I purchased this amazing 1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom in original Black finish with three gold covered humbucking pickups from its second owner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the end of 2021. Gibson's Les Paul Custom made from 1954 until 1961 with black finish and single cutaway is among the best guitars that Gibson ever made in Kalamazoo, MI. I am particularly fond of the three humbucker pickup examples starting in 1957 and lasting until the transition to the SG body style and white finish in 1961.
As a Gibson guitar collector, I'm always looking for the nicest examples of Les Paul guitars made in the 1950s. I travel world wide to finally buy the Les Paul guitars I've always dreamed of. If you own a Gibson Les Paul from the 1950s or 1960s then you can check the serial number here: Gibson Les Paul Serial Number Lookup. Or if you're considering selling your vintage Gibson Les Paul to a qualified buyer then you can contact me here: Sell a Gibson.
You can check out some other Gibson Les Paul guitars here:
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst
1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst
1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom
This 1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom comes from one of the most desirable serial number ranges for late 1950s Les Paul guitars: the 0_0xxx range or what many players refer to as the "Double O" range. Gibson serial numbers for solid body Les Paul guitars in the 1950s consist of a digit prefix indicating the year it was made followed by four or five digits. The last four or five digits of the serial number were assigned mostly consecutively, so a lower number generally means an earlier in the year build. The 0 (space) 0xxx range, or double O serial number range of Gibson Les Paul guitars is know for having all of the best features of those found on Les Paul guitars made in 1959. Among those great features are the perfect neck profile measuring 0.85" deep at the first fret and 0.98" deep at the 12th fret. They also have early style long magnet PAF humbucking pickups, black pre-reflector knobs, and the Standards have 1959 style Sunburst finishes prone to fading. They're some of the best Les Paul guitars Gibson ever made. You can get more information on Gibson serial numbers here: Gibson Les Paul Serial Numbers.
One of the most aesthetically attractive aspects of the 1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom are the three PAF Humbucking pickups with gold covers. The three pickups have always represented sort of a mystery to me since the way they are wired doesn't require or even benefit from having three pickups. The Gibson Les Paul Custom from 1957 and onward with three pickups has a three way switch which can engage the neck pickup, or bridge pickup, or a strange out of phase combination of the middle and bridge pickups in the middle position. The fact that the middle position is out of phase is cool to me as a player, however the same effect can be achieved with only two pickups. Not only that, but a two pickup out of phase set up would allow the player to control the amount of phase cancellation with the volume knobs. The three pickup Les Paul Custom has an uncontrollable out of phase middle position which is not my favorite.
One of my favorite books on the subject of the Gibson Les Paul from the late 1950s and 1960s is Andre Duchossoir's Gibson Electrics: The Classic Years. Andre's section on the Gibson Les Paul Custom has a bullet point which references some custom ordered Les Paul Customs made in 1958 and 1959 which have only two pickups. I am currently looking for a two humbucking pickup Les Paul Custom made in 1958 or 1959. Are you looking to sell a Les Paul? You can contact me here: Sell a Gibson.
I loved being the temporary owner of this 1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom, but I had to move it on to a friend. I have regretted selling this Les Paul ever since then. I am looking to buy a clean example of a late 1950s Gibson Les Paul Custom, but I am especially looking for the two humbucking pickup custom order Les Pauls. You can contact me here to sell a Gibson.
