I've just returned from a great trip to sell this Gibson Les Paul Standard 1960 Burst to a friend in Houston, Texas! This amazing 1960 Les Paul was purchased from its original owner and has all its original hang tags, case, and amplifier. The top has a thrilling amount of figure and all its 1959 style color that usually fades over time. It's not just great to look at though; it's also a spectacular playing Gibson guitar with all the tone I look for.
As a Gibson Les Paul guitar collector, guitars like this from 1960 are the pinnacle of playability and tone. I am always on hunt for 1950s era Les Paul guitars, but I'm primarily interested in the Les Paul Standards from 1958, 1959, and 1960. If you've inherited a 1950s Gibson Les Paul and are curious about how much I would value it then you can contact me here: Sell a Gibson. Or if you're interested in learning more about how I find the year of a Gibson then check out Les Paul Serial Number Lookup.
Gibson Les Paul 1960
1960 was the last year of the iconic single cutaway Gibson Les Paul Standard the company introduced in 1952. Les Paul (the guitar player) preferred an opaque gold top finish to this model which lasted from 1952 until 1958. Mid way through 1958, Gibson updated the model with a translucent Cherry Sunburst finish which faded from red on the outside to an amber yellow on the inside. The new style finished revealed the beautiful Maple cap top which was previously hidden by the goldtop finish. Gibson Les Paul collectors prefer tops with loads of figure like this example above. The new style Les Paul Standard didn't reach the sales figures that Gibson was looking for in the late 1950s, so the thick single cut body style was replaced with a new thin Les Paul Standard in 1961 that many players now call the SG.
This incredible example of the 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard was purchased brand new by a father for his daughter in the early 1960s. She played it with her three piece band for a few years before life and family became more important. The band broke up and Rosie put the Les Paul back in its case for decades. In the summer of 2021, Rosie's granddaughter asked to borrow the Les Paul to learn to play the electric guitar. She quickly realized that this was a very valuable 1960 Gibson Les Paul and gave it back to her grandmother. I was thrilled to chat with her, play the Les Paul, and be its caretaker for a while.
This early 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard is very well preserved inside its original case with all the hang tags. Its serial number is in the 0_2000s range which generally has 1959 features except for the neck profile. The neck profile measurement of this Les Paul is 0.80" deep at the first fret and 0.90" deep at the 12th fret. Les Paul guitar collectors consider this the slim neck profile most common to Les Paul guitars made in 1960.
Les Paul 1960 Serial Number
The serial number of this Gibson Les Paul 1960 follows the standard Gibson serial number scheme found on solid body electric guitars in the 1950s (more here: Les Paul Serial Number Lookup). Gibson serial number schemes in the 1950s were categorized by lower level instruments (factory order numbers only), high grade hollow instruments (serial number with A prefix and factory order number), or solid body instruments. The solid body instrument serial number scheme was comprised of a number digit prefix to indicate the year followed by four or five additional digits to indicate its specific number. 1950s solid body serial numbers are always ink stamped with no impression which is different from the impressed serial number style in the 1960s. The same number may mean two different years depending on the style of the serial number, so it's important to have a Gibson guitar expert help date your 1950s or 1960s Gibson Les Paul.
The serial number for this 1960 Gibson Les Paul is 0 2xxx where the 0 indicates 1960 and the 2000s serial number range indicate early 1960. The 2000s range for 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standards has some great features like double white bobbin, PAF pickups, catalin switch tip, amber knobs, 1959 style color, and good top figure. I am always looking for Les Paul Bursts but this range is one of my favorites. If you're curious about how much I would value your Gibson Les Paul then check out the Sell a Gibson page.
