John Squire’s 1990s Gibson Les Paul Standard (Natural, 3-Pickups)
This Gibson Les Paul Standard with a natural finish and three humbucking pickups Squire started using in the mid-1990s, especially during his post-Stone Roses projects. It’s likely that the guitar was either custom-made for Squire specifically, or that someone else prior to Squire modified it.
Unforunetely, it’s not publicly recorded exactly when Squire got this Les Paul, but by the time he formed The Seahorses (1996–97), he was frequently seen with it, for example at the 1997 concert at Glastonbury. [1]
It’s possible he acquired it around 1995, either as a backup for his ’59 (before selling the ’59) or immediately after, to fill the void. The white Les Paul Custom then became a staple of his live rig, alongside a black Les Paul Custom, alsto with three pickups.
Mods
As said, this guitar either custom made from the factory, or it was heavily modified by someone. It’s a Les Paul Standard with a flame maple top finished in clear lacquer, which is not something you’d see that often. Furthermore, the guitar had three pickups, a feature that is exclusive to the Les Paul Custom model.
Notable Usage
During The Seahorses’ tours (1997–1998), Squire leaned heavily on the white Les Paul Custom, and he was most often seen using it, or a black Les Paul Custom. It’s likely that he also used the guitar on on the Seahorses’ studio album (Do It Yourself, 1997), but unfortunetly there are no reliable source on this.
In the late ’90s, Squire continued to favor this guitar; even as he dabbled in a short-lived project called The Shining (after the Seahorses), the Les Paul Custom was seen in use.
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This is not a Gibson made guitar but a custom instrument made for Squire by luthier Stuart Palmer, who also built the Jag-Strats during the Stone Roses period. It even features Palmer’s name on the headstock but photo and video footage from the time does not reveal this clearly so it has been assumed that it is a Gibson. It was not used on Do It Yourself as it was only just delivered on time for touring requirements. Details are noted in an interview with The Guitar Magazine Vol 7 No 10 and there is a picture of Palmer with the guitar on the Contact page of his own website today.