There’s nothing more iconic than a ’57 Goldtop; this Les Paul from the Gibson Custom Shop presents all of the beauty and sonic satisfaction of a vintage original. It features an impeccable Light aged finish from the Murphy Lab. Loaded with CustomBuckers, you’ll be able to coax warm tones and thrilling growls from the get-go. Available now at Musician’s Friend, the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Darkback could easily become your number one.

Let’s Start With the Finish

Tom Murphy was instrumental in creating the Gibson Custom Shop; he's also a pioneer in the art of aging guitars. The ’57 Les Paul has an accurate Double Gold finish with a dark back that lets the grain come through. The Murphy Lab gives this a Light aging—the nitrocellulose lacquer shows more intense checking, along with dings, pick scrapes and slight flaking in spots. It looks like a guitar with 50-plus years of average play wear. The hardware displays a matching VOS patina.

Pickups that shine

Gibson loaded this guitar with a set of CustomBuckers. Alnico III magnets supply the warmth; leaving them unpotted adds clarity. A hand-wired harness with paper-in-oil capacitors and 500K CTS pots gives you more sonic space to explore.

Classic Construction

The Custom Shop doesn't fool around when it comes to construction. From laser-scanned dimensions to chemically recreated plastics, their attention to detail makes all the difference. You’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between this Les Paul and one from the ’50s. The body is made from solid mahogany with a 2-piece maple top. The mahogany neck has a chunky, medium C profile. Your hands will feel at home on the rosewood fretboard—the extra-rolled binding makes it feel like a worn-in Gibson.

This Goldtop Will Make You Go Gaga

Finding an original 1957 Goldtop takes luck and an extremely large wallet. This Murphy Lab model gets you the same style and sound, and it’s available now at Musician’s Friend. It comes with a certificate of authenticity and an aged brown and pink Lifton reissue 5-latch hard case.