We are very fortunate that more genuine 59’ Les Pauls continue to be made every day !

I have played two 59 Les Paul burst...the first one was while I was in the Air Force in 1982..I could have bought it for 5000 dollars....it might have well been 500,000 dollars... being an airman first class it was way out of my reach....but it was like nothing I have ever played or heard...it had that horn like quality to it like all the great burst have....the second one was also a 59 and it belonged to a guitar player that played in my uncle's country and western band...that one was even better...it was majical....it played unbelievably easy...his had more of the baseball type of profile on the neck....he later sold that one to a collector from Japan for 400,000 dollars and ended up in the book THE BEAUTY OF THE BURST...I bought that book here a few years ago and saw it in there...I knew it was the one I played as soon as I saw it... And it had been like 15 years since I had held it...but I took a mental picture of it...the 59 he had was highly flamed and it was probably an 8 out of 10 condition wise....I bought an R9 about 10 years ago and I have to say it is very very close to the real thing.... great video guys......🎸🎸🎸

Here's a big "Thank you" to the owner of these guitars for letting us see and hear them. It is great to see Paul and James playing them and talking about them and to see what a good time they had.

Gorgeous and iconic!!! The ‘59s are incredible. Thanks for another great episode of the Studio Rats.

I fulfilled one of my bucket list items a few years ago, and it was to play a genuine original burst. An old guitar dealer/broker friend let me play a 1960 passing through his posession. My thought was the same as you stated: it was wonderful and bizarre to hold one item in my hand worth more than an average house. It was awesome.

Banging your ring against a £300,000 Guitar! Well done.

that damn cup of coffee going over the top of the guitar!

I don't know, but what ever it is, after I heard the first few notes, I realised these guitar's have a soul, amen.😊🎼🎵

Really appreciate that you both played clean, it really showed how good they are.

This one sounds particularly good and has exceptional balance across the neck based on what you guys played

A friend was recently repairing a Red '58 LP Special double cut. I had a '59 TV Yellow that needed more repair work than I could do. (Neck was broken 3X) I got to plug in the '58 and play for a while. What hit me was the solid feel of the wood. Nothing new feels like it at all. .Not even a little.. The wood had character and body and depth. I don't know how else to describe it. I almost cried.

Im impressed he was comfortable sipping his tea while holding the guitar.

Absolutely beautiful guitar

Great video, it would be awesome to hear a full set on instruments like this. Mere mortals can get similar tones with low wind, non-potted custom PAF offshoots/replicas, or with pre-late-70's vintage T-tops, combined with good 500k pots and caps of choice.

So cool… What a dream to be able to put your hands on a real one. I’m going to head into the house and play my Les Paul and pretend LOL thanks you guys always appreciate you

Sounds amazing!!! Thank you!!!

Clive seems to have an amazing collection of guitars and these videos have been awesome. Now he has to figure out how to get you two out of his house because I wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon!🤣

It sounds great, just like the Gibson "custom bucker" pickups do - they really nailed that sound with those!!

The only 59 Burst I have played was slightly more aged than the one being played here. However, the throatiness of the wound strings was heaven. The one I played was not the same balance that I hear with the one in this video. Great guitar!

I just bought a new Gibson Les Paul Standard which I did some light relicing on which I really really love! The pickups are very articulate, and the overall construction was quite good, although Gibson's quality-control definitely still needs attention.

What a great guitar! I never had the luck of playing an original 59' but I had the luck of playing an Original 53' Goldtop and fell in love with it. It of course had the original P-90's in them. The guitar was so clean and put some overdrive? it growled and made this sound we all want. I ended up putting a nice chunk of change on an R8 and almost paid off to be in my hands, can't wait! great video, there is magic in vintage for sure, they all have a story too.

That Burst is Georgeous! Even though it is not over the top with the flamed maple it has what is known as a "Peek a boo" top. What that means is on some angles it looks like a plain top and on other angles it has some flame. I really like that personally! Plus that color is faded just Perfect! that shade of Ice tea is incredible! Some prefer the more plain maple tops. The best part is a Burst like that is a lot less money to buy a highly figured top burst can fetch over $500K U.S dollars whereas the more plain top 59's are several thousand less. I love that one because it has that "old 50's guitar that was really taken care of" look.

