The Gibson Les Paul Standard is an Electric Guitar used by Mike Campbell, Gary Moore, Joe Walsh, Keith Richards, Hillel Slovak, John Squire, Noel Gallagher, Johnny Marr, Derek Trucks, Bob Marley, Tom Morello, David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler, Paul Kossoff, and 6 more.
The Gibson Les Paul Standard was introduced in 1958, retaining key features from the previous Goldtop model, including PAF humbucker pickups and a maple top, while replacing the gold finish with a cherry-red Sunburst. The top was made from either a solid piece or two bookmatched pieces of figured maple. During production from 1958 to 1960, specifications varied, with the neck design evolving from thicker profiles with lower frets to thinner necks with wider, higher frets by 1960.
The cherry dye used in the early models faded quickly under UV light, prompting a switch to a more fade-resistant formula in 1960, resulting in colors that varied widely, leading to nicknames like “lemon burst” and “tobacco burst.” Additionally, the color of pickup bobbins changed between black and white, and pickups were assembled semi-randomly, contributing to the unique appearance of each guitar.
Production of the original Standards lasted until early 1961, with estimates of 1,200 to 1,700 units made, making them highly collectible. Production ended when the model was redesigned into the double-cutaway Gibson SG. The Les Paul Standard was reintroduced in 1976 and has been continuously produced since, with periodic reissues matching the original specs.
