1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom with two humbucking pickups!
I purchased this 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom in very rare two humbucking pickup variation from its sole owner since the early 1960s! It may look like a typical late 1950s Les Paul Custom, but remember that the vast majority of these with humbuckers came with three pickups. Gibson made very few (maybe only one batch? 20-40 examples) Customs with only two humbucking pickups. 1958 is my favorite year for the Les Paul, so this guitar represents a pinnacle achievement for this guitar collector. In my 15 years of buying vintage Gibson Les Pauls, this is the only two pickup Custom I've ever had the chance to buy.
Considering selling a 1950s Gibson Les Paul? Get in touch: Sell a Gibson.
I landed in Albuquerque, New Mexico and drove 2.5 hours into the desert to meet the seller of this 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom two pickup. Freddy told me that he worked at his uncle's pawn shop in the early 1960s and always wanted a guitar. This Custom came in and was priced at only $100 (a steal even in the 1960s!), but was failing to attract a buyer even at that price. Freddy waited until the shop marked it down and finally purchased his dream guitar for only $50! But Freddy never became the guitarist he dreamed to be, so it sat in its case for many decades.
One of my favorite books on 1950s Gibson Les Paul guitars is by Robb Lawrence titled The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy 1915-1963. Robb's book discusses the Les Paul Custom model at length and only mentions the two humbucking pickup variety that only a few were orded but only by "astute" customers. There's a photo of a very young Johnny Winters playing a two pickup Custom with a Bigsby tailpiece. It seems that most of the two pickup Customs were ordered with a Bigsby tailpiece.
This 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom weighed in at only 8.9 lbs (4.0 kg) which is fairly light compared to most Customs. I suppose that the lack of a middle pickup helps with the weight! The neck profile matches the typical mid 1950s neck profile measuring about 0.9" deep at the first fret and a full 1.00" deep at the 12th fret. Unlike the typical three humbucking pickup Les Paul Customs, the two pickup versions are in-phase in the middle position similar to the Les Paul Standard.
Check out the two Patent Applied For stickers on the back of the two humbuckers on this 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom. This is exactly how they should look!
About the author: John Shults has collected vintage Gibson and Fender guitars both personally and professionally since 2009. John's company, True Vintage Guitar, buys vintage collectible guitars from anywhere in the world. Do you have a 1950s Gibson Les Paul that you're considering selling? We would love to take a look. You can contact us here: Sell a Gibson.
Around 1981, my close friend John Nelson had a 2 pick-up ‘58 Custom. He was playing lead guitar for Eddie Money and had been using it for the tour. We agreed on a price of $1800, but when I finally got to see the guitar again, he had beat it so badly, (not really), and worn a little finish off the back, that I said, I wasn’t interested anymore, oh well. And the best reply I ever heard was “well excuse me for working!”
— Kim Shaheen
Johnny Winter. No s.
Back to black Les Paul Customs: I had a 1968. Came with the rectangular case (yellow felt) and factory flat-topped gold-plated switch tip cover. Only guitar from my past I really miss.
— Blkojo
I’ll buy one !!
— Joe Igneri
1958 was a great time of discovery. Especially, Gibson Guitars Industry in Kalamazoo, MI. Odd looking electric guitars changing with the times. Musical creativeness inspired the adjustments worldwide. I certainly wish my parents bought me a Flying V or Explorer back when I was born. But, money was always the root of all evil. 🤑 Enjoy your find and maintain it for the next owners. You are a lucky man!
— Pete
That dry climate preserved that LP perfectly, didn’t it?!
— Steve Anderson
Howdy,
Great story. Beautiful guitar!
Most folks think they will never own or be able to afford a true vintage guitar.
And if that’s what you believe, you are probably right. When asked by many how I acquired mine, I tell folks, “You have to be at the right place, at the right time!” And seriously, lightening can strike more than once. I bought my first, a 57 ES 335 for $75 at a garage sale. Then the flood gates opened. A 62 Epiphone, 58 Goldtop, 60 Martin D28,(that I found in an abandoned building) 56 strat,57 Tele, 64 Strat, 65 Strat, 66 Epiphone acoustic and my 67 Gibson Hummingbird. Pretty much in order of acquisition and with the exception of the Martin, I either traded for equipment, art work or a combination with maybe a few hundred dollars. My Goldtop I paid the most for, $800. So, my advice, get out there and pay your dues. And have fun with the serandipitous fantastic pinch me moments that will come your way. Be honest and forthright. Because mojo and vibe is unbeatable and undeniable when you get any vintage beauty that has and will, bless your life. Remember, we don’t really own guitars, we lease them. Even though my collection will have to be pryed from my cold dead hands. And when some desperado tries to tell you, that American guitars from say, 1952-1965, really don’t make any difference, with that kind of logic, Mozart, Paganini Van Gough and Zappa were just crazy dudes that got lucky.
