The Gibson Custom Shop PSL '59 Les Paul Standard Reissue BOTB 86 Heavy Aged is a meticulously crafted homage to the legendary 1959 Les Paul Standard, offering players and collectors a historically accurate instrument with the coveted “Beauty of the Burst” finish, referenced from page 86 of the Beauty of the Burst book. The guitar features a 2-piece hand-selected AAA figured maple top, expertly fitted with hide glue, resting on a 1-piece lightweight mahogany back. This combination provides the warm, resonant tone and sustain that made the original 1959 Les Paul Standard a benchmark for electric guitars. Framed with 1-ply Royalite binding and finished in heavy-aged nitrocellulose lacquer, the BOTB 86 captures the visual richness and subtle aging characteristics of a true vintage instrument.

The neck faithfully reproduces the 1959 authentic medium profile (.92"–.98"), attached with a long tenon and hide-glue set joint for maximum resonance. Topped with an Indian rosewood fingerboard featuring a 12" radius, 22 historic medium-jumbo frets, and cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays, the neck provides smooth, authentic playability. A nylon nut with 42.85 mm (1.687") width and 56.89 mm (2.239") end-of-board width ensures accurate string spacing. Vintage-inspired details, including the authentic stepped 2-ply truss rod cover, 1950s no-tube truss rod, and laminated cellulose acetate butyrate pickguard, maintain historical accuracy and visual appeal.

The guitar’s sonic capabilities are powered by a pair of Custombucker Alnico III pickups (unpotted), delivering the rich, harmonically complex voice and dynamic response that define the classic ’59 Les Paul tone. The hand-wired electronics include 2 volume and 2 tone CTS 500K audio-taper potentiometers with paper-in-oil capacitors, along with a 3-way Switchcraft pickup selector and Switchcraft output jack, providing complete tonal control. Period-correct hardware includes a nickel ABR-1 bridge with nickel-plated brass saddles, lightweight aluminum stopbar tailpiece, Kluson single-line single-ring tuners, nickel-silver pickup covers, and M69 cellulose acetate butyrate mounting rings, all contributing to authentic vintage performance and aesthetics. Additional touches such as gold butyrate top-hat control knobs, amber Catalin switch tip, black Royalite control covers, and aluminum strap buttons complete the historically faithful presentation.

Strung with .010–.046 gauge strings, the PSL ’59 Les Paul Standard Reissue BOTB 86 Heavy Aged comes housed in a brown/pink reissue 5-latch hardshell case and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. With its combination of historically precise construction, premium tonewoods, and the striking Golden Poppy Heavy Aged finish, this Custom Shop PSL ’59 Les Paul Standard Reissue delivers the legendary tone, feel, and visual beauty of the original ’59 Standard, making it a true treasure for players and collectors alike.