Product Description

1956 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow

This is a great sounding player grade vintage Les Paul Special from 1956, in the timelessly classic TV Yellow finish. The instrument has plenty of the pleasing wear that is so loved and is generally an indicator of a particularly good sounding Special or Junior. The TV Yellow is still very strong throughout with the variation that is so hard to replicate with aging techniques. Some areas are dark and smokey while some other spots have faded to near white, with plenty of uniform checking across the guitar. The checking in the lacquer is very layered in only the way an old finish looks, with larger checking patterns filled in with very fine lines of checking. The beautiful grain of the mahogany body is clearly visible throughout. There are plenty of dents and dings, as well as the finish worn away to wood along that edges that is such a big part of the appearance of a vintage guitar. The neck also has a pleasing amount of wear, showing just how much this guitar was played over it's life, with the finish worn through to the faint white of the TV Yellow and down to the wood in some spots.

Most notably the guitar has suffered a headstock break that has been expertly repaired. The repair area was lightly touched up with a bit more opaque but otherwise similar hue overspray that has been nicely blended to the original finish and aged to match. The serial number area and most of the neck show the original finish without overspray, as does the body. The bridge pickup cavity also shows signs of additional routing, the area being slightly larger than normal but mostly hidden by the pickup cover. The tuners were changed at one point but now back to a vintage style set. One pot has been replaced and the guitar shows signs of additional soldering, but the other electronic parts appear correct. The back plate has a strip of tape that reads "To get back to the 'weird mod', cut the white wire out", presumably an indiction of previous modification to the electronics.

Finally this one has a newer nut and pro refret. It plays fantastic. The neck measurements are .92" at the first fret to 1.01" at the twelfth fret. It's loud, snappy, dynamic, and resonant. The serial number is 611764. The weight checks in at a strap friendly 7 lbs 7 oz. Anyone looking to save a little money from an otherwise un-touched guitar would be happy with tone and feel of this player-friendly find! Ships in a non-original molded SKB hardshell case.

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