Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS Double Gold 9.3 #75829

The Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS in Double Gold is an extraordinary homage to one of the most important milestones in electric guitar history. Revered for introducing humbuckers to the Les Paul line, the 1957 model marks a turning point in tone and design, and this faithful reissue captures every nuance with uncompromising attention to period-correct detail. What sets this particular version apart is its distinctive Dark Back—a rich, deep finish on the mahogany back that adds dramatic visual contrast to the luminous Double Gold top, evoking the aesthetic of some of the rarest and most collectible original Goldtops.

Crafted using traditional methods and materials, the guitar features a 2-piece plain maple top, expertly joined to a 1-piece lightweight mahogany back using hide glue, just as Gibson did in the 1950s. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish has been treated with Gibson’s Vintage Original Spec (VOS) process, giving the guitar a gently aged patina that adds character and a silky, broken-in feel. The 1-ply Royalite binding subtly outlines the body, complementing the warm glow of the Double Gold top, while the Dark Back provides a vintage-inspired contrast that sets this model apart.

The neck is made from solid mahogany and carved to a comfortable ’50s Rounded Medium C profile, delivering the substantial, full feel that vintage Les Pauls are known for. Attached with a long tenon joint and hide glue fit, the neck ensures excellent sustain and resonance. Topped with a 12-inch radius Indian rosewood fingerboard, it features 22 historic narrow/tall frets and aged cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays, all crafted to vintage specs. The nylon nut is cut to a period-accurate 1.687" width, with a board-end width of 2.239", offering smooth playability and familiar string spacing for discerning players.

Tone is where this reissue truly shines. It comes equipped with a set of unpotted Custombucker Alnico III humbuckers, meticulously wound to replicate the sound and character of the original late-’50s PAF pickups. These pickups offer an exquisite balance of warmth, clarity, and harmonic complexity, with the added responsiveness and microphonic bloom that only unpotted pickups can provide. The wiring harness features CTS 500K audio taper pots and paper-in-oil capacitors, ensuring vintage-correct tone and smooth taper across all controls. A 3-way Switchcraft selector and Switchcraft output jack complete the time-tested electronic layout.

Hardware is equally true to the era, including a no-wire ABR-1 bridge with nickel-plated brass saddles and a lightweight aluminum stop bar tailpiece—a pairing that enhances resonance, sustain, and tuning stability. The Kluson single-line, single-ring tuners, butyrate gold top hat knobs, amber Catalin switch tip, and historically accurate control plastics all reflect the materials and tooling used during Gibson’s golden age. Even the pickup covers are made from authentic profile nickel silver, and the M69 mounting rings are correct in shape and composition.

Every detail, down to the brown Royalite control covers and aluminum strap buttons, speaks to the Gibson Custom Shop’s commitment to historical accuracy. The guitar ships in a brown/pink Lifton reissue 5-latch case, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity booklet, historic hang tags, and a Gibson Custom switchplate medallion (with a historic brown plastic cover inside the case).

Whether you’re a vintage tone purist, a collector, or a serious player looking for the pinnacle of craftsmanship and legacy, the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Dark Back VOS in Double Gold is a stunning and inspiring instrument. It is not merely a reproduction—it is a living tribute to the enduring legacy of the Les Paul.

Other specifications include:

• Body Style Les Paul
• Body Shape Les Paul
• Top 2-Piece Plain Maple, Hide Glue Fit
• Back 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
• Binding 1-Ply Royalite
• Body Finish Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina)
• Weight Relief None
• Profile 50s Rounded Medium C
• Scale Length 628.65 mm / 24.75 in
• Fingerboard Material Indian Rosewood
• 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 56.89 mm / 2.239 in
• Inlays Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
• Joint Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
• Finish Nickel
• Bridge No-Wire ABR-1
• Saddle Material Nickel-plated Brass
• Tailpiece Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
• Tuning Machines Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
• Pickguard Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Truss Rod Cover Authentic Stepped 2-Ply
• Control Knobs Butyrate Gold Top Hats
• Switch Tip Amber Catalin
• Switch washer Silkscreened Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Jack Plate Cover Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Control Covers Brown Royalite
• Strap Buttons Aluminum
• Mounting Rings M69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
• Pickup Covers Authentic Profile Nickel Silver
• Neck Pickup Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
• Bridge Pickup Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted)
• Controls CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
• Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
• Output Jack Switchcraft
• Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
• Case Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch
• Accessories Gibson Custom Switchplate Medallion (w/ Historic Brown Plastic Cover in Case), Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
• LPR57VODBDGNH1
• 9 lbs 3 oz
• 75829

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

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