1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, Serial Number 611057
Introduced in 1955, the Les Paul™ Special brought a second P-90 pickup and additional tonal versatility to the straightforward, slab-body design of the Les Paul Junior. With its distinctive TV Yellow finish, bound rosewood fretboard, and simple, functional appointments, the Special quickly established an identity of its own. This beautiful 1956 example captures everything we love about these early guitars, with its beautifully checked original finish, substantial but comfortable neck, and pair of lively P-90 pickups.
The original TV Yellow finish has aged to a warm, slightly yellowed wheat color, with fine, even lacquer checking throughout. The finish remains in excellent overall condition, with scattered light nicks and dings, a small area of wear on the cutaway horn, and one ding through the finish near the bridge volume knob. The headstock is similarly clean, with a few small marks around its edges and minor lacquer flaking along the long leg of the Gibson logo. The original gold Les Paul Special silkscreen remains crisp and well preserved. The original nickel-plated Wraparound tailpiece and posts show light pitting and tarnishing consistent with age. Both remain in excellent working order, with no leaning of the posts.
The mahogany neck has a substantial Medium C profile measuring .92" at the 1st fret and 1.00" at the 12th fret. It's a big, comfortable neck that fills the hand without feeling cumbersome, and at just 7.36 pounds, the guitar is nicely balanced and a pleasure to play. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard has been professionally refretted by Glaser Instruments using medium jumbo fretwire installed over the original binding, giving a little extra playroom. A replacement nylon nut was also fitted, while the original Kluson® Deluxe tuners remain in place and function as they should, with new white buttons installed by Glaser Instruments after the originals deteriorated.
Both original Soapbar P-90 pickups are present, measuring 6.61 k ohms in the neck position and 7.80 k ohms in the bridge. They're lively, responsive pickups with the spanky attack and character that make vintage P-90s such a joy to use. The original volume and tone controls offer plenty of tonal range, from clear, articulate sounds to the familiar growl of a P-90 when pushed. The electronics are clean and original, with Centralab® potentiometers bearing 134622 date codes from the 22nd week of 1956, Sprague Bumblebee capacitors, and clean original solder joints.
The original Switchcraft® selector switch has a longer threaded shaft than typically seen on this model and retains its original amber Catalin tip. The switch sits unusually close to the inside of the cavity cover, although we've encountered this configuration on other examples and see no indication that it has been replaced.
Beyond the refret, replacement nut, and tuner buttons, this Les Paul Special remains exceptionally well preserved, with its original finish, pickups, electronics, hardware, and plastic components intact. It's a guitar that has clearly been played and enjoyed while being carefully maintained over the decades. More importantly, it plays every bit as well as it looks, with a great neck, responsive pickups, and all the character that makes a good 1950s Les Paul Special so appealing.
The original four-latch Lifton™ “Cali Girl” brown and pink hardshell case remains with the guitar. A modern Lifton Historic Gator Skin Les Paul Junior hardshell case is also included for secure transport.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty, and exclusive Gibson Certified Vintage accessories including a leather guitar strap, matching leather luggage tag, and vintage-style Gibson pick container.
Weight: 7.36 lb.
Neck depth: 1st fret: .92", 12th fret: 1.00"
Guitar Specifications
Cuerpo
Cuerpo
Binding Single-ply cream fretboard
Acabado del cuerpo Nitrocellulose lacquer
Cuerpo Mahogany
Forma del cuerpo Les Paul
Estilos de cuerpo Solidbody
Mastil
Mastil
Material del diapasón Brazilian rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Recuento de trastes 22
Trastes Medium Jumbo
Incrustaciones Celluloid dot
Union Glued-in, set neck
Material del mastil Mahogany
Material de la cejilla Nylon
Ancho de la cejilla 43.2mm / 1.7in
Perfil Medium C
Longitud de la escala 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electrónica
Electrónica
Pastilla de puente P-90 (7.80k)
Controles 2 volume, 2 tone Centralab potentiometers with Sprague Bumblebee capacitors
Pastilla de mástil P-90 (6.61k)
Conector de salida Switchcraft 1/4" mono output jack
Pastilla de diapasón Switchcraft 3-way selector switch
Hardware
Hardware
Puentes Wraparound
Cubiertas de controles Black
Controles Black Top Hats
finish Nickel
Cubierta de jack Multi-ply black
Golpeadores Multi-ply black
Cubierta de pastilla Black soapbar
Partes plásticas Mixed
Material de la selleta Aluminum
Botones de correa Aluminum
Selector de pastillas Amber Catalin
Cubierta del selector Black
Alma Adjustable
Cubierta del alma 2-ply black/white stepped bell
Revestimiento del afinador Nickel
Clavijeros Kluson Deluxe single line 3-on-a-plate with white oval buttons
Miscelánea
Miscelánea
Accesorios COA, LOA, Limited Lifetime Warranty card, GCV leather guitar strap, GCV leather luggage tag, GCV vintage-style picks and pick container
Model: GCVP0181
Estuche Original Lifton 4-latch Cali Girl brown/pink hardshell case, new Lifton Historic Gator Skin Les Paul Jr. hardshell case
Headstock Open book
Incrustación en la pala Mother-of-pearl Gibson logo, gold silkscreen “Les Paul Special”
Fuerza cuerdas .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Gibson Certified Vintage 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, TV Yellow
Gibson Certified Vintage 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, TV Yellow
Estuche incluido
Estuche incluido
Tu instrumento incluye un estuche rígido o blando de fábrica para guardarlo y transportarlo con seguridad. Consulta las especificaciones del producto para más detalles.
