque tones thanks to the strident woody midrange.