Fantastic. @4:10 I thought you were going into the back half of the Now I'm Here riff. These are a great series of videos.

Beautiful tone great guitar

I see set of Grover’s..we’re put on..That’s a beautiful guitar………Those ltd 59’s seem magic..when u hear them.cheers🤙🏻🤙🏻

What an amazing guitar that sounds like any average Les Paul!

Beautiful!!

When talking about the differences in neck profiles between years e.g. 58 vs 59 etc, I think it's important to take into consideration that for the first few months of 59, the factory would be using all their leftover parts from 58. Therefore you could get two 59's with noticeably different neck profiles.

I played a 59 back when everyone had one and was no big deal. It sounded great, the pickups were as crisp as an October morning with enough heat to take you into next year, and then all of a sudden.....I woke up....dang! Although, I am truly happy with all the USA models since new management in 2019.

Imagine getting something so right..like Leo with tele strat…I guess these things happen ..from time to time…maybe not though in this techno age

Very very very good sound.

Speechless.

Never had privilege of playing any 57 58 59 60…but played an original 55 gold top with p90’s and it was in 80’s was awesome…I have an R9 2007..vos..lemon burst its beautiful..closest I’ll ever get I suppose..I guess the stigma alone makes you sublimity…go ga ga….remember not many were produced..

It sounds AMAZING, both clean and dirty!! Would be nice to know the actual weight. Are we taking 9#, 9.75#, 11#?!??

Would really like to learn to play exactly what you played in this video on my les paul traditional. Started my first lessons last week.

That thing is super clean

Love that, in the first 2 minutes, he drinks a coffee over it and knocks his ring on the neck!😂

Просто BOMBA SOUND!👍

having heard Clive's 59 played live i have to say the his Gold top is the kiddie sound wise

The funny thing is: a lot of times the old Les Pauls are described as really bright and clear sounding. One of the things that could contribute to that (if it has the original pots) is that the pots often increase a lot in resistance due to their old age. Which in turn results in quite a roll off of the low frequencies and a "brighter" sound.

Supposedly the pickups used in every ‘59 LP were wound differently. Don’t know if by hand or the machine, either way there wasn’t a count on the winds. I believe that is why the tones are different on each and every ‘59. If I’m wrong please add the correct info. Thanks!

Great video! Beautiful top, and sounds great. What's the weight of the guitar, if I may ask. Did you ask him?

Worth it to a seller.

I certainly can't afford a vintage Les Paul , but $500,000 is often Chump Change for the rich... Saying a 1959 LP isn't worth the money because ones wallet Can't stretch is as silly as a mega rich guitar player saying a $1000 guitar is just junk which is also wrong. The price I quess is reflected in the scarcity, desirability...not necessarily how good the instrument is . While some originals will be better than current production, some current production will be better than the originals..

There only worth what people are willing to pay for them they are one of the best playing and sounding guitars in the world also one of the most beautiful

This owner is extremely cool… and rich or at least rich enough!

Sounds beautiful, nice playing! But it sounds like a lot of modern guitars on KZfaq. So, let the collectors, like stock market hedge people, amp up up the value. The rest of us will deal as we always do.

Of course... If you have that money. Is a piece of history and art. But only a few people can spend that amount.

Why don't you play the neck pickup?

Would've been nice to hear the neck pickup on its own. Maybe next time...

Now that's a real bang for your buck guitar :).

Wow you play a 59 Les Paul and don't put it on the neck pick up. What a dissappointment!

I hope the original tuners are in the case...!

Have just purchased 59Epiphone inspired by Gibson,, wondering,,,,, any chance of a swap 🤔

Robben Ford wants one.

I’ll say no they are not worth the price but if you’ve got the Money and want one why not. The only one i would pay that for is greeny. Huge Gary Moore fan.

Insane pricetag! Great guitar, though.

i dont know, i have the R8 in my lap while watching, and they sound identical. maybe i need to be in the room.

