Description: Gibson Les Paul Special solidbody guitar
Available: 1955 to present.
Collectibility Rating: 1955-1960: B, 1961-1963: C+.

General Comments:
A step up from Gibson's least expensive Les Paul Junior model, but was still sold (at the time) as a 2 pickup student model. This is the most confusing (name-wise) of the Les Paul models because the Special lost its "Les Paul" designation on the peghead before any of the other Les Paul models (in late 1959). A really under-rated guitar, I find the Gibson Les Paul Special to be an amazing sounding solid body electric guitar with the 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961 models the best.

If you need to figure out the exact year of your Gibson Les Paul Special, use the Serial Number. See the Gibson Serial Number Info web page for help determining the exact year.

If you have a vintage Gibson Les Paul Special guitar for sale, please contact me at cfh@provide.net

1955 Gibson Les Paul Special guitar introduction specs:

mahogany single cutaway slab body, 2 soapbar P-90 pickup with black covers, stud tailpiece/bridge combo with the string looping over the bridge, dot fingerboard inlays, 24.75" scale, bound neck, pearl logo, "Les Paul Special" silkscreened on peghead in gold, 3 layer black pickguard, nickel plated parts, beige "TV" finish. Tuners are "no line" Kluson "3 on a plate" style tuners with plain brass posts (the posts are not nickel plated like the rest of the tuner parts).

1956 Gibson Les Paul Special guitar specs:

Threaded inserts sunk in the wood for the studs on the wrap around stud tailpiece increased in length. This modification stops the studs from "leaning forward". This was a common problem on 1954 and 1955 Les Pauls. By mid-1956 tuners change to "single line" Kluson "3 on a plate" style tuners with plain brass posts (the posts are not nickel plated like the rest of the tuner parts).

1958 Gibson Les Paul Special guitar specs:

The Rhythm/Treble switch sometimes has a large rubber washer (as seen on 1958 L-5CES guitars) instead of the "Rhythm/Treble" flat plastic plate. Also the hole for the switch is larger to accomodate this rubber washer. This rubber washer is only seen on 1958 Les Pal Specials.

Mid-1958 Gibson "Les Paul SG" Special guitar specs:

body style change to symmetrical rounded double cutaways, thick slab mahogany body, cherry red finish, "TV" beige finish optional. The peghead still says "Les Paul Special" (or "Les Paul TV Special" if yellow), but often this body style is referred to as the "Les Paul SG Special" body style. The Les Paul Special TV model was also introduced. Since the "normal" LP Special finish was now cherry red, Gibson offered the original TV style yellow finish on the Les Paul TV Special only. The yellow finish now is more yellow and less of a "wheat" color. The first few batches of 1958 and early 1959 double cutaway Les Paul Specials & Juniors had a noticably sharper body edge, like the edge on the single cutaway Junior. By early 1959 the edge became more rounded. Also in late 1958 there were some 4-digit serial number Juniors and Specials (all with 6000 to 7000 serial numbers like 6264 and 7234, with no "8" or "9" as the leading digit). All the 4-digit serial number Juniors and Specials seem to have the more square-edged body style.

late-1959/1960 Gibson Les Paul Special guitar specs:

"Les Paul Special" removed from peghead and left blank, but still often called an "Les Paul Special" due to the thick slab body style associated with the LP Special. Neck pickup moved towards bridge 1/2" to make neck joint stronger (a *much* needed and desirable change, as the neck joint on prior LP Specials is very weak). Toggle switch moved from between the treble volume and tone pots, to in front of the treble volume pot (closer to the bridge).

Mid 1961 Gibson SG Special guitar specs:

body style change to symmetrical pointed double cutaways, thin mahogany body with beveled edges, cherry red finish. Since the body shape changed and there's no "Les Paul" signature on the peghead, this model is known as the "SG Special". Even though the peghead does NOT say "Les Paul", because the other models (Junior, Standard, Custom) still do say "Les Paul", often this model is sometimes called the "Les Paul SG Special", when really it's just a "SG Special". Vibrato optional and usually a spring style system that still uses the wrap-around style bridge, smooth top wrap-around bridge (not compensated), neck joint transition is smoothly feathered.

body style change to symmetrical pointed double cutaways, top compensated wrap-around bridge, neck joint transition much less smoothly feathered.

Gibson Les Paul Special guitar officially discontinued 1963 in name only (now officially called SG Special since the "Les Paul" name was removed from ALL models). Still in production today as the "Les Paul Special" in several different variations.