Famous Guitarists Who Played the Gibson Les Paul Special

The Gibson Les Paul Special, introduced in 1955, serves as an intermediate-level instrument positioned between the budget-friendly Les Paul Junior and the standard Les Paul. Initially offered in a TV Yellow finish, designed for good visibility on black-and-white television, the model underwent a significant update in 1958 when it transitioned to a double-cutaway body style.

In 1961, a major redesign transformed the Les Paul into what became known as the Gibson SG. By 1963, Les Paul’s contract with Gibson expired, leading to changes in the submodels. The original models were reintroduced in 1968 when his contract was renewed.