What a beautiful, rare, and historically significant guitar this is. This guitar was released in 95 Aged units by Tom Murphy in 2011 to commemorate Eric Clapton’s work on John Mayall’s 1966 album Blues Breakers. This album inspired an entire generation of budding blues guitarists. The record sleeve showed Eric reading the Beano comic, which gave the album its “Beano” nickname. The 1960 Gibson Les Paul with a Sunburst finish that Clapton had recently acquired became the “Beano” guitar. But later that same year, 1966, Eric began rehearsals with his new supergroup, Cream, in a parish hall in northwest London—where his Les Paul was stolen before he could ever play it publicly. Based on Clapton’s recollections and the few existing photographs, the Gibson Custom Shop produced a faithful limited-edition replica of this guitar in 2010.

Ninety-five Aged-by-Tom-Murphy Beano models were produced, and the finish is incredibly realistic. Our Gibson Custom Shop Eric Clapton “Beano” ’60 Les Paul Aged, with its superb neck whose profile sits between a ’59 and a ’60 (i.e., less flat than the classic Slim Taper), has a very cool shape and delivers amazing playing comfort. As for sound, thanks to the quality of the pickups, the guitar’s excellent resonance, and its weight—only 3.8 kg—which make this Les Paul fantastic, the feel is truly great. Very direct, with excellent response and an exceptional tone, the notes remain perfectly clear and articulate. Even with the volume rolled down, this guitar stays wonderfully open and never loses its character. The hardware is slightly aged, and the original repro tuners are included in the original case, because the previous owner—a knowledgeable and passionate collector—had installed a set of original 1959/1960 Grover Pat. Pend. tuners. This makes the look of this guitar even more stunning.

Overall condition is excellent, as this instrument was owned by a careful and passionate guitarist—no notable damage, and of course no break or repair. The frets are also in excellent condition, with no marks or grooves. This rare 2011 Gibson Custom Shop Eric Clapton “Beano” ’60 Les Paul Aged comes with its COA, its original paperwork, all its goodies, plus the vinyl and the poster, and the factory Grover repro tuners, since an original late-50s set of Grover Pat. Pend. tuners is currently installed on the guitar.