1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom Switchmaster in Black finish. In overall original condition - no cracks or repairs. Amazing 3 x PAFs. Changed tuners.
Vintage Guitars Info - Gibson solidbody vintage guitar collecting Vintage Guitars Info's Gibson Solid Body Model Descriptions. Gibson solidbody vintage guitars history and collecting. Private vintage guitar collector. Pictures, history for Gibson solidbody vintage guitars. 1952 Les Paul Model (Goldtop) in 'all gold' (usually the back and sides are finished natural brown, not gold).
The 'all gold' paint option was probably special order, and is seen on about 5% of all 1952 to 1957 gold tops. Note the ugly green wear that the all gold models get on the back of the neck. Because of this, many collectors avoid 'all gold' Les Pauls. Also note the 'trapeze' tailpiece used on 1952 and early 1953 Les Pauls.
![Gibson Gibson](http://www.jpstingrayguitars.com/images/gibson%20widowburst%20hs%20back.jpg)
Les Paul (standard) Model Electric Solidbody Available: 1952 to present Collectibility Rating: 1952-1953: C, 1953-1955: B, 1955-1957 p90: A-, 1957-1958 goldtop: A, 1958-1960 sunburst: A+, 1961: C-, 1962-1964: C, 1968: B, 1971: D. The 1952 and early 1953 goldtop models are fairly useless (as a player) because of a shallow neckset, and a badly designed trapeze tailpiece (they have some collector appeal though, as Gibson's first Les Paul generation). The trapeze tailpiece had two problems: first, the strings wrapped.under. the bar, not allowing the player to 'mute' the strings with the palm of the hand. The second problem was if the trapeze was knocked from the side, the whole guitar could go out of tune.
The neck angle is also very shallow on the trapeze models, so the strings could not be looped over the top of the LP tailpiece. Also converting to a 1953 style stop-bar or a tunematic was often impossible again because of the neck angle. Because of the funky Les Paul tailpiece on 1952 and early 1953 models, these version of the Les Paul Standard is generally looked down on by players. Because of these problems, by early 1953 the 'wrap around bar' tailpiece/bridge combo was adopted by Gibson. This rectified the playability problem (the strings wrap on.top.
of the tailpiece, allowing palm mutes), and these models are quite nice (though many players complain because they can not be intonated accurately). The early 1953 wrap-around models still had a shallow neck angle, limiting the downward adjustment of the stop bar. But as 1954 approached, the neck angle increased allowing more adjustment. By fall 1955, the tuneamatic bridge and stop tailpiece was adopted (solving the intonation complaint), making the Les Paul Goldtop a big winner. The combination of P-90 pickups and a tunematic/stop tailpiece is considered by most Les Paul players as a great setup.
Hence the late 1955 to early 1957 Les Paul Standard Goldtop is regarded as a very usable and versatile guitar. In early-1957, Gibson changed from P-90 single coil pickups to their new humbucking pickups, making the Les Paul Standard what it is today (one of the most popular electric guitars of all time).
The humbucker goldtop is an amazing model and one I would love to find (please email me if you have one for sale!) The final change to the Les Paul was in 1958, which was largely a visual change. The finish was changed from a 'goldtop' to a sunburst. Also the back of the guitar was changed from a brown to a cherry red color. Mid-1958 to 1960 'sunburst' Les Paul Standards are consider to be one of the most attractive electric guitars ever produced (even though they are identical to the mid-1957 goldtop model, except for the finish). In late 1960, the double cutaway SG body style Les Paul came about, with the sideways vibrato and thin neck backshape. These guitars are pretty useless for the player (and hence are not very collectible), because of the sideway vibrato and very thin neck shape. The 1963 to 1964 SG Les Pauls are much better, as the sideways vibrato is gone, the neck increased in size, and the neck mounting tenon is larger (giving a more stable neck joint).
I know the aged look is popular, but you really want to do this to your Les Paul? Pretty sure the standard way those cracks occur is the guitar in the case is quite cold (think transported in the Winter), then brought into a warm environment and the case opened before the guitar has a chance to warm up gradually. Had a Firebird III that was cracked like that when I was younger, always wished it wasn't.
You could also do it the way most do. Simply keep and play the guitar for the next 20-30 years, and see what wear occurs in that time. But your guitar, so enjoy it whatever way you go. Regards, T Bone. Guitars: 2007 Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique 2009 Gibson Robot Les Paul Jr.
Just an afterthought; If you are seriously going to do this I'd advise buying a cheap-as-you-can-find throwaway copy to practice your relic-ing on first. The paint will not react in quite the same manner but at least you can try out your ideas on the hardware and attempt something on the finish. At least in this fashion you won't completely ruin your Les Paul in the short-term. BTW; Tom Murphy ages his limited run instruments largely through painstaking and time-consuming use of a craft-knife blade. Is there another way? This is how I've done my fav gtrs. It also helped a few decades ago smoking was permitted in bars and other areas; while I am a non-smoker now that permanent stain looks real nice.
I especially love how the white binding turns a yellowish color; thats just down right sexy. The binding will still yellow without the smoke (at least if it's made of the same stuff it will). Have a (black) Martin from the early 90's with a really nicely aged yellowed white binding. It sat only in homes (admittedly a bit of smoke, but not much, and all noticeable yellowing took place over years inside the case).
Regards, T Bone. Guitars: 2007 Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique 2009 Gibson Robot Les Paul Jr. This isn't a personal shot, but I've always looked at artificial relicing as being akin to forging a resume (so I don't do it). The nicer way to look at it is like stonewashing jeans.
![Gibson Les Paul Custom Cracks Gibson Les Paul Custom Cracks](/uploads/1/2/5/5/125501965/892677785.jpg)
But I think in some respects, they age fairly quickly on their own these days. I smoke but I make it a point not to around my Gibby's, still the clear coat visibly yellowed on a few of mine after a year or two. Not a bad look, but it surprised me a little. I have couple noticeable cracks that showed up in my 339 in roughly the same amount of time (I'm careful but the heat in my house does get set back during the work day). So these things will happen on their own and it may not even take forever to happen.