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1959 Les Paul Special Case Question

Bulltrout

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2003
Messages
37
I just bought a 1959 Les Paul Special. Date and electronics and all details I'm aware of date it to 1959. I had a question for the forum about the case - it looks to me like a 1959 five-latch Lifton case; I thought these came in alligator cases, but I'm not certain of that detail. Can anyone clarify for me?

I'm the second owner of the is guitar - the original owner recently passed.



 
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Bulltrout

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2003
Messages
37
LOL, That'll teach me to post before coffee...but the Specials came with these cases I assume?
 

garywright

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
I believe both the junior and special shared the same ...that Lifton could be what the dealer sold it with though ..nice looking Special 👍
 

fernieite

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
609
Back in the 50s and 60s, the original buyer sometimes had the option of buying one of 3 types of Gibson cases with a guitar.

Here are the options for a Gibson Special from the 1960 catalog:
1. 535 Faultless, plush- lined case for $42.50
2. ZC-LP Deluxe zipper case cover for $30.00
3. 115 Durabilt case for $14.25

The guitar itself was $195.50, so most would have opted for the cheaper Durabilt case. However, the case above in the original post is one of the expensive Faultless cases. Nice!
 
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AlienVintage

Active member
Joined
Sep 10, 2015
Messages
334
Yes, same case for a Burst. Extremely cool.

Just be super careful with that neck joint, since they are infamously weak on that particular model (until the moved the neck pickup location a bit later).
 

toneville

New member
Joined
Apr 3, 2019
Messages
20
My suggestion is to get some padding in there to support the back at the neck / body joint or be prepared to join the "Les Paul Special neck snapped off " club. There are too many members already.
 

Frutiger

Active member
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
727
Back in the 50s and 60s, the original buyer sometimes had the option of buying one of 3 types of Gibson cases with a guitar.

Here are the options for a Gibson Special from the 1960 catalog:
1. 535 Faultless, plush- lined case for $42.50
2. ZC-LP Deluxe zipper case cover for $30.00
3. 115 Durabilt case for $14.25

The guitar itself was $195.50, so most would have opted for the cheaper Durabilt case. However, the case above in the original post is one of the expensive Faultless cases. Nice!

Exactly this. Gibson guitars did not 'come' with cases back then. The case was a separate purchase.

Although the Durabilt (alligator) case was the 'correct' one for the Junior/TV/Special (in that a carved top LP won't fit in it) you could buy the more expensive Faultless (Lifton/Gieb/Stone) case for the guitar instead if you wanted to. It's not that uncommon to see the lower grade LPs in these cases.
 

TM1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
I have the exact same guitar and case! I bought them 30 years ago! I have 9309xx
 
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