Gibson 57 Black Beauty Re-issue

Mine is a 1982, 3 pickup Black Beauty Custom. It's a guitar that according to the records wasn't made. In '82 Gibson offered a limited run Black Beauty, but it was a basically a Standard with Gold Hardware and 3 pickups. Mine is the real deal 3 pick-up Custom, Black with Gold Hardware, Ebony Fingerboard, Pearl Block Inlays, Gibson Tuners with Winders. Mine has a 3 Piece Maple neck and a 3 Piece Top. 6 ply binding on Front, Back and Headstock, and the ugly "chainsaw" case. But the case offers excellent protection, and already saved it once.

I've played and owned lots of Gibson Les Paul Standards, but never had a Custom. I always thought they were just dressed up, over priced Les Pauls, and I figured they would sound about the same. But I always like the look of the 3 pickup Black Beauty, so I took the plunge. I think this guitar sounds a lot different that your typical Standard. It's darker sounding, but not nasally. Very smooth, with excellent sustain. I can see why Santana used a Custom in his early days, that's kind of tone I get out of this guitar. Mine being an '82 Custom has what I believe to be Tim Shaw pickups in the neck and bridge postions, and what I think is a leftover T-Top in the middle. All the pickups are original, but the middle pickup is date stamped 1979, and the others are stamped for '82. Gibson wired these guitars up different ways over the years. Mine is wired so that when the toggle switch is in the middle, the bridge and middle pickups are on together, in-series, in-phase. It's not the most versatile arrangement, but by adjusting the pickup heights you can get some varried tones.

I bought this guitar used, and it's 25 years old, so I can't judge fit & finish, but I can say it is very well built, and it's very heavy I'm guessing about 12 lbs.

I'd have to rate this very high for durability, as I said it's an '82, that I bought in 2009. It's 100% original including the frets, and has zero issues. It plays nice and sounds good.

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Overall it's a very cool guitar. Gibson offers a lot of Les Paul Models that are sometimes hard to distinguish from eachother, the 3 pickup Black Beauty Custom is an Icon.

This guitar was made in 1990, and sports 3 humbucking pick-ups (i think one was put in afterwards, i bought it second hand so i'm not too sure). it has 2 volume and 2 tone controls. Black mahogany body and neck, with cream binding on the head, neck and body. It has no scratch plate, and has square mother of pearl inlays with the broken diamond signiture gibson logo on the head stock. It could be a Les Paul Custom shop as it has an engraved picture of Zack Wilde on the back.

I play in a classic rock band sounding a little like AC/DC mixed with Pearl Jam (random i know), but this guitar suits my sound perfectly. You can get a real les paul crunch out of the pick-ups and if you flick the selector to trebble you get that perfect, high-gain sound every lead guitarist wants to get.

I currently use it with a Line 6 Spider II 112, but for gigs I use a Carlsbro GLX150T head and cab, and the guitar suits the rig perfectly. (my friend has a marshall valvesate stack with an ibanez GRG170 and my rig out performs his with no problem)

You can radically change the sound of the guitar, getting some really rich deep tones for a kind of bluesy feel, right through to screaming lead guitar solos.

I recently had the nut replaced, and the action sorted out with a few frets being replaced and re-set and now this thing sings like a bird. It is the best feeling guitar i've ever played. I had to drop the pickups a little, but I bought it second hand for ??200 so i expected to have to do some work to it. But oh my god it sounds awsome now. The finish on it is bullet proof (bloody should be fopr the price of these things new). the serial number is engraved on the back of the headstock and it all checks out

Well the guitar was made in 1990, and still sounds amazing. However a few of the screws in the humbuckers have gone rusty, and the humbuckers them selves need a good clean, but i think the guy i bought it off has just left it in a cupboard for all it's life. It has a few chips here and there but again, i bought it second hand so can only be expected. The strap buttons were a little loose, but I took them out and dipped them in nail varnish and they have held nicely now. The white binding has faded, but it is left in a smoky room all the time so i think it is an effect of that, but i think the distressed look really suits it. I have used it at many gigs with no backup, the only problem for any guitar is a string snapping, but the wireing and the basic build of a guitar is, as i said before. Bullet Proof

