Rick Nielsen’s 1959 Les Paul Replicated
Like owning Rick’s Original ’59 LP, Approved by Rick Nielsen, Vintage feel
Gibson Custom is proud to announce the Limited release of the Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul Standard, a precise replica of the ‘Burst that has been Rick’s favorite stage and studio guitar since he acquired it over a quarter of a century ago. From the start, the foundation of one of rock and roll’s most lasting legacies has been Rick Nielsen. The guitarist, writer and seemingly endless source of energy is known to the masses for his songsmith’s prowess and guitar skills on stage and in the studio with Cheap Trick, but to guitarists, there’s a whole other level of Rick’s expertise. To those who love guitars and love to collect them, Rick is an authority on the instrument itself, known the world over as one of the most ambitious and knowledgeable guitar collectors.
For the last 25 years, an original 1959 Les Paul has been along for the ride, flying precariously through the air in the hands of Rick Nielsen, who hasn’t spent much time without it since the two found each other a quarter century ago. He’s become so attached to the original that he insists on bringing it on the road, a demand that his road crew isn’t too thrilled about. “It’s a valuable guitar, so it takes up most of our insurance rider coverage,” Rick observes with a laugh.
So that Rick can travel with the authentic look, tone, and feel of his original, and so that a few players and collectors can enjoy an ownership experience to rival Rick’s own, Gibson Custom has worked directly with Rick and his original 1959 Les Paul to replicate his original at a level of detail so fine that Rick himself put the prototype and the original side by side and declared the results “remarkable.”
Crafted to True Historic Specifications and offered in two finish options (Aged and Vintage Gloss), and with the first 50 hand-signed by the artist himself, the Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul Standard is available on a limited basis, with qualifying materials ultimately determining the size of the run.
Specially-Wound Custom Bucker PAFs Custom wound to match the unique tone of Rick Nielsen’s own ’59
“Broken” Edges Throughout Softer edges for the correct smooth vintage feel and a heightened level of accuracy. Smooth radiuses are found throughout the body as well as the most critical point, at the fretboard binding, which results in an immediately comfortable guitar with a broken in feel .50s-era Hide-Glue Construction Essential to period-correct, old-school construction and vintage-grade tone.Aniline Dye Capturing that perfect ’50s red, both pre- and post-fading
- Double-Carved Top and Neck: Hand-sanded for final profile, retaining the original’s unique shape
- Thin, Wet-Sanded Nitro finish: Wet-sanded for a lush, deep finish
- True Historic Pickup Covers: Recreations based on extensive study of original 50’s parts
- Hand-Aged Finish: Captures the life and times of the original in authentic detail
- Specially-Wound Custom Bucker PAFs: Tone matched to Rick Nielsen’s original ’59
- “Broken” Edges Throughout: Soft radiuses on body and incredible playability at the fretboard
- 50s-era Hide-Glue Construction: Genuine vintage Gibson craft standard
- Aniline Dye: The deep, lush finish of an original 1959 Les Paul Standard
Body
Top
Back
| Top | |
| Wood Species: | Figured Maple |
| Pieces: | 2 |
| Grade: | |
| Binding: | Single Bound, True Historic Reissue Cream |
| Back | |
| Wood Species: | Mahogany |
| Pieces: | 1 |
| Density: | |
| Binding: | Top Only |
| Weight | |
| Weight Relief: | None |
| Average Weight (body only): | 3.175 kg / 7.0 lbs average |
| Materials Used | |
| Glue: | Hand Applied Hide Glue |
| Tonal, Resonant, and/or Technical Effect: | Hand selected backs for lightweight |
| Body Contour | |
| Carve: | Original 1959 Les Paul |
Neck
| Neck | |
| Wood Species: | Mahogany |
| Pieces: | 1 |
| Details | |
| Truss Rod: | Historic Reissue-No Tubing |
| Profile: | 1959 Les Paul |
| Thickness at Fret 1: | 2.26 cm /.900″ |
| Thickness at Fret 12: | 2.54 cm / 1.0″ |
| Other Materials: | |
| Average Weight: | .453592 kg / 1.25 lbs |
| Peg Head | |
| Type: | 1959 True Historic Thin Head Veneer |
| Inlay: | Pearl |
| Peg Head Binding: | None |
| Logo: | “Gibson” |
| Silkscreen: | “Les Paul” |
| Headstock Angle: | 17 Degrees |
| Tonal, Resonant, and/or Technical Effect: | Holly head veneer has been re-tooled, reproducing the original thinner specification of the late 1950’s |
| Neck Fit | |
| Joint Angle: | 4 Degrees |
| Joint Angle Tolerance: | |
| Type: | Reissue |
| Adhesive: | Hot 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 |
| Shade: | |
| 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: | .040 True Historic Reissue Cream |
| Side Dots (Color): | Tortoise Shell |
| Fingerboard Inlays | |
| Style: | Trapezoid |
| Material: | Aged Nitrocellulose |
