This is without a doubt the best Les Paul Gold Top I have ever played. This original instrument with its original Wraparound, perfectly playable, and above all adjustable, with a good margin both in the truss rod and on the bridge screws dates from 1953 and is in very good general condition. It obviously shows some playwear and dents which testify to years of use.

This splendid Les Paul Standard from 1953 played quite a bit, and I mentioned the few playwears and dents, keeping in suspense the reason for the attractive price of our instrument: a repair to the headstock. This guitar had a break and repair on the back of the headstock, without the front plating being affected. There was no overspray or anything else on the back of the neck, nor retouching of color or anything, so the repair is visible but nothing moves or alters stability, tone and comfort. Acquired in 2009 by a Swiss collector and very good musician, the repair had already been done, and according to the original seller, Dave’s Guitar in La Crosse, this headstock repair was done by Dave Johnson in Nashville. Anyway, apart from looking at the scare visible on the back of the headstock, you will forget that this beauty has been repaired… Cause this guitar is a wonderful instrument.

This superb and rare Les Paul Standard from 1953 has an original Gold finish with bright colors and has very slightly green in the few places where the wear is most marked. Superb weather check on the entire finish, with a really crazy patina and look. But this instrument has kept a shiny varnish on almost the entire body. Scratches, dents, small marks and other small damages on the edges and the back, but only one or two small appearances of the wood on the top. The back of the neck offers perfect curve and comfort. There were other machine heads for a while, without holes on the back of the headstock, but we can guess the impression that larger washers left on the headstock plating. The beauty is definitely not a case queen and it is much better that way, as the weathercheck on these old Les Paul Gold Top is superb and unique.

The neck is a marvel, with a low action and offering superb playing comfort. This Les Paul Standard is a bomb and will delight all musicians with its low and extremely pleasant action. The truss rod is perfectly functional. The frets have been replaced and are in excellent condition, contoured and polished, with no marks or grooves. The action is perfect, the playing comfort is optimal, the bends are easy and the tuning stability and sustain are perfect. It’s hard to believe that this Les Paul is over 70 years old… That retirement seems far, very far away…

The electronics are entirely original, original P90 pickups, high output level, balanced and delivering much fuller and rounder timbres than modern versions. Additionally, the action of the tone knobs on this Les Paul is fantastic, it’s surprising what you can do with them. The original machine heads, perfectly functional, have a superb patina and the buttons, also original, do not suffer from any defects. And the beauty is light, fantastic!!!! And when you see refinished or Tune-o-matic conversions 1953 Les Paul for $30,000 in the USA, our instrument is a bargain!!!

This superb and rare Gibson Les Paul Gold Top from 1953 comes with an original Lifton Brown 4-latches hardcase in good condition and fully functional. The case corresponds to models with less pronounced neck angles but was, according to Dave’s Guitar, the case that always was with that guitar.