I'm not blowing my own trumpet ( but I will ) my 2008 MIJ Edwards Les Paul sounds easily as good as this .

Why is it when ever someone picks up a ‘Burst, they turn into EVH in ‘78, and shred the shit out of it?!?! I just wanna hear the tone of single notes and chords, the sustain, and some blues riffs. Anyone can shred, can you make it sing?

👍👍

We have to remember the bursts were a commercial failure for Gibson. In reality by the following year production was ceased. Highly likely the reason the likes of Clapton, Page Green etc were playing them in the mid 60s was because they were probably cheap and far from desirable guitars. An interview with Billy Gibbons always springs to mind when 59s are discussed. He went on to explain that for many years he has been searching for a stand in for his 59 Pearly Gates. He said he has tried many from very bad to quite good. He is right in saying they were all hand made at that point therefore, they are all going to be different. As he correctly points out pearly gates was built on the right day, by the right people using the right combination of parts. Out of the 800 or so made in 59 it is inevitable that Friday afternoon Monday morning syndrome would come into play. Hence, there must be some utter dogs of 59s out there but they will still fetch the huge bucks. I strongly suspect the one you were playing may have previously been owned by John Martyn. John inherited a bunch of Les Pauls from Paul Kossoff when he passed away as he living with John & Beverly Martyn and touring with John at the time of his death.

Bro I would NOT be drinking a cup of tea while holding a fucking 59 burst!

I was played a Les Paul black beauty which the owner took out of a vault. It was scary to say the least. 😳

And just like that there is a Fuchs ODS. How do you like the amp?

I enjoyed this, not as much as you two did.

Only if you have money like we have water is it ok to buy one of these quarter of a mil guitars.

The way you keep swinging that guitar round. I'm waiting for you to Bang it against that thing behind you I can't watch any more.

Use a wound G string it will make a difference.

An R9 is just as good aside from it not being 60 plus years old.

good! now I'm convinced that it sounded the same or my chinese knockoff sounds even better

She's a playah .

Do you avoid playing any 'famous' riffs or songs for copyright reasons? It's hard to appreciate the tone from fragmented chords and noodles.

Worth more than the average house that Les Paul.Its worth more than twice my house

Simple answer, if Joe Bonamassa is playing it, yes its worth it.

This guitar doesn't even look like it's been played! That's usually a bad sign to players that it's not a player, like one that shows signs of wear from being played. Somebody bought it and put it in their closet for 60 years.

sounds like my harley benton but doesn't look as good.

dear me , it's sounds like an les paul : )

Gutted to pile all that money for Guitar to find that the neck pick up doesn’t work? 😮

I know nothing about guitars... What makes it worth so much -- are there not many of them around? I was thinking maybe it had belonged to Keith Richards or Jeff Beck, Clapton or Jimmy Page or something, but its history is unknown. So why is it worth so much? :0)

Gibson only made 640 of them! If there were 64,000 of them they wouldn't be any where near that valuable. I have a Custom Shop '59 Burst Reissue and it's AMAZING!

Weren't the new PRS compared to these....Tim Pierce and the guitarist from Heart. The thoughts were for the PRS

What is anything worth? Why is gold valuable? Rarity and quality pay a part, but things are valuable because people are willing to pay for them, these 59s are iconic in music history so you are paying to own a piece of that history. The wood and metal it's made of are practically worthless but as a guitar it commands adoration like nothing else.

Great video paul.Heres the 1 owner from new 1959 LP i got to play -kzfaq.info/get/bejne/juBxh9JyndexXYk.html There were 2 the one in the video was just beautiful dreamland stuff.The other was very good but not incredible.Always enjoy your videos and knowledge/playing.happy to chat anytime via e mail etc

No, they are not. Any respectable luthier out there can build you one for no more than 4-5k...Simple. And yes, you CAN find the same woods, BETTER pickups rather than the old random ones etc.....They only cost that much due to rarity and hype. These guitars were going for peanuts back in the 70s and early 80s...The SAME guitars. Are they good guitars? Eh, NO. The Les Paul shape has HUGE problems, fret access, playability, weight, tuning etc...Do they have a good tone? They have a VERY SPECIFIC tone that sounds great when dialled in but thats it. Are they beautiful guitars? YES, they are, but still goes down to taste. I have a Historic 59 which I bought as a bargain new (cos no one was buying it) and it is a GREAT guitar....or better a great LES PAUL guitar. It does THAT sound perfectly and stays in tune. and I'm pretty sure if you put it side by side with Skinnerburst or Greeny, using the same gear...it is going to sound the same and no-one will be able to tell.

