Limited Run 150 Clapton Cream-era 1958 Les Paul Custom from Murphy Lab

[jb_abides]

$20k - Limited Run of 150, Serial 8_6320 with numbering format 'EC_001' thru 150

Now, that's some extreme "Ultra Aging" from the Murphy Lab!
- Did anyone expect this?
- Does anyone want this?

Marketing "blurb" below cites a scan and replication of the original guitar's neck profile in addition to the overall replicated aging; however, the special neck profile is not mentioned in the detailed specifications.

Apart from that and the aging, the most notable spec would be the ultra-lightweight, one-piece, all-mahogany body and middle pickup mounted with the screws oriented towards the neck.

Also, some nice 'case/case candy' appointments including EC And Albert Lee signed pickguard in wood display case.

...

From Gibson.com -

ERIC CLAPTON 1958 LES PAUL CUSTOM

• A loving tribute to Clapton’s original Cream-era 1958 Les Paul Custom, aged to perfection by the Murphy Lab
• One piece ultra-lightweight mahogany body, mahogany neck with ebony fretboard, Les Paul Custom inlays, Murphy Lab aged to replicate the original guitar, including the gold hardware, three Custombucker pickups, Duck Brothers-inspired case with a collection of case candy, including a second pickguard signed by Eric Clapton and Albert Lee

A loving tribute to a piece of music history owned and played by two guitar icons

It’s safe to say that Eric Clapton is one of the most successful and respected guitarists of all time. His playing with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & The Dominos, Delaney & Bonnie, and as a solo artist has inspired countless players. He has won 18 GRAMMY® awards, received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, four Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, and was awarded a CBE for services to music. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a solo artist and as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He is the co-founder and a patron of the Crossroads Centre, a substance abuse rehabilitation facility on Antigua that has helped countless people overcome substance abuse.

During Cream’s first American tour, Eric purchased a three-pickup 1958 Les Paul Custom, serial number 8 6320, which he used on Disraeli Gears, multiple tours, including with Delaney & Bonnie, and on and off throughout the rest of the 1960s and 70s. In 1979, he gifted the guitar to fellow legendary guitarist Albert Lee, who continues to be inspired by it and uses it to this day. Now, Gibson Custom is proud to introduce the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom, a loving tribute to Clapton's original Cream-era 1958 Les Paul Custom. This special limited run uses ultra-precise Murphy Lab aging techniques to aid in handcrafting a reproduction of this legendary guitar. Every detail has been thoughtfully crafted, from the exact playing wear to the sonic character. It features a hand-selected, ultra-lightweight, one-piece, all-mahogany body, a mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard with Custom mother-of-pearl block inlays and 22 historic medium jumbo frets, and the same neck profile as the original guitar. The hardware is aged gold, including the Grover® tuners, ABR-1 bridge, Stop Bar tailpiece, and pickup covers. The three pickups are unpotted Custombuckers, with the middle pickup mounted with the screws oriented towards the neck, just as they are on the original guitar. The volume and tone controls use CTS® 500k audio taper potentiometers that are hand-wired to paper-in-oil capacitors, while the Murphy Lab aging simulates the exact aging and wear patterns that Eric and Albert created.

Only 150 of these exceptional guitars have been handcrafted by the expert luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop and Murphy Lab in Nashville, Tennessee. The custom Duck Brothers-inspired case includes the guitar, along with a second pickguard, signed by both Eric Clapton and Albert Lee in a collectible wooden display case, a Certificate of Authenticity booklet with a photo by Chuck Stewart, a black leather Archive Series strap, and a Gibson Custom switch plate medallion. Here is your opportunity to own a piece of music history that is directly tied to two of the world’s foremost guitarists.

