The Gibson Les Paul 1960 Reissue Guitars are a very close representation of the original. As you may or may not know, Gibson didn’t offer all of the “flavors” it does today. There were no “Standards,” “Classics,” “Customs” or “Studio” versions of the famous guitar like there are today. Back then Gibson only offered one design, and like anything, this design would change from year to year (read Musical Instruments Guitars for more information)

1960 was a great year for the Gibson Les Paul, at least in the eyes of many players. That was the year when the company slimmed the neck, tightened up the electronics, rolled out new humbucker pickups, used new knobs and much more. In a nutshell, the 1960 Les Paul was a trend setter, and has been very popular amongst purists, players and collectors ever since.

The problem is that there really aren’t that many original 1960 Les Pauls just sitting around. The few originals that remain have been snatched up by collectors. If you’re lucky, you’ll still find one or two for sale, but they’ve either been modified so extensively that they no longer have any value, or cost upwards of $20,000! That’s not a very reachable price point for most players.

Several years ago, Gibson realized that there was a huge market of guitarists looking for the unique tone and look of the 1960 Les Paul and built the…

Les Paul 1960 Reissue Guitar

Gibson originally called this the “Les Paul Classic” and built it to nearly identical specifications as the famous 1960 model, complete with the crowned maple top, thin neck and some really hot pickups. Though the pickups weren’t the identical ones used decades ago, these had the same spirit: blazing hot humbuckers that screamed like none other.

The original 1960 Les Paul was famous for a more biting tone than the usual “mellower” Les Paul sound. This was about the time Gibson realized its guitars were competing with other electronic instruments in rock outfits, rather than the standard jazz and big band groups it was originally intended for.

The Les Paul 1960 Reissue, or “Les Paul Classic,” captured the same spirit, and became an instant classic amongst modern guitarists. It offered the classic 1960 tone and style at a much more realistic price point.

And the reissue has another advantage: You can actually play it! There aren’t too many people willing to risk the “investment” of a $25,000 guitar by picking it up and strumming it – let alone taking it on the road. The 1960 reissue solves that problems quite nicely, as it offers killer looks and tone, but is affordable enough for daily use.

Now days, Gibson has elaborated on their 1960 Reissue line, offering a Standard version as well. This model features the more traditional wide neck, mellow covered humbuckers and more refined knobs and accessories. It even gets treated to an exceptional stain process. The bad news is that these 1960 Standard Les Pauls, even though they are reissues, cost upwards of $6,000! Hardly within the reach of today’s gigging musician.

Still, if you crave the famous 60’s tone, a Les Paul 1960 Reissue is a very affordable and authentic alternative to the real thing.