Bittersweet is Back
This Gibson Custom Select 1956 Les Paul™ Reissue features a custom Bittersweet finish that was paint-matched to a vintage 1950s Gibson Century 6 lap steel. Gibson Custom Select offers instruments with unique features, and custom designs are possible through the same system used with the Made to Measure program. These instruments are designed by Gibson’s experts and are made in small batches by skilled artisans at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. The standout features on this 1956 Les Paul Reissue are the Bittersweet finish, which is a historic Gibson finish, and the Beach White Top Hat control knobs, the same as those used to compliment the Bittersweet finish originally. Until now, Bittersweet has only appeared on the Gibson Century 6 lap steel guitars produced from 1955 to 1961.
For the first time since 1961, Bittersweet is available from Gibson. Like other custom colors from the 50s and 60s, this color originates with an automaker, specifically Mercury’s 1953 paint catalog. To match this rare paint, a vintage 1955 Gibson Century 6 lap steel was used. While the original finish beneath the clear coat is closer to a salmon pink, the aging of the clear nitrocellulose lacquer shifts it to a coral hue. One coat of Antique lacquer was applied during the finishing process of this 1956 Les Paul Reissue to emulate the aging of the vintage Century 6 lap steel guitars. The earliest examples of the Century 6 lap steel featured Beach White Top Hat knobs, which are also featured on this 1956 Les Paul Reissue. Just like the vintage 1955 Gibson Century lap steel this 1956 Les Paul Reissue was modeled after, the Bittersweet finish is applied throughout the guitar, including the top, back, and neck. If Gibson had decided to finish a Les Paul in Bittersweet, this is how it might have looked in the 1950s, which is entirely possible given the timeframe of when Bittersweet was used in the factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
1956 is an interesting time during the Les Paul model’s lifetime. When the Les Paul Goldtop was introduced in 1952, the model featured a trapeze tailpiece where the strings wrapped underneath the bridge, a feature that Les Paul was eager to see redesigned. In 1953, the Les Paul Goldtop transitioned to a wraparound bridge, a feature still found on models such as the Gibson Les Paul Junior and the Gibson Les Paul Special. In 1954, with the introduction of the Les Paul Custom model, a Stop Bar tailpiece with an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge was introduced. This innovation provides a proper break angle over the bridge while enabling each string to be independently intonated, something that is not possible with the wraparound bridge. Ultimately, the Les Paul Goldtop adopted this configuration towards the end of 1955, and it has been the standard setup on carved top Les Paul models ever since. 1956 was the only full year where the Les Paul Goldtop featured two P-90 pickups with the Stop Bar tailpiece and ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge configuration. This example of innovation has been associated with Gibson Les Paul models since the mid-1950s.
70 years after the initial release of this rare Les Paul Goldtop configuration, this 1956 Les Paul Reissue wears a finish that the model could have worn in the era, presenting an alternative history of what the Gibson Les Paul might have been. This Gibson Custom Select 1956 Les Paul Reissue tells a deeply rooted story and has a unique aesthetic that screams “the 1950s.” Included with the guitar is a Gibson Custom Certificate of Authenticity and a reissue hardshell case.
Highlights
- Custom Bittersweet finish
- One coat of antique lacquer
- 1950s chunky D-shape neck profile
- Soapbar P-90 pickups
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Binding Single-ply top
Body Finish VOS nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Material 1-piece mahogany
Body Shape Les Paul
Top 2-piece plain maple
Weight Relief None
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
End Of Board Width 56.89mm / 2.24in
Fingerboard Material Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 22
Frets Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
Inlays Aged Cellulose Trapezoid
Joint Long tenon, hide glue fit
Neck Material Solid Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 42.85mm / 1.69in
Profile 1950s Chunky D
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electronics Specs
Electronics Specs
Bridge Pickup Custom P-90 Soapbar
Controls 2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
Neck Pickup Custom P-90 Soapbar
Output Jack Switchcraft
Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Control Knobs Beach White Top Hats
finish Nickel
Pickup Covers Soapbar
Plastic Parts Cream
Tailpiece Stop Bar
Tuning Machines Kluson Deluxe
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
Model: LPR56PSL24619
Case Custom Shop Hardshell
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Standard, VOS, Bittersweet
Gibson Custom 1956 Les Paul Standard, VOS, Bittersweet
Lifetime Warranty
Lifetime Warranty
Shop and play with confidence knowing that your instrument is protected by our limited lifetime warranty. Learn more about warranties and exclusions here .
Setup Included
Setup Included
Our craftory-trained technicians perform a final thorough inspection and detailed setup moments before your instrument is packed and shipped to you.