Salient Specs:

• One Piece Ultra-Light Weight Mahogany
• No mention of scanned neck profile, just "Medium C"
• No mention of special pickup winds, just "Custombucker (Unpotted)"
• Nylon Nut
• Grover Milk Bottles
• ABR-1 with Screws Towards Neck
• Paper-in-oil capacitors
• True Historic Black Top Hat (No Dial Pointer)
• Black Royalite; "EC" Signature Switch Plate Medallion Installed (Custom Shop Medallion in the Case)
• Custom Duck Brothers Case
• Certificate of Authenticity, Extra Pickguard Signed by Eric Clapton and Albert Lee, Custom Shop Switchplate Medallion in the Case
• A black leather Archive Series strap

 

[jb_abides]

 

[jb_abides]

NOTE: Interestingly, Gibson marked the YT video 'private' but the link to the Gibson.com is still active. Not sure if they jumped the embargoed press release or what...? I am leaving the YT in place, hopefully they will make it public eventually with the same URL.

 

[goldtop0]

Take the pup covers off and you're there.
This was the first EC played gat that I saw up close in a magazine, which I think was Beat Instrumental in late '69 or early '70, didn't know much about the beanoburst or 335 in those days.

 

[MattD1960]

cool guitar, and I am the biggest EC fan this side of the mississippi but i think this is just weird.... I have a R7C and that 100% scratched this itch for me I dont need it to say EC, i am sure some collectors will love this but ehhh i am not excited

 

[El Gringo]

I want it . You could put EC name and signature on anything and I would want it !

 

[jb_abides]

Take the pup covers off and you're there.
This was the first EC played gat that I saw up close in a magazine, which I think was Beat Instrumental in late '69 or early '70, didn't know much about the beanoburst or 335 in those days.

Yeah, presumably it's in the 'current' aged condition as owned by Albert, with the stock covers and pickguard re-installed.




I've seen EC photos in the original condition, then the evolution during the Delaney & Bonnie tour.

 

[jb_abides]

Cream-era covers on

 

[jb_abides]

Well, here's an interesting discrepancy -- @matkoehler if you check in, you may wish to issue errata for this on the website:

• The Gibson.com blurb specifies that this replca uses "the same neck profile as the original guitar."
  • Which I mentioned above, and is at odds with the generic profile cited in Gibson.com's detailed specifications.
• This article quotes Gibson's Product Manager Cody Higbee, “Eric had a particular neck profile that he was very fond of – one that was used on another guitar we made him,” Higbee says of the deviation. “That was the neck profile he wanted on this run, because it wasn't too chunky and it wasn't too thin.”
  • Which alignes with the Gibson.com detailed specifications, which state "Medium C".

Guitarworld.com:

“I said, ‘I used to have a Les Paul Custom and I sold it like an idiot.’ Eric said, ‘Oh, I have one of those at home somewhere…’” Gibson unveils the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom – a recreation of the Disraeli Gears LP that now belongs to Albert Lee​

The Murphy Lab-aged LP faithfully recreates the original model, but Clapton has added a few personal modifications to the reissue



Gibson has continued its fine form of recreating legendary artists’ electric guitars by unveiling the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom – a replica of Slowhand’s famed triple-humbucker Gibson Les Paul.

Clapton has become synonymous with a string of stand-out six-strings, from his Gibson ‘Beano’ Burst and ‘The Fool’ SG, all the way to his ‘Blackie’ and ‘Brownie’ Fender Stratocasters.

His 1958 Les Paul Custom is certainly no exception. Reportedly purchased by Slowhand at Manny’s Music during Cream’s first American tour in 1967, the three-pickup Ebony Les Paul Custom (serial number 8 6320) would supposedly make its way on Disraeli Gears, multiple tours, and see sporadic action across the 1960s and 1970s.

Indeed, as Guitar Center recounts, the Les Paul is documented in some photos from the Disraeli Gears sessions in ’67, and would later show up more consistently in pictures taken from 1969 onwards.

Perhaps most notably, it was played by Clapton when he toured with Delaney & Bonnie, and during the Live Peace in Toronto concert, where Slowhand played alongside John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Klaus Voorman and Alan White.

