Increasingly popular, this competitively priced archetype of Gibson’s flagship will not disappoint. Classic partnership of P90s, comfortably chunky C profile neck and stunning gold finish makes this guitar too tempting a prospect. This year alone we’ve managed to sell one a month of these amazing Goldtops made between 1952 and 1958.

This is a fine example but has had a few alterations over time. The bridge anchors have been replaced which has improved the playability and tuning stability. In the process there was some damage sustained to the immediate area around the anchors, as you can see from the photos. Although visible, this doesn’t detract too much from the overall look of the instrument. Similarly, the headstock wing repairs, though visible and a little untidy, doesn’t detract too much.

Having said that, this is an instrument that oozes class and that dreaded word, mojo. There’s the expected dings and dongs but the top is in fine shape with very little sign of the discolouration often associated with this finish. The back also shows vague signs of having been used in anger without being too heavy as is the neck, its comfortable C profile with a smooth playing surface. Its also worth noting that this guitar came from the Kalamazoo factory in mid-late 1953 by which point they’d rectified the neck angle issue associated with earlier examples from the same year. 

Electronically this guitar remains original apart from a new ground wire, replaced with the addition of the new bridge anchors. The original P90s remind us that sometimes a pair of coils is all we need in our lump of mahogany. Smooth neck pickup with the right amount of grit, the bridge pickup upping the ante. 

The guitar comes with the correct 4 latch Lifton style brown and pink case.

Here is yet another example of why these Gibson Les Paul Goldtop are the guitar due jeux at the moment. You won’t want to put it down… don’t let this one get away!