GIBSON LES PAUL MODEL (GOLD TOP, 1952-58 MFG.) Description
- single sharp cutaway solid mahogany body, 13 in. wide, 17.25 in. long and 2 in. deep, 24 3/4 in. scale, bound carved maple top, raised cream pickguard, one piece mahogany neck, 16/22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl trapezoid inlays, trapeze bridge/tailpiece, blackface peghead with holly veneer/pearl logo inlay, silkscreen model name on peghead, 3-per-side Kluson tuners with plastic single ring buttons, nickel hardware, 2 single coil P-90 pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, with or w/o Bigsby vibrato, 3-position switch, available in Gold Top/Natural back finish, mfg. 1952-58.
Originally, bridge tailpieces were used with the strings traveling under the bar of the bridge. During 1952 and through most of 1953, the strings were changed to travel over the bridge bar. Special order instruments have Dark Brown back finish. In 1952, these models were not serialized. In 1953, ink stamped serial numbers on back of peghead were introduced, wrapover bridge/tailpiece replaced original part/design. In 1955, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece replaced previous part/design. In 1957, humbucker PAF pickups replaced original part/design - these humbucker supplied Gold Tops came standard with cream colored pickup rings. Since they are the same color style as the most common ones used on the LP Standard Sunburst instruments, many Gold Top cream pickup rings have been taken off and used on the Standard Sunburst model.