But its story doesn’t stop there. As per Gibson, in 1979 Clapton gifted the Les Paul to Albert Lee, who remains the ’58 Les Paul’s custodian to this day. He also returned the guitar to its original configuration, after Clapton removed the pickguard and pickup covers.

“I had joined Eric’s band in 1979, and we were talking about guitars during one of the initial rehearsals,” Lee once recalled to Premier Guitar (via Guitar Center). “I knew he had played Les Pauls, so I said, ‘I used to have a Les Paul Custom and I sold it like an idiot.’

“Eric said, ‘Oh, I have one of those at home somewhere, and I don’t think any more of it.’ The next day, a roadie came in with this case, and that was it – the ’58 Les Paul Custom. I was playing that guitar from there on.”

Now, this very guitar is the latest to receive the Gibson Custom Shop’s attention, having been reborn in the form of a highly limited 150-model run.

“The Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom had been on our wish list for more than a decade,” Gibson Custom Shop Product Development Manager Cody Higbee tells Guitar Center.

In order to make the reissue as close to the original as possible, Gibson worked with both Albert Lee and Eric Clapton, who each offered their thoughts on the build. Clapton in particular was key in adding a few modifications to the LP that weren’t on the original.

“Eric had a particular neck profile that he was very fond of – one that was used on another guitar we made him,” Higbee says of the deviation. “That was the neck profile he wanted on this run, because it wasn't too chunky and it wasn't too thin.”

Likewise, Clapton also approved the use of the existing Custombucker Alnico III humbuckers, but it’s a decision that makes sense: “While Custombuckers try to capture the tone of pickups from today, we need to remember the guitar was just 10 years old when Eric was using it,” Higbee adds.

“That said, you can’t go wrong with Alnico III for the right mix of strength and smokiness. We’ve seen it all here, and we've learned there were a few different magnet types used in that era. But, sometimes to match the sound of, say, a vintage Alnico II, a modern Alnico III is a better choice – if that makes sense.”

Naturally, the one piece ultra-light weight mahogany body has been treated to some faithful artificial ageing that replicates the source material, while that tweaked-profile mahogany neck is topped with a 22-fret, 12”-radius ebony fingerboard.

Those unpotted Custombuckers, meanwhile, are paired with aged gold hardware, a nylon nut, 1950s Mother of Pearl block inlays and a Long Tenon neck joint.

As for the finish, the entire instrument has been given a top-to-bottom Murphy Lab treatment that recreates the exacting visual condition of the original Custom.

The Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom Ebony is available now for $19,999.

Visit Gibson for more.



Eric Clapton playing his 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom with Delaney & Bonnie at Royal Albert Hall in 1969 (Image credit: Chris Walter/WireImage via Getty)

 

[jb_abides]

From GuitarCenter.com --

Eric Clapton’s 1958 Les Paul Custom may be the guitar equivalent of a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped inside an enigma.



As Clapton has owned more than his share of iconic guitars—and played them throughout a career of scrupulous documentation, given his legendary status—historians can usually pinpoint which one he used when and where. These celebrated gems include his “Blackie” Stratocaster (now owned by Guitar Center), “Brownie” Strat, “The Fool” psychedelic Gibson SG, two Gibson Les Paul Standards (1959 or 1960 “Beano Burst” and 1959 “Summers Burst”), 1964 Gibson ES-335 TDC (another Guitar Center prize), 1939 000-42 Martin (the MTV Unplugged guitar) and 1957 “Lucy” Gibson Les Paul Standard he famously gifted to George Harrison in 1968.

His black 1958 Les Paul Custom, however, has been a bit more adept at sliding in and out of shadows—which makes for an intriguing, “Masterpiece Theater”-type mystery.

