GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD SUNBURST (1958-1960 MFG.) Description

- single sharp cutaway mahogany body, bound carved plain or flame maple top, raised cream pickguard, one-piece mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl trapezoid inlay, tune-o-matic bridge, stop or Bigsby tailpiece, blackface peghead with holly veneer/pearl logo inlay, 3-per-side Kluson tuners with single ring plastic buttons, nickel hardware, two covered (1959-1960) or uncovered (1958-1959) humbucker PAF pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, 3-position switch, inked serialization, available in Cherry Sunburst or Cherry (very rare) finish, approx. 400 mfg. 1958, 640 mfg. 1959, and 635 mfg. 1960.

There are three major considerations when determining value of 1958-1960 'Bursts - they are: original condition, amount of flame, and how much the color on top has faded. Original 'Bursts in average (60%-80%) original condition without much flame or color start around $150,000. 80%-90% original condition guitars with some flame and color are currently selling in the $200,000-$300,000 range. Recent original Sunburst flametop sales/asking prices on strong instruments with nice flame are selling between $300,000 and $400,000, depending on the amount of color remaining and degree of flame. Subtract approx. 10%-20% if Bigsby has been removed. 1959 mfg. is the most desirable.
Double black exposed humbucker pickups (circa 1958-59) are the most common, Zebra (black and white humbuckers) are less common (1959-1960 mfg.), and the double cream colored pickups (circa 1959-1960) are the most desirable.
In 1959, large frets replaced original part/design. In 1960, thin neck, double ring tuner buttons replaced original part/design.
It is estimated that Gibson built 1,700 of these beauties between 1958 and 1960; and perhaps only 1,500 have still survived to today. In 1959, they retailed for $279 - the value of a flame top Gibson Les Paul Standard today depends on three factors: the degree of flame (figuring) in the maple top, amount of fading on the Sunburst finish, and original condition. Originality is especially important on this model - if a stop tailpiece has replaced an original Bigsby or other substantial alterations have been performed, values can be off as much as 50%.
This particular model has achieved legendary status among guitar collectors, players, and investors throughout the world. The original LP 'Burst, more than any other electric guitar, proves what turbo-charged desirability can do to an instrument's price tag. Needless to say, the Blue Book of Electric Guitars fully recommends that several professional appraisals be secured before purchasing a collectible guitar of this magnitude. After Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Mike Bloomfield made the 'Burst popular back in the late 1960s, some musicians were having their gold-tops stripped and refinished to join the craze! Given the magnitude of this particular portion of this niche market place, some fakes and re-topped or refinished guitars have surfaced.