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I've been playing now for nearly 3 years. My first guitar was a Yamaha Pacifica that i bought off a friend for ??40. I also have a Aria PA Elite, and an Epiphone SG G400 Custom 3 pickup. The SG and the Les Paul together have all the bases covered with no problem. The Les Paul is my main guitar, mainly because it sounds amazing and plays like a dream. Still needs some work doing to it, but once i get it finished, it will be absolutely awsome.

the only thing i miss on this (but so do most gibsons) is a bigsby. I think if it came with one, it would be a formidable force.

57 Black Beauty V.O.S., 2 pup - paf gold burstbuckers 1&2, 7-ply binding on body, binded frets, fat 50's neck, tulip tuners, bumblebee capacitors, gold Bigsby tremolo tailpiece, aged laquer finish w/ patina, rectangle pearl inlays, solid mahogany body, carved mahogany top.

After over 30 years of playing, this is, by far, the finest guitar I have ever owned or played. I'm not sure what is better - how it looks or how it sounds. Both are breath-taking.

I play mostly blues-based rock, rockabilly, blues and some heavier stuff. My other primary guitars are a reissue Gibson ES-335 and an American mahogany Stat. I play through two Fender Hotrod Deluxe 40 watts (usually in stereo) with VOX Tonelab LE as my primary effects box.
The burstbuckers create great vintage sound with lots of warmth and bite. Mixing both pickups in the middle toggle position gives me a range of brightness and crunch that is unmatched in fullness and color. This is the finest vintage sound I have ever gotten out of a guitar, and I have owned many over the decades. It sounds great clean and even better when saturating those groove tubes.

I tried the 3-pick up version, and would have went with it if it had more than the 3-position toggle - too limited for 3 pickups. (Although anything other than a 3-position toggle would defeat the very purpose of V.O.S. = exact duplication of original specs). Apparently the 3 pick-up version Gibson built exclusively for Jimmy Page has a 6-position toggle that may be available to the public in a limited future signature model (for an hefty price tag, I'm sure).

Gibson custom shop set-up was excellent - no adjustments necessary. Nice low action, no buzzing. Pickups were set at the optimal height.

The aged finish is truly remarkable. This guitar looks like a perfectly maintained, flawless 50-year-old guitar. Even the gold plating on the pick ups and Bigsby looks 50 years old, yet not marred. The tulip tuners look old and flawless also.

My gearhead buddies were absolutely floored when they saw this guitar.

Time will tell on durability issues, but I'm not too worried. I removed and stored away the original patina-covered strap buttons which were really small. I installed Schaller locks to protect this Black Beauty while wailing.

This is the ultimate guitar for vintage Les Paul freaks who can't afford an actual 57 original. The look, the feel and the sound are incomparable. When I'm not playing it, the Black Beauty is displayed prominently in my den as a work of art. Just knowing the history of the Black Beauty and being able to play on what appears to be an exact replica gives me a real rush.

I checked out several of the other V.O.S. models and I'd love to own them all if I could afford them, but this is the Black Beauty! Need I say more?

Black, VOS, 3 pickup HHH, Bigsby, Grovers, Burstbuckers 1&2, Ebony fretboard, binding, Non-weight relieved mahogany at 10.1 pounds, Bumblebees, CTS pots, Long tenon, pearl inlays with split diamond headstock, 2006, middle switch engages middle pickup and bridge out of phase.

The sound is sick, sick, sick. I have never heard better. It's the sound you have heard and always wish you could capture - sweet, solid, clear, tangible,heavenly, soulful, rich, full, powerful,tight, expansive, just perfect. I use a Vox AC30CC with no effects. Blues to Jazz to Classic Rock to Hard Rock to Classic Metal with ease.

