I’m sure you’ll notice a lot of enthusiastic Les Paul electric guitar owners who, having bought the electric guitar of their dreams, would really love to make it a bit more in common with the holy grail of all Les Paul guitars, the 59 ‘Sunburst Standard. . .
In my case, I am the proud owner of a Gibson 59 ‘VOS Les Paul, Gibson’s unique effort to reproduce the magic of 1959, and it is a truly wonderful electric guitar. However, there are many improvements that could be made to make it a little more authentic. I have no idea why Gibson can’t update these little factors here and there, however it relies on aftermarket products to get closer to the original guitar.
So whether you have a lower-cost or more expensive Gibson model, what are those little improvements that could make a big difference?
One really vital area is the plastic parts. The color is usually the wrong shade and, in the case of the pickup edges (rings), the wrong color and the wrong height. The height of the rings on many Les Pauls is not up to the standard of a 59 M69 ring that is taller. The color of an original is also a shade ‘bone’ lighter than the strong creams that many electric guitar parts stores offer. They are cheap but not authentic. Some pickup vendors offer incredibly accurate replacement guitar pickup rings, but at insanely high prices. That being said, there are also some more competitive alternatives.
Other plastic parts that need improvement are the pick guard, the correct vintage font switch frame, the jack plate cover, the knobs and the truss rod cover. All of these parts can be obtained online and you will see many companies offering improvements over the standard versions. It is also possible to order these plastic parts that are already aged, which would significantly improve the appearance, assuming you will be happy with an aged appearance.
Possibly additional improvements could be made in the guitar pickup department. While on my VOS the Gibson Burstbuckers are relatively nice, several cheaper models can definitely benefit from the alternative Les Paul pickups. Many guitar pickup vendors would provide Vintage specs close to 59 PAF, even with aged nickel covers. Put them on with some awesome rings and you’ll be out.
Some real Kluson tuners can finish off the original look and feel. It is even possible to buy them with shrunken plastic tips, like some of the old originals.
The wonderful factor in all of this is that it can be done in stages, which is so much better for the wallet!