Ajuste incluido
Ajuste incluido
Nuestros técnicos artesanos llevan a cabo una pormenorizada inspección final y configuran los instrumentos antes de que se embalen y envíen.
Garantía limitada de por vida
Garantía limitada de por vida
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3 meses gratis
3 meses gratis
Por tiempo limitado, recibe una suscripción de tres meses a la App Gibson gratis con la compra de este producto. Haz clic aquí para obtener más información sobre la App Gibson.
1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, Serial Number 611057
Introduced in 1955, the Les Paul™ Special brought a second P-90 pickup and additional tonal versatility to the straightforward, slab-body design of the Les Paul Junior. With its distinctive TV Yellow finish, bound rosewood fretboard, and simple, functional appointments, the Special quickly established an identity of its own. This beautiful 1956 example captures everything we love about these early guitars, with its beautifully checked original finish, substantial but comfortable neck, and pair of lively P-90 pickups.
The original TV Yellow finish has aged to a warm, slightly yellowed wheat color, with fine, even lacquer checking throughout. The finish remains in excellent overall condition, with scattered light nicks and dings, a small area of wear on the cutaway horn, and one ding through the finish near the bridge volume knob. The headstock is similarly clean, with a few small marks around its edges and minor lacquer flaking along the long leg of the Gibson logo. The original gold Les Paul Special silkscreen remains crisp and well preserved. The original nickel-plated Wraparound tailpiece and posts show light pitting and tarnishing consistent with age. Both remain in excellent working order, with no leaning of the posts.
The mahogany neck has a substantial Medium C profile measuring .92" at the 1st fret and 1.00" at the 12th fret. It's a big, comfortable neck that fills the hand without feeling cumbersome, and at just 7.36 pounds, the guitar is nicely balanced and a pleasure to play. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard has been professionally refretted by Glaser Instruments using medium jumbo fretwire installed over the original binding, giving a little extra playroom. A replacement nylon nut was also fitted, while the original Kluson® Deluxe tuners remain in place and function as they should, with new white buttons installed by Glaser Instruments after the originals deteriorated.
Both original Soapbar P-90 pickups are present, measuring 6.61 k ohms in the neck position and 7.80 k ohms in the bridge. They're lively, responsive pickups with the spanky attack and character that make vintage P-90s such a joy to use. The original volume and tone controls offer plenty of tonal range, from clear, articulate sounds to the familiar growl of a P-90 when pushed. The electronics are clean and original, with Centralab® potentiometers bearing 134622 date codes from the 22nd week of 1956, Sprague Bumblebee capacitors, and clean original solder joints.
The original Switchcraft® selector switch has a longer threaded shaft than typically seen on this model and retains its original amber Catalin tip. The switch sits unusually close to the inside of the cavity cover, although we've encountered this configuration on other examples and see no indication that it has been replaced.
Beyond the refret, replacement nut, and tuner buttons, this Les Paul Special remains exceptionally well preserved, with its original finish, pickups, electronics, hardware, and plastic components intact. It's a guitar that has clearly been played and enjoyed while being carefully maintained over the decades. More importantly, it plays every bit as well as it looks, with a great neck, responsive pickups, and all the character that makes a good 1950s Les Paul Special so appealing.
The original four-latch Lifton™ “Cali Girl” brown and pink hardshell case remains with the guitar. A modern Lifton Historic Gator Skin Les Paul Junior hardshell case is also included for secure transport.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty, and exclusive Gibson Certified Vintage accessories including a leather guitar strap, matching leather luggage tag, and vintage-style Gibson pick container.
Weight: 7.36 lb.
Neck depth: 1st fret: .92", 12th fret: 1.00"
Guitar Specifications
Cuerpo
Cuerpo
Binding Single-ply cream fretboard
Acabado del cuerpo Nitrocellulose lacquer
Cuerpo Mahogany
Forma del cuerpo Les Paul
Estilos de cuerpo Solidbody
Mastil
Mastil
Material del diapasón Brazilian rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Recuento de trastes 22
Trastes Medium Jumbo
Incrustaciones Celluloid dot
Union Glued-in, set neck
Material del mastil Mahogany
Material de la cejilla Nylon
Ancho de la cejilla 43.2mm / 1.7in
Perfil Medium C
Longitud de la escala 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electrónica
Electrónica
Pastilla de puente P-90 (7.80k)
Controles 2 volume, 2 tone Centralab potentiometers with Sprague Bumblebee capacitors
Pastilla de mástil P-90 (6.61k)
Conector de salida Switchcraft 1/4" mono output jack
Pastilla de diapasón Switchcraft 3-way selector switch
Hardware
Hardware
Puentes Wraparound
Cubiertas de controles Black
Controles Black Top Hats
finish Nickel
Cubierta de jack Multi-ply black
Golpeadores Multi-ply black
Cubierta de pastilla Black soapbar
Partes plásticas Mixed
Material de la selleta Aluminum
Botones de correa Aluminum
Selector de pastillas Amber Catalin
Cubierta del selector Black
Alma Adjustable
Cubierta del alma 2-ply black/white stepped bell
Revestimiento del afinador Nickel
Clavijeros Kluson Deluxe single line 3-on-a-plate with white oval buttons
Miscelánea
Miscelánea
Accesorios COA, LOA, Limited Lifetime Warranty card, GCV leather guitar strap, GCV leather luggage tag, GCV vintage-style picks and pick container
Model: GCVP0181
Estuche Original Lifton 4-latch Cali Girl brown/pink hardshell case, new Lifton Historic Gator Skin Les Paul Jr. hardshell case
Headstock Open book
Incrustación en la pala Mother-of-pearl Gibson logo, gold silkscreen “Les Paul Special”
Fuerza cuerdas .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