The set-up was perfect - action so low that the guitar almost plays itself - no fret buzz, perfect intonation. Absolutely no flaws at all in any part of the guitar. The VOS treatment is excellent - it looks like a perfectly cared for vintage instrument - much better than the new ones which are a bit much with all the gold and black.

Solid. Will outlive me.

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I did not need another guitar but found a good deal on this. I have never owned a guitar or anything else this nice in my life. It is a piece of art. A Gibson Custom is miles above a Gibson USA - the care put into it is evident. I have two strats and a '61 re-issue SG - all great guitars but the Black Beauty is The King. Absolutely perfect guitar.

It was born, according to my paperwork, which was minimal, on the 15th may 2003 in Nashville USA.
it is officially known as Model LPC EBGH #366
It's of course THE BLACK BEAUTY....2 pup version.
It has all the standard specs.
It came with a good quality hard case with a black shroud.

A Blk Beauty, says it all.....
It's my 2nd Gibson Custom, I bought a sunburst in 1971, But I was not really aware of what I had in my hands in those days.
It can really rock, but I was at the time in what you would call a "Club Band"...other muso's were in awe when they saw it...I didn't really get it, back then
I have used too many amps and effects to mention over the years.
It's a Custom LP and it has it's own Sound and Place for an experienced muso.

Well set up from day 1.
It's Ebony ( Black ) so no figuring.
A masterpiece......
An Honour to own and play.

I haven't really owned this guitar for long enough to comment on reliability etc....I've only had it 21 months.
The gold on the Bridge is starting to fade from my hand/palm wear.
The finish is "delicate" or maybe it's just I'm in awe of owning a Black Beauty.
I replaced the Gold strap buttons for Matt Black locking ones immediately, just to be sure.
Dependable...so far so good.
I am nervous about security when giging with it.
I always have some back up.

Haven't had to use it yet

Im 58, been strumming since 1965.
I own a 79 USA Strat, tha I bought new.
and 12 other guitars.
I originally had a deep desire for a "Flametop" Standard LP, but when I tried the BB and Standard side by side, the Difference in Sound,Grunt,playability etc was astounding to me, so I bought the BB
If it were stolen......enjoy it for the brief moments of your life that you would have left until I find you.
These instruments take us beyond mere LOVE.
Comparisons; I've owned and played a 60's Ric, 60's Maton Firebird,60's Epiphone Casino, 60's Burns Split Sound,62 fender tele, 90's G&L Strat, levinson Blade strat, 69 Gibson Junior,
Numerous Clones etc etc.......The BB is to me "The Rolls Royce"

The very first thing I did when I got it home was to put on a Jeff Beck Classic track called "Cause we've ended as Lovers" from his 1975 Blow by Blow album.
I plugged the BB into my little Jap Mesia/Zoom practice amp and played along at about 5watts.
The sound form my new love was IDENTICAL in every nuance.

What more can I Say.........Pure Heaven

This is a Gibson Les Paul Custom, 1957 custom shop reissue (made is 2001) Black Beauty with 3 pickups. Those of you familiar with Les Pauls know that these guitars are no-nonsense, no bells and whistles workhorses. However, this particular model does have some features that distinguish it from typical les paul standards and customs. First, I am reviewing the three pickup model, which makes it much more versatile than the more familiar two pickup configuration. When the toggle switch is placed in the middle position the middle pickup is activated in combination with the bridge pickup. This pickup position gives the guitar a Very Unique, funky tone, making it one of the most versatile Les Pauls ever produced. The tones generated from the middle position resemble the "stratty" tones familiar to Fender Strats when placed in positions 2 and 4, yet the Les Paul retains its signiture fat, beefy, chunky tone. In short, if you are considering buying a 1957 Black Beauty reissue, I would definently give the three pickup model serious consideration. Another unique feature found on this guitar is the solid, one-piece mahogany body which, together with the ebony fingerboard, combine to create a very distinctive sound. Other features include gold hardware and yellow aged binding which look stunningly beautiful against the black finish.