| Dimensions: | 2.921 cm x 1.7018 cm / 1.150″ x .670″ |
| Average Weight: | .75 lbs / .340194 kg |
Finishes
Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul Aged and Signed| Color Code: | ASNB |
| Surface Texture: | Hand Aged, True Historic, Wet-Sanded, Thin Lacquer Finish-Signed by Rick Nielsen |
| Filler: | Vintage Brown |
| Sealer: | Nitro Cellulose |
| Top: | |
| Top Coat: | Nitro Cellulose |
| Scraped: | True Historic Process To Preserve Soft Neck Binding Profile and Body Binding Ledge |
Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul Aged
| Color Code: | ANB |
| Surface Texture: | Hand Aged, True Historic, Wet-Sanded, Thin Lacquer Finish |
| Filler: | Vintage Brown |
| Sealer: | Nitro Cellulose |
| Top: | |
| Top Coat: | Nitro Cellulose |
| Scraped: | True Historic Process To Preserve Soft Neck Binding Profile and Body Binding Ledge |
Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul Vintage Gloss
| Color Code: | NB |
| Surface Texture: | True Historic, Wet-Sanded, Thin Lacquer Finish |
| Filler: | Vintage Brown |
| Sealer: | Nitro Cellulose |
| Top: | |
| Top Coat: | Nitro Cellulose |
| Scraped: | True Historic Process To Preserve Soft Neck Binding Profile and Body Binding Ledge |
Electronics
| Pickups | Rhythm | Lead | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Style: | Custom Bucker | Custom Bucker | |
| Winds/Coil: Screw side/Slug side: | 5500-5750 | 5500-5750 | |
| Material of Wire (gauge): | #42 Enamel | #42 Enamel | |
| Coil Dimensions (per coil): | 6.6294 cm x 1.7272 cm x .9525 cm / 2.61 x.68 x .375″ | 6.6294 cm x 1.7272 cm x .9525 cm / 2.61 x.68 x .375″ | |
| Coil Material: | ABS | ABS | |
| Coil Winding Process: | Machine Wound | Machine Wound | |
| Pole Piece Material: | 416 Grade Stainless Steel | 416 Grade Stainless Steel | |
| Pole Piece Position from Nut: | 59.7 cm / 23.5″ | 59.7 cm / 23.5″ | |
| Slug Material: | 416 Grade Stainless Steel | 416 Grade Stainless Steel | |
| Slug Dimensions (diameter x length): | 47.3075 cm / 18.625″ | 47.3075 cm / 18.625″ | |
| Magnet Material: | Alnico III | Alnico III | |
| Magnet Position from Nut: | 58.36 cm / 22.975″ | 58.36 cm / 22.975″ | |
| Magnet Dimensions: | 6.35 cm x 1.27 cm x .3175 cm / 2.5 x .5 x .125″ | 6.35 cm x 1.27 cm x .3175 cm / 2.5 x .5 x .125″ | |
| Polarities: | |||
| Cover: | True Historic Replica VOS Nickel | True Historic Replica VOS Nickel | |
| Qfactor: | |||
| ResistanceDC: | 8.0k | 8.5k | |
| Resonant Frequency: | |||
| Tonal & Resonant Advancements: | |||
| Control Pocket Assembly | Lead Volume | Rhythm Volume | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: | 500k Audio | 500k Audio | |
| Peak Voltage: | |||
| Range: | +/- 5% | +/- 5% | |
| Power Rating: | |||
| Resistance Tolerance: | |||
| Minimum Resistance: | |||
| Lead Tone | Rhythm Tone | ||
| Type: | 500k Audio | 500k Audio | |
| Peak Voltage: | |||
| Range: | +/- 5% | +/- 5% | |
| Power Rating: | |||
| Resistance Tolerance: | |||
| Minimum Resistance: | |||
| Capacitors: | Lead Value | Rhythm Value | |
| .022mf | .022mf |
Hardware
| Tuning Keys | |
|---|---|
| Style: | Reissue Kluson Deluxe Green Keys, Single Band |
| Material: | Nickel Plated Steel |
| Weight: | 3.6 oz |
| Tuning Keys Details | |
| Tuning Ratio: | 41990.50069 |
| Gear Type: | Closed |
| What is allowable turn: | 0.25 |
| 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: | Nickel Plated |
| Plating Specs: | Zinc Surrounded by a die casting alloy for casting flow-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: | 59 True Historic |
| Material: | Single Laminate Acrylic |
| Part Number: | 130-430-19299C |
| 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: | 59 True Historic-Mulit-Laminate Acrylic |
| Part Number: | 130-430-12768 |
| Truss Rod Cover | |
| Style: | True Historic |
| Part Number: | 130-430-19784 |
| Knobs | |
| Style: | True Historic Butyrate Gold Top Hats |
| Part Number: | 130-430-19778V |
| Dial Pointers | |
| Yes/No: | Yes |
| Control Plate(s) (Backplate Cover) | |
|---|---|
| Style: | Reissue Les Paul .09 Black Royalite |
| Part Number: | 130-430-19808 |
| Control Plate(s) (SwitchPlate Cover) | |
| Style: | 2016 Die Cast Gibson Custom Medallion |
| Part Number: | 130-430-19016 |
| Switch Washer | |
| Style: | True Historic Cream Single Layer Acrylic |
| Part Number: | 130-430-19292C |
| Trim Rings | |
| Style: | True Historic Cream Replica w/Tool Marks |
| Part Number: | 130-430-13891V/130-430-13892V |
Accessories
| Case | |
|---|---|
| Style: | Reissue Les Paul (Signed Guitar Comes with Aged Case) |
| Color: | Reissue Brown with Pink Fur Lining |
| Strap Locks: | None |
| Tools: | None |
| Manual: | None |
| COA/Other: | Aged & Signed Guitar: Engraved Artist COA in Leather Binder, Guitar is Hand Signed by Rick Nielsen. Aged Guitar: Artist COA Signed by Rick Nielsen and held in a Standard Binder, Vintage Gloss Guitar: Artist COA Signed by Rick Nielsen |
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