It is widely accepted Clapton bought the guitar at Manny’s Music on Manhattan’s music row during Cream’s inaugural American tour in March 1967. Mountain bassist Felix Pappalardi allegedly brought Clapton to Manny’s to check out some gear—which could even be true, as Pappalardi may have met the guitarist backstage during Cream’s show at the RKO Keith Theater in Queens, New York (the bill also included The Who, Mitch Ryder, Simon & Garfunkel, and the Rascals).




The '58 Custom (serial number 8 6320) came into Clapton’s orbit when he was mostly using his 1964 Gibson SG—a vital component of the guitarist’s fabled “woman tone.” Painted in psychedelic motifs and colors by The Fool—a Dutch art collective that also designed the inner sleeve of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the outside of the Apple Boutique in London—the eye-catching SG may have relegated the Custom to backup duty. That said, it’s reputed the Custom didn’t stay totally silent during Clapton’s Cream era, as the guitar is documented in some photos from the Disraeli Gears sessions in 1967.

The year 1969 is when the three-pickup Custom really starts showing up consistently in photographic and video evidence—albeit with the pickup covers and pickguard removed. You can see it being played by Clapton when he toured with Delaney & Bonnie, as well as at the Live Peace in Toronto concert where he “supergrouped” it with John Lennon, Yoko Ono, bassist Klaus Voorman and drummer Alan White as the Plastic Ono Band. The Custom’s sweet snarl is evident—even with Clapton using the bridge pickup—on the band’s cover of “Dizzy, Miss Lizzy.” There’s also a post-Blind Faith shot of Clapton recording with George Harrison at Olympic Studios, London, that year.



Ten years later, the ’58 Les Paul Custom was in the hands of another guitar legend—Albert Lee.

“I had joined Eric’s band in 1979, and we were talking about guitars during one of the initial rehearsals,” Lee told Premier Guitar. “I knew he had played Les Pauls, so I said, ‘I used to have a Les Paul Custom and I sold it like an idiot.’ Eric said, ‘Oh, I have one of those at home somewhere, and I don’t think any more of it.’ The next day, a roadie came in with this case, and that was it—the ’58 Les Paul Custom. I was playing that guitar from there on.”

Lee still owns the guitar and had it restored to its original configuration.

An interesting sidebar regarding Clapton and Les Paul Customs, is that the ’58 Custom is occasionally confused in accounts with a two-pickup 1955 Black Beauty (with a bridge P-90 and Alnico V “staple” in the neck position) that Paul Kossoff used to trade for Clapton’s 1958 Les Paul Standard (serial #8 24530), when Kossoff’s band, Free, opened for Blind Faith in 1969.



It appears Kossoff got the better deal in that swap, as Clapton’s “Dark Burst” Standard was one of three guitars that Kossoff used extensively for Free sessions, tours and TV appearances. Photographs of Clapton with the 1955 Custom are rare—if they exist at all.

The 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom, however, arguably represents a transitionary period in Clapton’s approach to tone. As we’ve stated, the Custom saw a fair amount of action in 1969, but by 1970, Clapton was using his “Brownie” Stratocaster to record Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs with Derek and the Dominos.



Celebrating an intensely collaborative period in Clapton’s career, the Gibson Custom Shop has meticulously handcrafted the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom in a limited edition of just 150 guitars. The team painstakingly studied the guitar and deployed Gibson’s Murphy Lab aging techniques to ensure the 1958 Custom looks, feels and plays just like the actual guitar that Clapton and Lee wielded. In fact, a cool bonus is that the 1958 Les Paul Custom comes with an additional pickguard signed by the two legendary owners of this guitar.

The replica features a one-piece all-mahogany body, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, 22 medium-jumbo frets, aged-gold hardware, three unpotted Custombucker pickups, CTS 500k potentiometers, paper-in-oil capacitors, custom case, Gibson Custom switch-plate medallion and a certificate of authenticity.

 

[jb_abides]

continued --

Gibson Custom Shop Product Development Manager Cody Higbee made himself available to provide Guitar Center Riffs readers with a deeper dive into the production of the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom.