This is my main guitar for all my gigs and studio work. I use this guitar for a vriety of styles including rock, blues, jazz and country. Because of the three pickup configuration, it suits virtually all styles. I used to carry a tele and a strat to my gigs, but I have abandoned this practice in favor of the simplicity of one, very versatile guitar. I play this guitar through a Mesa Boogie Mark IV, which is a match made in heaven. The guitar comes equipped with three Gibson '57 PAF reissue pickups (which include the "patent applied for" sticker on the underside of each pickup. How cool is that!). The bridge pickup is full and round, with rich harmonics, though not terribly hot. It distorts well and breaks up naturally. Unlike many humbuckers in the bridge position, it produces a great crunchy rythym sound. The bridge pickup is bright and a little too brittle for my taste, yet works nice for heavy distortion rythym work. The middle position is my favorite position. As mentioned above, this is the unique voice of this guitar. It works great for clean work, and when playing single lines in high gain settings, it is near tonal nirvana! I frequently play entire gigs seldom leaving the middle pickup position.

The guitar came from the factory with 9's on it. After replacing the strings with 10's to 46's, and getting a pro to set it up, it plays flawlessly. The action can be set incredibly low, hence its nick-name "fretless wonder." Contrary to some earlier reviews, to wood is high quality, including a very high quality ebony slab for the finger board. The gold hardware does not, however, hold its finish and will very quickly fade out. This does not present a concern however, as it only adds to its vintage vibe.

The gold hardware and black finish is not very durable. Otherwise, it is a Les Paul, built very well, designed to be a workhorse. One caution however, for all vintage and reissue Les Paul owners. Replace the strap buttons with strap-lock buttons tomorrow! I learned this the hard way after busting off the headstock on a 1959 reissue standard which slipped off its btton during a gig and snapped.

Great customer support, yet still face the limitations of working with a large world-wide corporation.

I have been playing professionally for 24 years. I have owned multiple Les Pauls, PRSs Fender Strats, Teles etc. I bought this guitar two years ago and intentionally did not submit a review until now because I wanted to "live" with the guitar for a while. All to often, reviews on this site are so hoplessly skewed because the reviewers purchased the guitar a few days beore submitting the review and are still honeymooning with the guitar and the review seems more about justifying to themselves the purchase price. One wonders how many of those reviews which say "best guitar I've ever played" are still with that guitar a year or two later. Because we guitar players are nortoriously fickle, objectivity is frequently lacking. This being said, I can honestly say this guitar is one of the most beautiful, versatile guitars I have owned. If you are in the market for a high end, custom shop Gibson reisue, and are looking at the Gold Tops, Historic Sunbursts etc, you owe it to yourself to check out one of these Black Beauties. In 1957 it was and still is Gibson's flagship model. It represents the luxury line of Les Pauls. With its three pickup configuration, solid one peice mahogany body, ebony board, gold hardware, aged yellow double binding, classic vintage tone, and great looks, it is truly a stunning work of heart. Best of all, it is the best sounding Les Paul I have ever played, and I have owned Gold Tops, historic reissue standards, modern customs and standards. Would love to hear from you if you own or have played one of these beauties.

This is a 2001 57 Black Beauty Les Paul Custom reissue with 2 pickups. i believe it was made in the custom shop. Carved top with 2 volume and 2 tone controls. It has a 3-way selector switch. Came with classic PAF humbuckers. (Although I recently threw in some EMGs on them, thus ruining the classic tone of a Les Paul. However, in my opinion it sure sounds a heck of a lot better to me. You get sort of a hybrid of a vintage and modern tone.) It is all mahogany and has a thin black finish. The fretwood is ebony and it has some really, really flat frets. Grover tuners and gold harware finish the guitar real nicely. Came with a vintage cable and a truss rod adjuster that doesn't fit the nut on the truss rod.

