Want to stand out from the pack? Try a Jeff Beck Les Paul!
The Gibson Guitar Corporation has been known for decades as one of the absolute pinnacles of quality guitar manufacturing. The instruments they make are played far and wide, by everyone from three chords only punk rockers, to virtuosos of classical, jazz, the hardest of rockers, and the fastest and heaviest of thrashers. Gibson only chooses to bestow a signature instrument on the most deserving, and when a guitarist is granted a signature model, it is usually an iconic instrument made for an iconic guitarist.
Jeff Beck is just such a legendary artist, and deserves a legendary instrument
Jeff Beck stood head and shoulders above many of his colleagues from the very beginning. He first came to international attention for replacing none other than Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds, and was replaced in turn by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, who he played with in the band. As a solo artist, he has been famed for decades for great rock albums, and being the first to employ one Rod Stewart, later playing instrumental music that not only sells well, but pushes musical boundaries, blurring lines between jazz, classical, Latin music, and rock. Though he later turned to a Fender Stratocaster as his weapon of choice, when he first broke out, like so many legendary players, he played the guitar named for another legend, the Gibson Les Paul.
A customized 1955 one off accidentally entered into legend
A customer of a music shop called Strings N Things in Memphis, Tennessee requested that a 1955 Les Paul be modified in several ways. First, the Gold finish (standard in the 50’s) be replaced with a dark reddish chocolate finish, called Oxblood. The pickups were replaced, with Gibson humbuckers replacing the P-90 pickups. (Humbuckers use two magnets wound together, P-90s use only one magnet – humbuckers are known for a fuller sound, and less feedback from an amplifier.) Also, the bridge (where the strings are anchored) was replaced and new tuners installed. The customer hated the results, and it sat unsold. Until Jeff Beck, recording in Memphis, strolled into the store, loved it, and bought it. He used to record Blow by Blow, one of his bestselling albums and one of the bestselling instrumental rock album to date. It’s even featured on the cover. The Oxblood Les Paul become iconic along with it’s owner, and recently, Gibson released a limited run of exact copies, but they do require a lot of extra cash to pick up.
Got 25 Grand?
The Gibson replica series, usually very limited editions of only a few dozen to a few thousand instruments, are usually very expensive. However, for the price of most auto loans here’s what you would get:
- A pre-aged, mahogany body carved top Les Paul.
- Oxblood (rare) finish with a nitrocellulose seal, which allows the wood to breathe and age naturally
- Gibson Burstbucker 2 and Burstbucker 3 pickups
- 1950’s rounded neck (the 50’s necks are known for a very comfortable “C” shape which sits easy in the hands)
- Rosewood fingerboard
- Standard Gibson 22 fret, 24 3/4 in. scale neck
- Two Volume, Two Tone knobs
- Custom Gibson Case and care kit (nitrocellulose requires specific care to keep it in good condition.)
- An instrument that WILL appreciate in value
Gibson Custom Jeff Beck 1954 Les Paul Oxblood Aged Signed Electric Guitar Standard
The Web link above will take you to the website that sells them. The guitar, like the Jimmy Page signature guitars and others will appreciate over time as limited edition instruments, if well cared for, remain excellent instruments for playing and for collecting.