Case Included
Case Included
Your instrument ships with a factory-supplied hard- or soft-shell case for safe storage and transportation. Please refer to the product specifications for details.
Free & Fast Shipping
Free & Fast Shipping
Orders placed by noon CST Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) will ship the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day. All orders over $100 receive free ground shipping within the United States.
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
For a limited time only, receive a three-month subscription to the Gibson App for free with the purchase of this product. Click here to learn more about the Gibson App.
Bittersweet is Back
This Gibson Custom Select 1956 Les Paul™ Reissue features a custom Bittersweet finish that was paint-matched to a vintage 1950s Gibson Century 6 lap steel. Gibson Custom Select offers instruments with unique features, and custom designs are possible through the same system used with the Made to Measure program. These instruments are designed by Gibson’s experts and are made in small batches by skilled artisans at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. The standout features on this 1956 Les Paul Reissue are the Bittersweet finish, which is a historic Gibson finish, and the Beach White Top Hat control knobs, the same as those used to compliment the Bittersweet finish originally. Until now, Bittersweet has only appeared on the Gibson Century 6 lap steel guitars produced from 1955 to 1961.
For the first time since 1961, Bittersweet is available from Gibson. Like other custom colors from the 50s and 60s, this color originates with an automaker, specifically Mercury’s 1953 paint catalog. To match this rare paint, a vintage 1955 Gibson Century 6 lap steel was used. While the original finish beneath the clear coat is closer to a salmon pink, the aging of the clear nitrocellulose lacquer shifts it to a coral hue. One coat of Antique lacquer was applied during the finishing process of this 1956 Les Paul Reissue to emulate the aging of the vintage Century 6 lap steel guitars. The earliest examples of the Century 6 lap steel featured Beach White Top Hat knobs, which are also featured on this 1956 Les Paul Reissue. Just like the vintage 1955 Gibson Century lap steel this 1956 Les Paul Reissue was modeled after, the Bittersweet finish is applied throughout the guitar, including the top, back, and neck. If Gibson had decided to finish a Les Paul in Bittersweet, this is how it might have looked in the 1950s, which is entirely possible given the timeframe of when Bittersweet was used in the factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
1956 is an interesting time during the Les Paul model’s lifetime. When the Les Paul Goldtop was introduced in 1952, the model featured a trapeze tailpiece where the strings wrapped underneath the bridge, a feature that Les Paul was eager to see redesigned. In 1953, the Les Paul Goldtop transitioned to a wraparound bridge, a feature still found on models such as the Gibson Les Paul Junior and the Gibson Les Paul Special. In 1954, with the introduction of the Les Paul Custom model, a Stop Bar tailpiece with an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge was introduced. This innovation provides a proper break angle over the bridge while enabling each string to be independently intonated, something that is not possible with the wraparound bridge. Ultimately, the Les Paul Goldtop adopted this configuration towards the end of 1955, and it has been the standard setup on carved top Les Paul models ever since. 1956 was the only full year where the Les Paul Goldtop featured two P-90 pickups with the Stop Bar tailpiece and ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge configuration. This example of innovation has been associated with Gibson Les Paul models since the mid-1950s.
70 years after the initial release of this rare Les Paul Goldtop configuration, this 1956 Les Paul Reissue wears a finish that the model could have worn in the era, presenting an alternative history of what the Gibson Les Paul might have been. This Gibson Custom Select 1956 Les Paul Reissue tells a deeply rooted story and has a unique aesthetic that screams “the 1950s.” Included with the guitar is a Gibson Custom Certificate of Authenticity and a reissue hardshell case.
Highlights
- Custom Bittersweet finish
- One coat of antique lacquer
- 1950s chunky D-shape neck profile
- Soapbar P-90 pickups
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Binding Single-ply top
Body Finish VOS nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Material 1-piece mahogany
Body Shape Les Paul
Top 2-piece plain maple
Weight Relief None
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
End Of Board Width 56.89mm / 2.24in
Fingerboard Material Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 22
Frets Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
Inlays Aged Cellulose Trapezoid
Joint Long tenon, hide glue fit
Neck Material Solid Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 42.85mm / 1.69in
Profile 1950s Chunky D
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electronics Specs
Electronics Specs
Bridge Pickup Custom P-90 Soapbar
Controls 2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
Neck Pickup Custom P-90 Soapbar
Output Jack Switchcraft
Pickup Selector 3-Way Switchcraft
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Control Knobs Beach White Top Hats
finish Nickel
Pickup Covers Soapbar
Plastic Parts Cream
Tailpiece Stop Bar
Tuning Machines Kluson Deluxe
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
Model: LPR56PSL24619
Case Custom Shop Hardshell
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
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