Gibson Custom Les Paul Goldtop 1956 Reissue Ultra Light Aged Double Gold Cs Mlc

A Top-of-the-Line "Pre-Humbucker" Goldtop from the Custom Shop

This 1956 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue is part of the most sought-after reissues from the Gibson Custom Shop, recreating the "pre-humbucker" era with masterful precision. The year 1956 holds a special place in Les Paul history: it marks the meeting of the raw, singing character of the P-90s with the decisive addition of an adjustable ABR-1 bridge, designed to refine intonation and stability.

The Double Gold finish enhances this iconic look, while the Murphy Lab work aims to deliver a vintage instrument sensation that feels "preciously preserved": the aesthetic gains depth, and the lacquer's feel becomes more organic and immediate.

For Which Guitarists and Styles

This Gibson Custom is primarily aimed at intermediate to advanced musicians, as well as enthusiasts seeking a Les Paul with character, ultra-expressive, and ready to handle both pick playing and finger attacks. The '50s-style neck profile and "historical reissue" philosophy favor full, stable sensations with a true presence under the left hand.

Regarding styles, the Les Paul + P-90 combination is a formidable weapon for blues, rock, classic rock, soul, and anything requiring grit, dynamics, and excellent nuance translation. In short, you get a broad and punchy sound; in crunch, the guitar responds with bite; and as soon as you push the amp, the P-90s deliver that famous gritty, lively drive, always clear in the mix.

"Wood + P-90" Tonality: Dynamic, Grit, and Sustain

The tonal recipe is based on very "Les Paul" fundamentals: a one-piece lightweight mahogany back and a two-piece maple top. The mahogany adds density in the low mids and a sense of roundness, while the maple provides attack, precision, and that brightness that helps the sound cut through the mix. The absence of weight relief contributes to a full, stable feel with projection that remains solid even at low volume.

Careful construction also plays a major role: the neck/body joint with a long tenon and hide glue promotes vibration transfer. The result is a guitar very responsive to touch, capable of moving from an articulated clean to a rich crunch simply by adjusting attack and volume controls.

The custom Soapbar P-90 pickups bridge clarity and roughness. They have more "bite" and presence in the upper mids than many humbuckers, while maintaining a generous body. The 3-position selector allows switching from a round, velvety neck tone to a more aggressive bridge tone, with an ideal middle position for open rhythms and slightly scooped sounds.

Finally, the Murphy Lab aged nitrocellulose lacquer and Ultra Light Aged patina are not just about aesthetics: the feel is more "satin," and the instrument immediately gives a sense of familiarity, as if playing comes naturally, without resistance.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To respect the original setup, a set of electric strings with gauges 010-046 is perfectly suited (gauge indicated for this model). This offers an excellent balance between tuning stability, bending comfort, and crisp attack, particularly relevant for exploiting the dynamics of the P-90s.

Technical specifications

Category	Single cut	Scalloped	Simple
Left handed	No	Bridge / tailpiece	Fixed
Strings	Steel	Color	Yellow
Nbr of strings	6

Type	solid body electric guitar, Les Paul format	Nut material	nylon
Shape	Les Paul	Width at fingerboard end	2.24" / 56.89 mm
Back	one-piece lightweight mahogany	Bridge	ABR-1 without wire
Top	two-piece maple, fitted with hide glue	Bridge material	nickel-plated brass
Binding	single-ply Royalite	Tailpiece	lightweight aluminum
Finish	Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer	Knobs	Top Hats Butyrate Gold
Weight relief	none	Control finish	brown Royalite
Material	mahogany	Pickup selector knob	Amber Catalin
Neck/body joint	long tenon with hide glue	Pickup selector ring	cellulose acetate butyrate replica
Profile	50s Rounded Medium C	Output jack plate	laminated cellulose acetate butyrate
Scale length	24.75" / 628.65 mm	Pickguard	cellulose acetate butyrate replica
Fingerboard	Indian rosewood	Pickup covers	cream Soapbar
Radius	12.0" / 304.8 mm	Strap buttons	aluminum
Number of frets	22	Tuners	Kluson single line, single frame
Frets	narrow/tall authentic Gibson	Tuner plating	nickel
Inlays	aged nitrocellulose trapezoids	Truss rod	authentic 1950s No-Tube
Nut width	1.69" / 42.85 mm	Truss rod cover	authentic 2-ply stepped