This is a rock and blues guitar. You can't or rather you shouldn't play clean. It's got to be dirty to get the full effect of experiencing a Les Paul. This can make a bad amp sound good. The tone is rich and full. Not really bright and punchy, like a lot of modern rock guitars. It is extremely warm and round with nice sustain. What do you expect from a guitar that is so heavy? Also it can get uncomfortable to play after an hour or so, sitting or standing.

The guitar was set up nicely but, as usual with a lot of Gibson products, the finish and craftmanship was a bit messy. The wood quality is suspect, especially the ebony fingerboard. The binding isn't smooth. You can actually feel a separation between the binding and the neck. Also the wiring was soldered real messy. Comparing this to the craftmanship of my Hamer is a joke. The Hamer is absolutely flawless.

Everything is built like a tank except for the neck and headstock. Looks like it would snap like a twig. The finish will definitely wear off quickly. It was appiled real thin to help the tone. It can with tiny strap buttons that will have to changed if playing live. No one should gig without a backup.

They return e-mails real quick. Other than that I have had no experience with them.

I haven't been playing long. As a matter of fact it's just a hobby. However, I can tell that it is a bit overpriced. I understand that it is a classic shape and has a great classic tone, but there are so many luthiers out there that can make a more beautiful great sounding guitar with excellent craftmanship by spending almost the same amount of money.

Made in 2000 in the USA. 22frets. All solid mahagony. three humbuckers. beautiful.

suits all musical styles, but especially rock. I usa a peavey 410 with it and it sounds amazing. rich/full sound. Guitar can make any sound-very versitile. I love everything about it.

Guitar was setup perfectly at the factory. pickups are perfectly setup. Everything beautifull bookmatched. No flaws at all- just perfection.

This guitar was made for live or studio. It is the most reliable guitar that I own. The hardware will definitely last. I would definitely use it on a gig without a backup.

Gibson will bend over backwards for you. Never had to have it repaired because it is a reliable guitar. The warrenty is good for the life of the origional owner.

I have been playing for 5 years. I also own a Fender '62 reissue, Taylor DDSM LTD Desert Rose, and a Larrivee om-02. This I have also owned several other guitars and the Black Beauty is here to stay, no getting rid of it. It is too amazing. If it were stolen I would have to buy another one, but I do not know if another one could compare to the one that I have not. Everyone that I know at the music stores around here that have heard the sound and seen the action on it say that it is truly the perfect guitar.

i have a '72 54 reissue of the black-beauty. i bought i off of a Cocaine addict for $516.14 CANAIDIAN. This guitar is great its got two humbuckers, 3-way selector, 4 2 volume knobs and two tone knobs.

This Guitar is not the most versitile but it does sound great when you put it to what its supposed to do (ROCK). I used to run it through a Roland Cube with reverb and overdrive. Lately i just bought a Mesa Nomad 45 and it sounds phenomanal. i recomend this to anyone who can find one.

I never bought it from the factory so i couldnt tell you.

I have played this live on numerous occasions without a backup and the worst that has happened is the string broke. so i just got my son off his ass and got him to do it lol. but after 30 years its holdin up strong so i give it a 9 just for the string always breaking.

the only time i dealt with them is when i wanted to know exactly what it was and how much it was worth. The guys at Gibson were very friendly and i got my info in 3 days.

i have bin playin since i was eight im now 48. i would like to say besides it not being versitile it is a very well built, comfortable guitar. and i recommend it to anyone that can afford one.

Black 91 black beauty 57 reissue fore father of the historical series.All mahogany body ,57 classic paf's,big beefy neck although not as big as recent reissues.only major difference I can spot is the Nashville tuneamatic on studs witch I have replaced with an old ABR.

sounds like God.Huge round overdrives my amps just the way an old humbucker guitar should .Its very!!! dark due no doubt to the lack of a maple cap but thats alright by me its agreat tonal flavour sounds very cello like when played through my 64 super

bought it used and it was well broken in

had it for 4 yrs now its still my baby

I love this guitar.It does what It does like no other