1998 Gibson Historic 1957 Les Paul Reissue Goldtop

The Historic Reissue Les Pauls from this period have developed a well deserved reputation, and it's easy to see why when you spend a bit of time with this 1998 R7. It really looks the part, with nearly three decades of playing leaving it with a nicely played in look and feel that brings it a little closer to the vintage instruments that inspired it. The Goldtop finish has just the right sort of character, and there's something particularly appealing about a guitar that has had enough time in the hands of players to start feeling like an old friend.

The neck has a fairly chunky profile, as you'd expect from a 1957 reissue, although it doesn't feel quite as substantial as you might imagine. After a few minutes of playing, it feels surprisingly quick to move up and down, with a comfortable shape that encourages you to settle in and get on with it. There's a good sense of resonance when you play it unplugged, too, with that lively response in the hands that often gives you a good indication of what to expect once you plug in.

Sonically, it's a punchy guitar across the board, with the factory fitted Classic '57 humbuckers giving it a character that's well suited to the traditional Les Paul sound. The bridge pickup is particularly sweet, with plenty of harmonic detail and a nice bite that works brilliantly when pushing a valve amp. There's enough clarity to keep things articulate, even when you start leaning into the gain, while the overall response has that familiar combination of weight and sustain that makes a good Les Paul so satisfying to play.

Built around the classic 1957 specification, the R7 features a solid, weight relieved free mahogany body topped with carved maple, a mahogany neck and a rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays. These early Historic models have their own place in the evolution of Gibson's reissue programme, and while later production brought further refinements to vintage accuracy, there's plenty to appreciate about the instruments coming out of the Custom Shop during this period. 

The guitar remains in generally great condition, with minor areas of play wear. The control and pickup cavities have been painted with shielding paint, the four pots have been replaced, and the original capacitors have been upgraded to Sprague Vitamin Q examples. Otherwise, it retains its original case, tags and warranty card. A great recreation of a classic Les Paul from a period of Historic production that continues to be highly regarded.

This guitar has been given a full service by our luthiers at the Vintage Instrument Workshop, and includes a 2 year warranty.