Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom VOS Maduro Electric Guitar with Hardshell Case
As conceived by guitarist and inventor Les Paul and Gibson President Ted McCarty in 1954, the original Les Paul Custom was all about the black-tie looks and elegant appointments, a "black beauty" through and through with a gloss black body, a jet-black ebony fingerboard and top-shelf features. While staying true to the original ethos, the new Les Paul Custom VOS Maduro from Gibson Custom also represents a historic marker in time: it's a true evolution of the iconic model to represent the needs both of players and of planetary resources at the dawn of the second decade of the new millennium, the culmination of a long path of alternative wood testing, and the result of extensive query among Gibson's global player base. In so being, it's also a killer-looking, sounding and playing Les Paul, and a new classic of the Custom line. To complement its rich chocolate-brown finish (inspired by the deep color of Maduro broadleaf, used in the making of fine cigars), the guitar carries a bi-layered Indian rosewood fingerboard rather than the traditional ebony fingerboard. This is one of the ways in which Gibson Custom is addressing the challenge presented by current limits in the global supply of ebony, while also keeping the Les Paul Custom Rosewood Maduro true to its designers' stylistic intentions. It enables the use of this new luscious brown finish without the jarring look of a black fingerboard. This model features a VOS finish with nickel hardware and vintage-styled '57 Classic pickups. Includes Custom inlays and binding, and represent sublime new looks to the Les Paul Custom range, with a nuanced twist on the tone which is nevertheless in keeping with tradition.
Tradition is a powerful force at Gibson, and it is often hard to break. Sometimes the most obvious solutions evade us as we strive to evolve, adapt and persevere. The suggestion to feature rosewood fingerboards on a guitar that always has been built using ebony fingerboards came from the most important members of our R&D team: our customers. With a vote of confidence for a new way forward firmly established, this change in form also paved the way for a stunning new Maduro Brown finish that remains entirely in keeping with the Les Paul Custom ethos. The guitar's two-piece carved maple top is joined to a one-piece mahogany body that is strategically weight-relieved to further enhance resonance. Together with the deep-set mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, the Les Paul Custom Rosewood Maduro produces a tone that remains intact when compared to a Les Paul Custom with ebony fingerboard, with a slightly warmer overtone added by rosewood's softer characteristics.
Visually, the Les Paul Custom Rosewood Maduro is as gorgeous as ever. Its dark chocolate rosewood fingerboard beautifully complements the deep chocolate Maduro Brown finish. All traditional Les Paul Custom binding and inlay elements remain, including the seven-ply black and white body top binding, five-ply black and white headstock binding and headstock binding, single-ply fingerboard binding, black speed knobs, pearl block fingerboard inlays, and iconic split-diamond headstock inlay. A pair of '57 Classics yield a tone with more vintage-PAF leanings with a little more "bite" and clarity for those that prefer it to the "hotter" 498T/490R combination. A Tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and Grover™ keystone tuners further uphold the traditional Les Paul Custom look, while partnering with a PLEK-cut Corian nut for unparalleled resonance and sustain. Both a stunning extension of Gibson tradition, and a thoughtful nod to changing global resources, the Les Paul Custom Rosewood Maduro is a beautiful new addition to an acclaimed line of guitars, and an outstanding addition to any collection.
Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom VOS Maduro Electric Guitar with Hardshell Case
The manufacturer's warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product. The warranty excludes damage from misuse, abuse, and contains other exclusions.
