1956 Gibson Les Paul Special in TV Yellow
Maker
Gibson
(American, founded 1902)
Date1956
ClassificationsMusic
Description1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, single cutaway, serial number 69886, in Limed mahogany TV Yellow finish. The guitar features rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, one missing on this guitar, multi-layer pickguard nickel hardware, in 1950s chipboard case.The Les Paul Special was introduced in 1955 as a higher-end student-level guitar compared to the Les Paul Jr. The Special underwent a transformation at the end of the 1950’s to the Gibson SG body, however this 1956 guitar retains the original model's classic features. Although an entry-level electric, the Special maintains higher-end quality through Gibson's streamlining of the production process including flat rather than carved tops, minimal binding, and simple finishes.
This 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special guitar with a solid, one-piece mahogany body and mahogany neck has beautiful details including a dot-inlaid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and features two P-90 pickups for a loud and clear tone. The TV Yellow finish, alternatively referred to as limed mahogany, was designed to be seen on black and white television. Despite being a "student" guitar, the Special is a versatile electric known for its use by diverse artists such as Bob Marley, John Lennon, and Martin Barre, among other notable guitarists.
