Gibson's double-cutaway Les Paul Special debuted at the end of 1958, soon after the Les Paul Junior’s rebirth as a double-cutaway. Along with the change in body shape, the Special was made available with both "Cherry Red" and "Cream" as standard finish options, much like its single-pickup counterparts in the Junior and TV models. The newly designed Special model was first listed on a Gibson price list in 1959; and along with this fresh listing came about a rather notable change for the Special and TV models: the Les Paul name was removed, and the guitars were referred to as the SG Special and SG-TV. While this 1960 Special is, technically, therefor an "SG Special," we’re opting to call it a Les Paul Special to minimize the confusion Gibson’s nomenclature causes! But, in order to make sure that guitar buyers 65 years later were thoroughly confused, the folks in Gibson’s finishing department decided to brand this particular Special a Les Paul Junior!

So, if that was all a bit confounding, we’ll admit that we feel your pain. Here’s a summary: Gibson catalogs described this guitar as an SG Special in 1960. It looks like a Les Paul Special, but it’s headstock proudly declares it’s a Junior. Go Gibson! The headstock’s pearl inlay and the guitar’s bound fretboard are typical of the Les Paul Special; it’s only the silkscreened signature and model that suggest otherwise.

An exciting example of an early 1960 SG / Les Paul Special, this guitar sounds excellent, plays beautifully, and bears a few quirky features that make it all the more interesting. Upon picking up this guitar, one will immediately take note of its remarkably comfortable and full '59 neck profile. With a first fret depth of 0.901", twelfth fret depth of 0.974", and full shoulders, the neck carve is more comparable to an early '59 profile, a rarity on a 1960 build. The two original P-90 pickups, measuring 8.5k in the bridge and 8.8k in the neck respectively, sound wonderful. The neck pickup on this guitar is particularly special (pun intended), offering an incredibly rich and deep voice while retaining a clear single note response. 

Built with a transitional neck joint that is incrementally stronger than earlier Specials (notice that the fretboard extends one fret onto the body, rather than ending at the body’s edge), this double-cut has not suffered the neck joint trauma that most ’59 Specials have. The neck joint is stable, uncracked, and the neck angle has not been compromised. The ’59 neck carve profile is a total bonus as most often you’d need to accept a compromised neck joint to enjoy a LP Special that has a big 1959 carve.

The guitar's excuses are fairly minimal and include a nicely blended finish repair over the playworn edges of the body’s lower bass side and treble-edge of the fretboard. There is touched up solder on the original pots, the switch is replaced, and the P-90 pickups have been wax-potted and are no longer microphonic. A set of Schaller tuners that were previously installed left their marks on the headstock, a set of period correct Kluson tuners have since been installed. The original bridge has been slightly filed to help minimize the sitar-ing typical of an older, playworn wrap around. The original jack plate has a chipped corner.

The finish remains quite red with only a bit of fade, mostly on the top. Dings and dents are fewer than average as our photos show. There is small area of deeper wear on the treble side of the neck by the 9th fret. The frets are fairly recent and remain in excellent shape, as is the modern bone nut. There is minor chipping at the base of the headstock overlay at the nut’s back edge.

Scale length of 24.75". First fret depth of 0.901", twelfth fret depth of 0.974", and a 1-11/16" nut width. Pickup DC readings of 8.5K in the bridge and 8.8k in the neck. Weight of 7lbs 13oz.

With original chipboard case.