Try to avoid any talk about vintage tube amps. You either get it or you don’t. You either have them, or you don’t. Besides, most of these folks are still under the misunderstanding, or total lack of concept, mentioned above at the very beginning of this comment. One of your guitars, will be worth more than a new car. Their guitar, an oil change and brake job, on their beater, if they through in the gig bag…..
— Robert E McDonald
Interested in selling the black 58’ custom? Also, looking for a mojo’d blackguard tele.
I have cash!
Many thanks
Lee
— Lee Rosenblum
I love playing guitar It’s the best fun ever l have a while Les Paul custom and it’s the most fun to play ever.
— Daniel John Wieder
Looking to sell?
Do you have a similar guitar you would like to sell, or get appraised? I would love to take a look! Please contact me today!
Comments
Around 1981, my close friend John Nelson had a 2 pick-up ‘58 Custom. He was playing lead guitar for Eddie Money and had been using it for the tour. We agreed on a price of $1800, but when I finally got to see the guitar again, he had beat it so badly, (not really), and worn a little finish off the back, that I said, I wasn’t interested anymore, oh well. And the best reply I ever heard was “well excuse me for working!”
Johnny Winter. No s.
Back to black Les Paul Customs: I had a 1968. Came with the rectangular case (yellow felt) and factory flat-topped gold-plated switch tip cover. Only guitar from my past I really miss.
I’ll buy one !!
1958 was a great time of discovery. Especially, Gibson Guitars Industry in Kalamazoo, MI. Odd looking electric guitars changing with the times. Musical creativeness inspired the adjustments worldwide. I certainly wish my parents bought me a Flying V or Explorer back when I was born. But, money was always the root of all evil. 🤑 Enjoy your find and maintain it for the next owners. You are a lucky man!
That dry climate preserved that LP perfectly, didn’t it?!
Howdy,
Great story. Beautiful guitar!
Most folks think they will never own or be able to afford a true vintage guitar.
And if that’s what you believe, you are probably right. When asked by many how I acquired mine, I tell folks, “You have to be at the right place, at the right time!” And seriously, lightening can strike more than once. I bought my first, a 57 ES 335 for $75 at a garage sale. Then the flood gates opened. A 62 Epiphone, 58 Goldtop, 60 Martin D28,(that I found in an abandoned building) 56 strat,57 Tele, 64 Strat, 65 Strat, 66 Epiphone acoustic and my 67 Gibson Hummingbird. Pretty much in order of acquisition and with the exception of the Martin, I either traded for equipment, art work or a combination with maybe a few hundred dollars. My Goldtop I paid the most for, $800. So, my advice, get out there and pay your dues. And have fun with the serandipitous fantastic pinch me moments that will come your way. Be honest and forthright. Because mojo and vibe is unbeatable and undeniable when you get any vintage beauty that has and will, bless your life. Remember, we don’t really own guitars, we lease them. Even though my collection will have to be pryed from my cold dead hands. And when some desperado tries to tell you, that American guitars from say, 1952-1965, really don’t make any difference, with that kind of logic, Mozart, Paganini Van Gough and Zappa were just crazy dudes that got lucky.
Try to avoid any talk about vintage tube amps. You either get it or you don’t. You either have them, or you don’t. Besides, most of these folks are still under the misunderstanding, or total lack of concept, mentioned above at the very beginning of this comment. One of your guitars, will be worth more than a new car. Their guitar, an oil change and brake job, on their beater, if they through in the gig bag…..
Interested in selling the black 58’ custom? Also, looking for a mojo’d blackguard tele.
I have cash!
Many thanks
Lee
I love playing guitar It’s the best fun ever l have a while Les Paul custom and it’s the most fun to play ever.