Here at IVG, we strive to source and offer the highest quality vintage guitars we can get our hands on. While we’re happy to deal in our wide selection of new and used guitars and basses as well, nothing gets our wheels spinning like choice “Golden Era” vintage pieces. So today were pleased to present our readers with another stellar guitar currently for sale in our shop, this 1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Gibson Les Paul Custom, often referred to as the “Black Beauty”, is one of the most classic and revered vintage guitars of all time. Its long standing popularity throughout almost 7 decades is a strong indication of its excellence and association with some of the greatest guitarists in rock and roll.

In the early 1950s, Gibson was facing stiff competition from Fender and needed to continuously innovate to stay relevant in the growing electric guitar market. Enter the Les Paul, named after its designer, the legendary guitarist and inventor, Lester William Polsfuss, or better known as Les Paul. The first Les Paul Custom was introduced in 1954 as a more luxurious and upscale version of the original Les Paul Standard model introduced in 1952.

One of the most distinctive features of the Les Paul Custom is its striking black finish and ebony fingerboard, which sets it apart from the Les Paul Standard models of the time that were exclusively offered in Gold. The body is also made from mahogany and features a carved mahogany top, although maple top versions are also known to exist. This ’57 Custom truly is stunning in appearance, it’s finished in a glossy black nitrocellulose lacquer finish with multiple-ply binding on the front, back, and headstock. It also features a gold “no-wire” ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop tail piece, as well as mother-of-pearl block inlays on the fingerboard.

It’s in excellent condition, with evidence of light playwear and a few scratches and dings here and there, as should be expected on a guitar thats almost 70 years old! It was obviously well cared for over the years, and is also unmodifed and completely original. Wow!

The earliest Les Paul Customs were equipped with Alnico V “staple top” P-90’s, as seen on this ’56 Les Paul Custom (also here for sale here at IVG). With this particular guitar being a 1957, it is the first year Gibson offered three renowned PAF (Patent Applied For) humbucking pickups, designed by Seth Lover. These pickups offered a warm, fat, and noise-free tone that became the hallmark of the “Les Paul sound”. The combination of the PAF pickups and the guitar’s construction made it perfect for both clean jazz tones and the emerging rock and roll genre to emerge in the coming years.

Throughout the 1950s, the Les Paul Custom gained popularity among professional musicians. It was famously used by jazz virtuoso Les Paul himself, as well as legendary guitarists like Freddie King and Al Di Meola. However, its real breakthrough came when it was embraced by rock and blues pioneers like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Peter Frampton in the 1960s and 70s.

In the 1970s, the Les Paul Custom underwent some changes, including a switch to the “tuxedo” look with a white finish and black pickguard. Despite these alterations, its popularity remained intact, and it continued to be a favorite among guitarists across new emerging genres such as Randy Rhoads, James Hetfield, and Steve Jones.

Today, the 1950s Les Paul Custom remains a highly sought-after collector’s item and this ’57 is no exception. It’s really the cream of the crop. Gibson continues to produce reissues that aim to capture the essence of the original models, but there’s nothing quite like the real thing! Its classic design, versatile sound, and association with some of the greatest guitarists in history make it an enduring icon in the world of music. Whether you’re a jazz enthusiast, a blues rocker, or a hard-hitting metalhead, this 1957 Custom is a pristine example of one of the most iconic instruments ever made. It’s certainly a holy grail addition to any collection, and we’re thrilled to have it in our possession before it finds its next home!