What is the basic process when Gibson looks back at its long history of famous Les Paul models to decide, “Yeah, let’s do the Clapton ’58 Custom,” or “Maybe we should reissue something from Marc Bolan of T.Rex”?

Higbee: The Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom had been on our wish list for more than a decade. Sometimes, the decision is as simple as “Hey, how about we do ‘X?’” However, more often than not, it is a matter of timing—both with artists and materials. For example, when we did the Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard, we had to make sure we purchased enough tops for the run. Purchasing maple tops for Les Pauls is easy. Finding a few hundred tops with the same grain characteristics to match the original can be quite challenging.

Were there any specific wood-sourcing challenges for the 1958 Custom?

All of the wood for this project was hand selected—as it is for most projects of this type. We work with vendors to source the proper one-piece mahogany body blanks, and then we hand select for quality and weight. It took a long time to find all the lightweight one-piece bodies required. Even though hand selecting material for 150 guitars is time consuming, it’s well worth the extra effort.



Gibson obviously does an awesome job replicating Seth Lover’s 1955 PAF pickups for today’s players, but were there any struggles recreating the sound of the PAFs that were in Clapton’s 1958 Les Paul Custom?

Well, Eric already had a favorite pickup of ours—the Custombucker Alnico III—and that is what he approved for the 1958 Custom. Typically, we would go beyond the typical ohm resistance readings and measure magnetic strength in gauss and coil inductance in Henries, as magnets do use some strength over time. However, while Custombuckers try to capture the tone of pickups from today, we need to remember the guitar was just ten years old when Eric was using it. That said, you can’t go wrong with Alnico III for the right mix of strength and smokiness. We’ve seen it all here, and we've learned there were a few different magnet types used in that era. But, sometimes to match the sound of, say, a vintage Alnico II, a modern Alnico III is a better choice—if that makes sense.

Did the team modify any ergonomic features from the original specs?

Yes. Eric had a particular neck profile that he was very fond of—one that was used on another guitar we made him. That was the neck profile he wanted on this run, because it wasn't too chunky and it wasn't too thin. It's a medium C-shape that measures roughly .85" to .95".



According to Guitar Player’s “Les Paul Legends” issue (December 1998), the classic factory setup for Les Pauls was .012" neck relief at 7th fret, 5/64" low-E string height at 12th fret, 3/46" high-E string height at 12th fret, and the following string heights at the nut,” Low E and A (2/64"), D and G (1.5/64"), B and high E (1/64").

That is still our standard setup here at Custom, and those are the measurements we used on these guitars.

How critical is the aging process to reissues such as the 1958 Les Paul Custom?

Appearance is a very important part of the equation. We used high resolution photos as references to capture every detail of the original. There were around 100 photos capturing every detail at every angle. When a prototype is produced for artist approval, we will manufacture an identical twin of the guitar we send to the artist. Then, when the artist approves the guitar, we can be sure we are recreating the approved instrument to every detail. This also helps us ensure consistency throughout the run.



It's Albert Lee’s guitar now. Was he involved in the replica process?

Absolutely. Albert was involved from the start. Eric did have notes about refinements here and there, and Albert understood we were making some slight modifications—such as the neck profile—based on Eric's preferences.

Any other insights you’d like to share about the process for the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom?

The team at Gibson Custom takes great pride in what we do. We strive to hit every detail from visual elements you can see, and even the things you don't see—such as rolling the binding properly for that well played or “broken in” feel. Pickup materials can also change, depending on the unique voicing of the instrument we are recreating. All of these details come together to give players as much of an exact copy of the original guitar as possible.

 

[jb_abides]

Some pics of the original, for fun --

 

[jb_abides]

Albert. Covers and guard back on, EC's cigarette damage visible --


Albert holding it --



Albert reminisces the 'regret' of losing the old one and EC gifting him the guitar --

 

[jb_abides]

Sweetwater video featuring an interiew with Albert Lee and Michael Doyle -- Albert states that after it was 'gifted' he used the guitar on the tour with Eric for the subsequent 5 years, notably on the 'Just One Night' live recordings.

