Swapping Gold for Copper
This Gibson Custom Select 1957 Les Paul™ Reissue is custom finished in Copper Iridescent with a Dark Back. Copper Iridescent was used for the Gibson Custom 1955 NAMM Show Commemorative Edition Les Paul, which was limited to 70 pieces. Now available through Gibson Custom Select and Made to Measure, the color lives on. Gibson Custom Select guitars offer customized features that can be applied to any Gibson Custom base model, from exotic tonewoods, unique electronics, and more. These guitars are made in small batches by the highly skilled artisans at Gibson Custom and designed by some of Gibson’s experts. While a select few vintage examples of the Les Pauls made in 1957 were finished with a Goldtop and Dark Back finish, this customized iteration replaces the Goldtop with Copper Iridescent.
From the Les Paul model’s debut in 1952 until 1957, the guitar came in a standard Goldtop finish. After over 70 years of the Les Paul model, discoveries continue to be made about special runs, one-off finishes, and other unique iterations of the Les Paul throughout the years. Copper Iridescent, along with four additional special finishes, debuted on the Les Paul model at the 1955 NAMM Show. Copper Iridescent originates from the 1955 Lincoln paint option catalog, which is a common tie between automotive colors and Gibson guitars.
The main difference between this 1957 Les Paul Reissue and the 1955 Les Paul is the pickup configuration. Humbuckers™ replaced the P-90 pickups on the Les Paul in 1957, but otherwise, the guitars are similar. The chunky neck profile, Kluson® Deluxe tuners, and the ABR-1 bridge with a Stop Bar tailpiece all remain the same, with the 1955 NAMM Show guitars marking the first appearance of an ABR-1 bridge on a Les Paul. The non-weight-relieved mahogany body paired with a two-piece maple top still comprises the tried-and-true tonewood recipe of the 1957 Les Paul Reissue. The solid, one-piece mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard is glued into the body with a long neck tenon, just like they did in the 50s.
The inspiration behind the design of this Gibson Custom Select 1957 Les Paul Reissue is this question: In an alternative timeline, what if Copper Iridescent debuted just a couple of years later, in 1957, instead of 1955? A handful of original examples of these five special finishes exist in the wild, some of which have been surfaced by leading figures in the vintage guitar world. Pairing Copper Iridescent with a Dark Back and cream plastics made for a contrasting design that fits right at home in the Gibson catalog.
This Gibson Custom Select 1957 Les Paul Reissue has all the classic features of a 1957 Les Paul that make the model so iconic, but with a special finish that is part of Gibson history and is rarely seen. Made in small batches with hand-selected features, Gibson Custom Select offers unique guitars with a story behind each one. Included with the guitar is a reissue hardshell case and a Gibson Custom Certificate of Authenticity.
Highlights
- Copper Iridescent finish
- 1950s chunky D-shape neck profile
- Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups
- Lightweight one-piece mahogany body
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
Binding Single-ply top
Body Finish VOS nitrocellulose lacquer
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 Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Fret Count 22
Frets Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
Inlays Aged Cellulose Nitrate 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 Custombucker Alnico 3
Controls 2 volume, 2 tone
Neck Pickup Custombucker Alnico 3
Output Jack 1/4"
Pickup Selector 3-way toggle
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Control Covers Brown
Control Knobs Gold Top Hats
finish Nickel
Pickup Covers Nickel
Plastic Parts Cream
Tailpiece Stop Bar
Tuning Machines Kluson Deluxe with Keystone Buttons
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
Model: LPR57PSL23418
Case Custom Shop Hardshell
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Reissue, VOS, Copper Iridescent with Dark Back
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Reissue, VOS, Copper Iridescent with Dark Back
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.
Swapping Gold for Copper
This Gibson Custom Select 1957 Les Paul™ Reissue is custom finished in Copper Iridescent with a Dark Back. Copper Iridescent was used for the Gibson Custom 1955 NAMM Show Commemorative Edition Les Paul, which was limited to 70 pieces. Now available through Gibson Custom Select and Made to Measure, the color lives on. Gibson Custom Select guitars offer customized features that can be applied to any Gibson Custom base model, from exotic tonewoods, unique electronics, and more. These guitars are made in small batches by the highly skilled artisans at Gibson Custom and designed by some of Gibson’s experts. While a select few vintage examples of the Les Pauls made in 1957 were finished with a Goldtop and Dark Back finish, this customized iteration replaces the Goldtop with Copper Iridescent.
From the Les Paul model’s debut in 1952 until 1957, the guitar came in a standard Goldtop finish. After over 70 years of the Les Paul model, discoveries continue to be made about special runs, one-off finishes, and other unique iterations of the Les Paul throughout the years. Copper Iridescent, along with four additional special finishes, debuted on the Les Paul model at the 1955 NAMM Show. Copper Iridescent originates from the 1955 Lincoln paint option catalog, which is a common tie between automotive colors and Gibson guitars.
The main difference between this 1957 Les Paul Reissue and the 1955 Les Paul is the pickup configuration. Humbuckers™ replaced the P-90 pickups on the Les Paul in 1957, but otherwise, the guitars are similar. The chunky neck profile, Kluson® Deluxe tuners, and the ABR-1 bridge with a Stop Bar tailpiece all remain the same, with the 1955 NAMM Show guitars marking the first appearance of an ABR-1 bridge on a Les Paul. The non-weight-relieved mahogany body paired with a two-piece maple top still comprises the tried-and-true tonewood recipe of the 1957 Les Paul Reissue. The solid, one-piece mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard is glued into the body with a long neck tenon, just like they did in the 50s.
The inspiration behind the design of this Gibson Custom Select 1957 Les Paul Reissue is this question: In an alternative timeline, what if Copper Iridescent debuted just a couple of years later, in 1957, instead of 1955? A handful of original examples of these five special finishes exist in the wild, some of which have been surfaced by leading figures in the vintage guitar world. Pairing Copper Iridescent with a Dark Back and cream plastics made for a contrasting design that fits right at home in the Gibson catalog.
This Gibson Custom Select 1957 Les Paul Reissue has all the classic features of a 1957 Les Paul that make the model so iconic, but with a special finish that is part of Gibson history and is rarely seen. Made in small batches with hand-selected features, Gibson Custom Select offers unique guitars with a story behind each one. Included with the guitar is a reissue hardshell case and a Gibson Custom Certificate of Authenticity.
Highlights
- Copper Iridescent finish
- 1950s chunky D-shape neck profile
- Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups
- Lightweight one-piece mahogany body
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
Binding Single-ply top
Body Finish VOS nitrocellulose lacquer
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 Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Fret Count 22
Frets Historic Gibson Narrow/Tall
Inlays Aged Cellulose Nitrate 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 Custombucker Alnico 3
Controls 2 volume, 2 tone
Neck Pickup Custombucker Alnico 3
Output Jack 1/4"
Pickup Selector 3-way toggle
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Control Covers Brown
Control Knobs Gold Top Hats
finish Nickel
Pickup Covers Nickel
Plastic Parts Cream
Tailpiece Stop Bar
Tuning Machines Kluson Deluxe with Keystone Buttons
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
Model: LPR57PSL23418
Case Custom Shop Hardshell
Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
