What a beauty this is. This 1992 pre-reissue Les Paul represents one of Gibson’s earliest attempts to recreate the mythical late-1950s sunburst Les Paul Standard, if we set aside a few rare, not-quite-accurate series from the early 1980s. The original ’59 Les Pauls — made legendary by players such as Jimmy Page, Mike Bloomfield, Duane Allman, Billy Gibbons and many others — were built from materials that have since become extremely difficult to source: Honduran mahogany for the body and neck, Brazilian rosewood for the fingerboard, and hard maple, mostly from Michigan, for the carved top. Their hand-applied nitrocellulose lacquer finish aged in a unique way, giving each instrument its own personality.

In 1992, when this instrument was produced, Gibson was going through a pivotal transitional period. After the turbulence of the 1970s and 1980s (declining quality, production changes, shifts in management), the company was striving to recapture the spirit of its golden age. The creation of the Gibson Custom Shop, officially launched in early 1993 in Nashville, was part of this effort: bringing back more careful craftsmanship and a much stricter quality control. Before the “Historic Collection” officially appeared in 1994, these early pre-reissue models were Gibson’s very first attempts to faithfully resurrect the 1959 Les Paul. They are commonly referred to as Pre-Historics.

This guitar is indeed one of the very first Custom Shop reinterpretations of the 1959 model, produced in 1992. At that time Gibson no longer had access to the same tonewoods used in the 1950s and relied on more modern manufacturing methods (CNC machining, more standardized wood selection), but the goal was still to recapture the look and tonal character of the original Bursts. The spectacular flamed maple tops — like the one on this instrument — were still selected by hand, which explains why some examples became true one-offs, impossible to reproduce exactly.

Our 1992 instrument is therefore far more than a simple replica. It is a witness to Gibson’s period of rebirth, a bridge between the 1950s golden age and the modern era of the Custom Shop. The condition is excellent, with only a few scattered marks and light playwear here and there, some small dings on the back, perfectly preserved frets without grooves or wear, and a beautifully subtle patina on the finish. The maple top is spectacular, and the weight is wonderfully light at 3.85 kg. The neck is quite slim — slightly thicker than a Slim Taper, but not as full as a round 1950s profile. Its previous owner, a knowledgeable enthusiast, wanted to give it a Les Paul R0 (i.e., 1960-style) appearance and added four original early-60s reflector knobs. The original amber knobs are included in the original case.

This guitar, lightweight and visually stunning, is an excellent instrument and comes with its original case.