The covers are off and it’s time to rock ’n’ roll with these new, limited-edition Gibson Les Paul Standards
There’s something about a Gibson Les Paul™ Standard with uncovered pickups that means business. New from Gibson, the outrageously cool Les Paul Standard 50s Double Trouble and Les Paul Standard 60s Double Trouble bring uncovered Burstbucker™ pickups with Double Classic White bobbins to the table alongside full-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finishes that simulate several years of subtle fading.
You’ll have to move fast to get your hands on one of these limited-edition guitars—production is limited to only 500 instruments for each colorway, Vintage Cherry Sunburst and Vintage Tobacco Sunburst.
Gibson Vice President of Products, Mat Koehler, comments: “This is a really fun limited run with some really important history behind it, celebrating humbucker bobbin colors seen only in 1959 and 1960, which have become part of the lore of Les Paul Standard models as well as the legend of our humbuckers themselves.”
Image: This launch celebrates bobbin colors that were seen only in 1959 and 1960 on original Les Paul Standards
Which Les Paul Standard Double Trouble model is best for me?
Although there are a few other differences between the models—Burstbucker 1 and Burstbucker 2 pickups, Gold Top Hat knobs, and Vintage Deluxe tuners on the Les Paul Standard 50s Double Trouble versus Burstbucker 61R and Burstbucker 61T pickups, reflector knobs and Grovers on the 60s Double Trouble—the likelihood is that, for most players, the choice between them will come down to one of the great guitar fundamentals: the neck profile.
The 50s Double trouble features a 50s Vintage profile with a reassuring heft, while the 60s model has a SlimTaper™ neck profile—often preferred by those with smaller hands, a penchant for speedy playing, or both.
Speaking of 50s neck profiles, Joe Perry of Aerosmith recently told Guitar World that he’s into the larger profile. Discussing his iconic 1959 Burst, he says: “When I pick up that Les Paul, the neck is just right, the radius across the fretboard. It’s just an amazing thing they stumbled on. Some people probably don’t like that really thick neck in the early ones. I preferred that. Over the years, my hands have started to show the wear. Now I have to go with a little bit thinner neck, but certainly not like a 1960. I always liked that heavier neck compared to a Strat. Les Paul and Gibson just hit the nail on the head.”
That said, plenty of A-list players gravitate toward the slimmer 60s-era neck profile. Gibson G3 alum Grace Bowers told Premier Guitar that she’s very much enamoured of the thin neck profile on her vintage ’61 SG™ and its super-low action. Ultimately, whether you prefer a neck profile that’s deep or shallow, there’s a Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Trouble model for you.
Shop the Double Trouble Les Pauls while stocks last and find out more about the history of the Gibson Les Paul.
