Gibson has forever engraved its name in the hall of fame of guitar, from jazz to rock, blues and metal. Founded in 1894 by Orville H. Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, the company has revolutionized the guitar world with technical and aesthetic innovations such as the humbuckers or the Flying V, Explorer and Firebird shapes. With ambassadors like Charlie Christian and Slash, or Tommi Iommi and, of course, Lester Polfus, Gibson crosses the ages and musical styles, and stands out as a must-have brand of guitar, both electric and acoustic.
The Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s AAA Southern Fade follows a traditional construction, with a solid mahogany body, carved AAA flamed maple top, set mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. The wood selection sets the tone straight away: an expressive top, a body with real mass, clean assembly, and a guitar that resonates with authority from the first unplugged notes. The build quality is in line with a current USA Standard: precise fitting, even finish, solid hardware, and the overall feel of an instrument made to be played hard and for a long time. The Southern Fade finish leans toward amber brown, with depth that shifts depending on the light and the figuring of the maple.
The ’60s SlimTaper profile gives a faster feel than a ’50s neck, with less depth in the palm and a more direct attack. The rosewood fingerboard, 12" radius and medium jumbo frets provide a comfortable playing surface for tight chords, wide bends and more nervous lead lines.
The humbuckers deliver the expected voice of a ’60s Standard: midrange, thickness, firm attack and highs that cut without turning dry. The bridge pickup handles gain very well, with tight crunch, real density in the riffs and plenty of articulation even at relatively high gain. The neck pickup stays round, wide and useful for both clean and lead work, with generous low-end warmth and presence in the highs. We tested it through a Fender Princeton, a Friedman, and even an old VOX AC30, and it made all of them sound killer.
2-year warranty from our workshop.
