Gibson Custom Shop CS7 1957 Les Paul VOS in Antique Gold

Back before the burst began Gibson still had the Les Paul but your option was a gold top... or a gold top. This CS7 model from the 2015 Gibson Custom Shop line is an amazing VOS styled remake of the original with modern building quality standards and hardware. Finished in the same gold top look that was available back in '57 this guitar has a vintage style that will only get better with time.

Simple Yet Stunning Design

Back in 1957 you didn't really have that many options in how you built a guitar. Yes machine tools were there but you were far more likely to find someone building one of these by hand. With that in mind Gibson made the Les Paul a guitar which has a simple yet elegant design that has captured a whole generation of musicians.

The body has been made out of a single piece of mahogany topped with a layer of maple on top giving it that signature warm overtone. The neck is made out of another single piece of mahogany but with a solid Indian rosewood fingerboard for smooth playing. These are the same materials that were used on the original so you can rest knowing that this will respond just like an original.

Custom Shop Hardware

The woods are not all that matter with an electric guitar however. Everything from the pickups to the bridge, nut and tuning pegs all make a slight tonal difference. That is why Gibson have opted for using a new lightweight aluminium tailpiece that is not only lighter weight but also more accurate to what was used back in the 50's and 60's.

The other new addition for this year are the Custom Bucker Alnico III pickups. These PAF style wonders are often found on the higher end Collectors Choice models but they have also successfully made their way to the CS line as well. These have been voiced to match the sound of pickups from the 50's.

Here's what Gibson say about the CS7

The legendary Les Paul evolved throughout the 1950s, but the major ingredients really came together when the Goldtop with Tune-o-matic bridge gained two sweet, rich PAF humbucking pickups to become the most revered weapon in rock. The 2015 CS7 '50s Style Les Paul Standard VOS brings together all the key ingredients of the hallowed '57 Goldtop, crafted with Gibson Custom's recently adopted Historic Specifications to ensure period-correct looks and features. Select tonewoods, an accurate '50s neck profile, and two outstanding Alnico III Custom Bucker pickups join a Goldtop finish with gently aged VOS treatment to bring you a superb '57-style Les Paul.

Specifications

Top
Wood Species: Plain Maple
Pieces: 2
Binding: Single Bound, 50's Cream
 
Back
Wood Species: Mahogany
Pieces: 1
Binding: None
Weight
Weight Relief: None
Average Weight (body only): 3.175 kg / 7.0 lbs
 
Materials Used
Glue: Franklin Tite Bond

Body Contour
Carve: 1950's Style Les Paul

Neck
Wood Species: Mahogany
Pieces: 1
 
Details
Truss Rod: Vintage Style-No Tubing
Profile: 1950's Style Les Paul
Thickness at Fret 1: 2.26 cm / .900 inch
Thickness at Fret 12: 2.54 cm / 1.0 inch
Average Weight: .453592 kg / 1.25 lbs
 
Peg Head
Type: 50's Profile LP
Inlay: Pearl
Peg Head Binding: None
Logo: "Gibson"
Silkscreen: "Les Paul"
Headstock Angle: 17 Degrees
Tonal, Resonant, and/or Technical Effect: Holly Head Veneer
 
Neck Fit
Joint Angle: 4 Degrees
Type: Mortise and Tenon
Adhesive: Hide Glue
Gauges Used:
Pitch and Alignment Gauge

Nut
Style: 6/6
Material: Nylon
Width: 4.28 cm / 1.687"
Slots:
E: .13716 cm / 0.054"
A: .10414 cm / 0.041"
D: .04826 cm / 0.019"
G: .0381 cm / 0.015"
B: .03556 cm / 0.014"
e: .03048 cm / 0.012"
 
Fingerboard
Wood Species: Solid Indian Rosewood
Pieces: 1
 
Fingerboard Details
Radius: 30.38 cm / 12"
Frets: 22
Nut/End of Board: 4.28498 cm / 1.687" @ nut, 5.6896 cm / 2.24" @ end of board
Scale: 62.865 cm / 24.75"
Binding: Single Bound, 50's Cream
Side Dots (Color): Tortoise Shell
 
Fingerboard Inlays
Style: Trapezoid
Material: Nitrocellulose
Dimensions: Large: 2.921 cm x 1.7018 cm / 1.150" x .670", Small: 3.937 cm x .6096 cm / 1.550 x .240"
Average Weight: .340194 kg / .75 lbs

Hardware
Tuning Keys
Style: Reissue Kluson Deluxe Green Keys, Single Band
Material: Nickel Plated Steel
Weight: 3.6 oz
 
Tuning Keys Details
Tuning Ratio: 12:01
Gear Type: Closed
What is allowable turn: 1/4
Plating specs: Nickel Plated Stamped Steel
Part numbers: 130-430-14889/90
 
String Dimensions
E: .11684 cm / .046W
A: .09144 cm / .036W
D: .06604 cm / .026W
G: .04318 cm / .017P
B: .03302 cm / .013P
e: .0254 cm / .010P
 
Bridge
Style: ABR With Thumbwheels
Material: Zinc Surrounded by a die casting alloy for casting flow
Plating Specs: Nickel Plated
Part number: 130-430-10161
Weight: .0637 kg / 2.25 oz.
 
Dimensions of String Slots
E: 0.1778 cm / 0.070"
A: 0.13716 cm / 0.054"
D: 0.1016 cm / 0.040"
G: 0.0635 cm / 0.025"
B: 0.0508 cm / 0.02"
e: 0.0381 cm / 0.015"
 
Tailpiece
Style: Reissue Lightweight Aluminum
Compensated: No
Material: Aluminum
Plating Specs: Nickel
Part number: 130-430-11738
Weight: .0311845 kg / 1.1 oz
 
Output Jack
Style: 1/4"
 
Jack Plate
Style: 1950's Style Cream
Part Number: 130-430-19299
Weight: .0056699 kg / .2 oz
 
Strap Buttons
Material: Aluminum
Plating Specs: None
Part numbers: 130-430-19150
Weight: .0141748 kg / .5 oz

Plastics
Pick Guard
Style: 1950's Style Cream
Part Number: 130-430-12768
 
Truss Rod Cover
Style: 1950's Style LP Standard
Part Number: 130-430-19784
 
Knobs
Style: Gold Top Hats
Part Number: 130-430-19778
 
Dial Pointers
Yes/No: Yes
Control Plate(s) (Backplate Cover)
Style: 50's Style Les Paul .09 Black Royalite
Part Number: 130-430-19808
 
Control Plate(s) (SwitchPlate Cover)
Style: 2015 Die Cast Gibson Custom Medallion
Part Number: 130-430-19016
 
Switch Washer
Style: 50's Style Cream
Part Number: 130-430-19292
 
Trim Rings
Style: 50's Style Cream
Part Number: 130-430-13891/130-430-13892

Accessories
Case
Style: Reissue Les Paul
Color: Reissue Brown with Pink Fur Lining
 
Strap Locks: None
Tools: None
 
Manual: None
COA/Other: Custom Shop Certificate of Authenticity in Binder, Extra Black Plastic Treble/Rhythm Switch Cover Plate