Are they the original strings.. 🤣….

The Average guy can't AFFORD a 59 let alone take it out and play one on stage.

How can you bash someone else’s burst with a wedding ring? All you guys do this and don’t care. I would never bash mine up with rings. Each time you’ve grabbed the guitar, you knock it into it..: Don’t you care????🤨🤨🤨

NO

The thing is, that its not ONE THING, that makes these guitars so good. Its the HARDWARE, its the PAF's, its the HARNESS, POTS, CAPS, and even the BRAIDED WIRE. ITS EVERYTHING. Probably the wood has something to do with it too, but nobody I know of, has done any science of the woods in the real world. I was told that those old woods were water cured, but no idea if thats true or not. Why don't modern Gibsons come close? Because they are a corporation. What do corporations do? MAKE MONEY. The hardware, harness, fake "nitro," Indian Rosewood, budget slimmed neck tenon, poorly done humbuckers, its all low bidder quality and lack of caring about recreating history. But, its also that ALL THE MATERIALS FROM THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, have no exact modern matches. I'm not trying to sell you anything here, but I put over 20 years in the reverse-engineering of vintage PAF's, using real science methods and the help of a Senior Ferromagnetics alloys engineer, for the magnetic circuit parts, and laboratory analyses of vintage plain enamel from old PAF's, covering every year they were made. But its not even close to all the work I did, was along very complex difficult and heart breaking journey to unlock the truth about them, nothing was simple. We collectively covered the period from 1937-1977 of every model pickup Gibson made. But PAF sound isn't from steel, or magnets or butryate or wire, its ALL of that. My expertise is in PAF's, but I also turned to the hardware they used back then, especially the ABR1 bridges, which are a key element in that sound. Nobody else had done any of this before or after my work. 3 friends and myself successfully reproduced the ABR1's using the same reverse-engineering methods I learned in the PAF 20+ years project. Science WORKS. These guitars CAN be very closely duplicated, but there are only a couple guys actually doing it. So, words don't mean anything without real world results. Here is a set of real PAF's from 1959 that I had in my shop to repair the legs on both baseplates. One of them is a double white, there is nothing "magic" about double whites, they aren't any hotter or different sounding than the other years, though there were many changes PAF's went thru each year, so much that a '57 PAF and a '60, are quite different. Using the knowledge from all these years, I made a point of seeing if what I learned could duplicate this particular '59 set. Take a listen for yourself, only to show you that its not impossible to very very closely get the same sounds. A sole lunatic like myself can do what a huge corporation has consistently failed to do, because they are closed loop environments if. you get my drift. Enoy.... Dave Stephens Note: Before you watch this, I did not try to get a "good tone" with a highly distorting amplifier, distortion makes everything sound the same. This is a '73 Vibroluxe plugged into a Celestion Alnico Gold 12" speaker. You can't get more clean and sparkly than that. The reason is that I wanted people to hear the tiniest details of the 1959 PAF's and NOT some dark Marshall sound. This make the comparison as brutally honest as I could make it. No pedals, no effects.... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qJdni7Rku9CUYoU.html

No guitar is worth that much money. Absurd

Please, tune this low E string !!! :’(

Only worth what some wealthy person is prepared to pay ...just like art ...love LP's but prefer customs to std's ...how many owners actually get theirs out and play it ?? Obviously a good investment !

Answer: No

NO !

Ship it to me.

Sounds out of tune in the into

i dont think they are worth all that dosh its ridiculous how much sheeple pay for these guitars id rather buy a house for the money

Not even in tune. What a shame 😤