Gibson Custom Shop 1954 Les Paul Custom Staple Pickup Reissue VOS Ebony 8.3 #46051

The Gibson Custom Shop 1954 Les Paul Custom Staple Pickup Reissue is a meticulous recreation of one of the most elegant and tonally distinctive instruments ever produced by Gibson. Revered as the original “Black Beauty,” the 1954 Les Paul Custom represented the pinnacle of Gibson craftsmanship, pairing refined aesthetics with powerful, articulate tone. This Custom Shop VOS reissue faithfully captures that legacy with historically accurate construction, premium materials, and period-correct appointments.

Built in the classic Les Paul body style and shape, the guitar features a solid mahogany body with no weight relief, delivering exceptional sustain, warmth, and midrange authority. Unlike maple-topped Les Paul models, the all-mahogany construction of the ’54 Custom produces a darker, rounder tonal character with focused lows and a smooth high end. The body is wrapped in elegant multi-ply binding and finished in Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina), giving the deep Ebony finish a gently aged sheen that evokes a well-preserved original.

The solid mahogany neck is carved to a comfortable ’50s Rounded Medium C profile, offering substantial feel without sacrificing playability. Joined to the body with a long tenon and hide glue fit, the neck maximizes resonance and sustain in true vintage fashion. The traditional 24.75-inch (628.65 mm) scale length contributes to the instrument’s supple string tension and singing sustain. Topping the neck is a smooth ebony fingerboard with a 12-inch radius, fitted with 22 Historic Gibson narrow/tall frets for precise articulation and effortless bends. The fingerboard is adorned with striking Custom block mother-of-pearl inlays, adding to the instrument’s upscale visual identity. A nylon nut measuring 1.687 inches (42.85 mm) ensures vintage-correct tone and feel.

One of the defining features of this reissue is its unique pickup pairing. In the neck position sits the Custom Staple pickup, known for its clear, piano-like low end and bell-like treble response. Its articulate, hi-fidelity character contrasts beautifully with the Custom Soapbar P-90 in the bridge position, which delivers raw midrange punch, biting attack, and dynamic sensitivity. Both pickups are housed in classic black soapbar covers, staying true to the 1954 aesthetic. The electronics feature CTS 500K audio taper potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors, wired through a 3-way Switchcraft selector and 1/4" Switchcraft output jack, with a traditional 2 volume and 2 tone control layout for complete tonal flexibility.

Hardware is finished in rich gold, complementing the Ebony body with timeless sophistication. The guitar is equipped with an ABR-1 bridge and a lightweight aluminum stop bar tailpiece with long stud/anchor, enhancing sustain and resonance. Kluson Waffleback tuning machines provide stable tuning and vintage authenticity. Period-correct details such as the black multi-ply pickguard, True Historic truss rod cover, black top hat knobs, True Historic amber switch tip, black switch washer, black multi-ply jack plate cover, reissue black control covers, brass strap buttons, and black mounting rings complete the historically faithful presentation.

Strung with gauges .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046, the guitar arrives protected in a Custom Shop hardshell case and includes a Certificate of Authenticity, underscoring its collectible status.

The Gibson Custom Shop 1954 Les Paul Custom Staple Pickup Reissue VOS Ebony stands as a stunning tribute to the earliest days of the Les Paul Custom—combining luxurious appointments, distinctive staple-and-P-90 tonal character, and uncompromising vintage accuracy in a truly heirloom-quality instrument.

Other specifications include:

• Body Style Les Paul
• Body Shape Les Paul
• Body Material Solid Mahogany
• Binding Multi-ply
• Body Finish Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina)
• Weight Relief None
• Profile 50s Rounded Medium C
• Scale Length 628.65 mm / 24.75 in
• Fingerboard Material Ebony
• Fingerboard Radius 304.8 mm / 12 in
• Neck Material Solid Mahogany
• Fret Count 22
• Frets Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
• Nut Material Nylon
• Nut Width 42.85 mm / 1.687 in
• End Of Board Width 52.37 mm / 2.061 in
• Inlays Custom Block Mother of Pearl
• Joint Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
• Hardware Finish Gold
• Bridge ABR-1
• Tailpiece Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar with Long Stud/Anchor
• Tuning Machines Kluson Waffleback
• Pickguard Black Multi-Ply
• Truss Rod Standard
• Truss Rod Cover True Historic
• Control Knobs Black Top Hats
• Switch Tip True Historic Amber
• Switch washer Black
• Jack Plate Cover Black Multi-Ply
• Control Covers Reissue Black
• Strap Buttons 2 - Brass
• Mounting Rings Black
• Pickup Covers Black Soapbar
• Neck Pickup Custom Staple
• Bridge Pickup Custom Soapbar P-90
• Controls 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
• Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
• Output Jack 1/4" Switchcraft
• Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
• Case Custom Shop Hardshell
• Accessories Certificate of Authenticity
• LPB54VOEBGH1
• 8 lbs 3 oz
• 46051

For more information on this Gibson Custom Shop instrument, please contact us.

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