Oh, what a beautiful, rare, and fantastic guitar we got here. This guitar was released in a limited edition of 350 in 2011 to commemorate Eric Clapton’s work on John Mayall’s 1966 album “Blues Breakers.” The album inspired a generation of budding blues guitarists. The album cover depicted Eric reading the Beano comic strip, hence the album name “Beano.” Clapton’s recently acquired 1960 Gibson Les Paul, finished in Sunburst, became known as the “Beano” guitar. But in that same year, 1966, Eric began rehearsing his new supergroup, Cream, in a church hall in northwest London, and his Les Paul was stolen before he could play it in public. Based on Clapton’s recollections and the few pictures that exist, the Gibson Custom Shop started a faithful replica of this limited-edition guitar in 2010, and the release was made in 2011.

95 examples of the Beano were produced in the Aged by Tom Murphy version and 350 examples in the VOS version. Our Gibson Custom Shop Eric Clapton “Beano” ’60 Les Paul VOS guitar with its superb neck profile, whose profile is between a 59 and 60 neck (i.e. less flat than classic Slim Tapers) has a really cool neck shape and delivers incredible playing comfort. In terms of sound, between the quality of the pickups, the excellent resonance of the guitar and the weight, only 3.82 kilos, which make this Les Paul so fantastic, the feeling is really cool. Very direct, with an excellent response and an exceptional tone, the notes are perfectly distinct and smooth, even at lower volume, this guitar remains wonderfully open and never loses its timbre. The overall condition is excellent, with some minor scratches scattered across the front, a small chipped dent in the center of the back, but otherwise no noticeable damage or obvious break or repair. The frets are in excellent condition as well, with no marks or grooves.

This rare 2011 Gibson Custom Shop Eric Clapton “Beano” ’60 Les Paul VOS comes with its COA, original paperwork, and a case in excellent condition.