Michael Doyle mentions -- not confirmed elsewhere, in Gibson's materials -- Eric intends the funds to go towards the Crossroads charity.

Michael also outlines how Eric presumably loaned the guitar to Kossoff which then came back to Eric after Blind Faith / Free tour, then the story we all know resumes with the John Lennon / Delaney and Bonnie era.

Michael provided tracing paper markings to help replicate the aging.

Article

Our very own Mitch Gallagher recently had the opportunity to sit down with a pair of remarkable Brits: the well-traveled, six-string-slingin’ Albert Lee and master guitar and gear historian Michael Doyle. Their topic of discussion? Eric Clapton’s ’58 Les Paul Custom and its astonishing backstory that led to the development of one of the most extraordinary Gibson signature guitars we’ve laid eyes on. Catch both the original guitar and the Custom Shop model side by side and buckle up for a trip through time with some delightful tunes along the way — “Just Because”!

A Black Beauty Like No Other​

Among history’s guitar greats sits the venerable Albert Lee, whose longtime comradery with fellow English six-stringer Eric Clapton led to his ultimate possession of a guitar particularly peculiar and acclaimed within the vintage-gear community — one that historian Michael Doyle has also become quite familiar with. In 1979, Clapton gifted Lee his beloved ’58 Gibson Les Paul Custom, which by that time had mounted an impressive resumé of recording sessions and tours over its then 21-year lifespan.

“I always loved the Les Paul and the Custom. That was the first really good guitar that I owned — I just fell in love with it.”

– Albert Lee

But before landing in Lee’s loving care in 1979, how did this Black Beauty originally find Clapton?

While the origin of Clapton’s ownership of the guitar still remains hazy, he’s stated that Mickey Baker of the R&B duo Mickey and Sylvia had initially sparked his interest in acquiring a Les Paul for himself. At some point in the first half of 1967, Clapton acquired the ’58 Les Paul Custom and first used it in May of that year as a studio go-to during the recording sessions for Cream’s Disraeli Gears album.

“If Mickey Baker’s got a guitar like that, that’s the one to have!”

– Eric Clapton

Afterward, the guitar changed hands over to Free’s Paul Kossoff while the group recorded their 1969 debut album, Tons of Sobs. Ultimately, the Black Beauty would make its way back into Clapton’s hands during his Blind Faith days in a swap with Kossoff involving one of Clapton’s sunburst models; at that time, the Black Beauty was in a curious condition, exhibiting no pickguard or pickup covers. Shortly thereafter, and with a handy pickguard replacement courtesy of the Rolling Stones, Clapton proceeded to use the guitar for slide-playing purposes while on tour with Derek and the Dominos and for concert collaboration with Delaney & Bonnie, which included an onstage swap with special guest George Harrison.

“Pretty much after Derek and the Dominos it goes underground, and you don’t see it until Albert shows up on the scene.”

– Michael Doyle

All in all, the original axe was played by Eric Clapton, Paul Kossoff, George Harrison, and Albert Lee and used in Cream, Free, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes, Delaney & Bonnie, and much of Albert Lee’s work with Eric Clapton and beyond!

Chronicling such an extensive playing history was no easy task for Michael Doyle, as visual changes to the guitar had long raised concern of there actually being two separate Les Paul Customs in question. However, thanks to high-resolution photos from the Disraeli Gears sessions and a surfaced poster spread of Clapton at the Toronto Rock Festival in 1970, Doyle was able to confirm the instrument’s singularity by the patterns of its fingerboard inlays and finish imperfections. Finally, there was a match!

“We have to get to the bottom of it because whatever we say it is, it needs to have substantial provenance . . . that was the journey that I was on.”

