1950s Gibson Les Paul Buying Trip To Portugal

 1950s Les Paul Buyer in Portugal

I've just returned from a trip to Faro, Portugal to buy this mid 1950s Gibson Les Paul goldtop! Portugal is a wonderful country and this vintage Gibson guitar did not disappoint. Gibson exported many of their guitars in the 1950s so it's not surprising that there are vintage guitars in Europe. This one has survived in nice condition and even still has its original hang tag. I'm always on the hunt for the nicest examples of 1950s Gibson Les Paul guitars and am happy to travel to wherever they are located. 

As a Gibson Les Paul collector, I am actively looking for Les Paul guitars made in the 1950s. My favorite Les Pauls are those made in the mid to late 1950s, but especially those from 1958, 1959, and 1960. If you're looking for help with dating and identification of a vintage Les Paul, you can check out Les Paul Serial Numbers or How much is a Gibson Les Paul Worth? If you're considering selling a 1950s Gibson Les Paul then I may be the buyer you're looking for. You can contact me here to sell a Gibson.

I landed in Faro, Portugal last Wednesday evening on my way to buy this 1950s Gibson Les Paul Model with goldtop finish. The beach was only about a 5 minute drive from the airport, so I went there first as the sun was setting. Kite surfers were taking full advantage of the perfect weather. When I went back to the city to my hotel, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people out eating and drinking and enjoying life as late as 10 pm! Faro is a lovely old city and I wish I was able to spend more time there. 

The next morning, I drove about an hour to Portimao, Portugal to meet with the sellers of the 1950s Gibson Les Paul. It was offered from the widow and son of its sole owner since the mid 1990s. When I arrived, I found a very clean brown and pink Lifton case with a spectacular Goldtop Les Paul inside. The story of this Les Paul is that it was originally sold in South Africa, but its owner immigrated to Portugal for his retirement. Tragically, he became sick and passed away only a month after moving to Portugal.

The Les Paul's previous owner was a passionate musician who understood the importance of 1950s Les Paul guitars. He kept this one in very nice condition and cared deeply about preserving it for the future. I noticed only one necessary maintenance item which is common for Les Paul guitars made before 1956: its bridge post bushings were collapsing forward. The bushings that Gibson used before 1956 were too short to counteract the leverage of the string tension, so they began using much longer bushings that year. I will be taking this Les Paul to have its bushings carefully replaced to restore proper bridge geometry. 

Sell a 1950s Les Paul in Europe

If you're considering selling a 1950s Les Paul guitar in Europe then I'd be happy to take a look at it. I've been buying vintage Gibson guitars for over a decade and may be the buyer you're looking for. I travel world wide to collect the Gibson and Fender guitars that I've always dreamed of. If you have a nice example of a mid to late 1950s Les Paul then I'd like to be the buyer with the highest offer. I can also come to you for an in-person transaction.

You can contact me here to sell a Gibson guitar from the 1950s or early 1960s.

Or stick around to check out some of the other vintage guitars that I've purchased internationally:

1958 Les Paul in Norway

1958 Les Paul in South Africa

1962 Stratocaster Fiesta Red United Kingdom