– Michael Doyle

Enter the Gibson Custom Shop​

Working closely with Albert Lee, Michael Doyle, and Eric Clapton himself, the Gibson Custom Shop has beautifully re-created the sonic and aesthetic intricacies of the original guitar. The result is a limited release of 150 guitars worldwide, of which Sweetwater has 13. What is it about this Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom that’s so special?

Aside from its being a premier example of a triple-Custombucker-equipped Les Paul from one of the most thorough custom builders in the industry, this guitar wears its simulated history stunningly well. Inspired by actual traces of the original guitar done by Michael Doyle, each Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom has undergone an aging residency within Gibson’s esteemed Murphy Lab. From the finish cracking and binding discoloration to the pickup cover and hardware abrasion, this LP looks straight out of a vintage touring collection. Yet, it plays like new — because it is!

“I got tracing paper, and I laid it over Albert’s guitar, and I got a pencil out and marked out where the markings were, where the dings were . . . and then sent them to Gibson. Then they translated that into a prototype, and I took the prototype to Eric and went from there.”

– Michael Doyle

A collector’s dream come true, the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom doesn’t just promise a remarkable instrument — the goodies are off the charts, too! Not only does this guitar come with stellar swag such as a custom Duck Brother-inspired case, leather Archive Series strap, and a certificate of authenticity booklet, but it also even includes a secondary pickguard autographed by both Albert Lee and Eric Clapton with a display case. Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

 

[jb_abides]

More reminisce from Albert --

 

[jb_abides]

Sweetwater has 5 on offer -- mainly posting this to show the weights -- some hover ~9 lbs.

 

[jb_abides]

More from Gibson, this time the Gazette --

Gibson Custom releases a tribute to the 1958 Les Paul Custom used by Eric Clapton on Cream’s Disraeli Gears​

Later gifted to Albert Lee, the iconic instrument has been honored by a loving tribute from Gibson Custom, aged in the Murphy Lab and limited to just 150 units​

Gibson Custom has announced the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul™ Custom, a loving tribute to the iconic three-pickup 1958 model Eric Clapton used first in Cream, and then on multiple solo tours and recordings, including with Delaney & Bonnie.

When Clapton purchased the instrument in 1967 on Cream’s first American tour, he was just 22 years old and preparing to record the band’s masterpiece, Disraeli Gears. By the time he gifted the guitar to his friend and fellow guitar superhero Albert Lee in 1979, Clapton had already achieved considerable acclaim as a solo artist, using the Les Paul Custom extensively during that pivotal period of his career.

Handcrafted by the artisans at Gibson Custom in Nashville, Tennessee, the Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom utilizes proprietary Murphy Lab aging techniques to evoke the spirit of the original. Just 150 pieces will be made available worldwide, complete with an outstanding case candy package including a second pickguard signed by both Eric Clapton and Albert Lee.

The guitar boasts a carefully chosen, lightweight mahogany body paired with a mahogany neck with a period-correct profile and an ebony fretboard adorned with mother-of-pearl block inlays. Its aged gold hardware comprises Grover® tuners, an ABR-1 bridge, a Stop Bar tailpiece, and unpotted Custombucker pickups, with the middle pickup orientated to reproduce the configuration of the original guitar.


Image: Case candy includes a pickguard signed by Eric Clapton and Albert Lee

The package includes a custom case with a Duck Brothers stencil—inspired by a running joke between Clapton and Lee—and the signed second pickguard is housed in an attractive wooden display case.

A Certificate of Authenticity booklet featuring a photograph by acclaimed photographer Chuck Stewart accompanies the guitar, along with a black leather Archive Series strap and Gibson Custom switch plate medallion.

Shop now and own a piece of musical history directly tied to two of the world’s finest guitarists.

 

[GreenBurst]

Now there is a switch plate cover medallion you want to leave on the guitar!

 

[jb_abides]

Gibson Garage pics -- nice shot of the headstock 'damage'

 

[jb_abides]