1954 Black Beauty

Les Paul wanted two colors used on the guitar that would forever bear his name: gold (for its connection to all things fine) and black (because a player's hands would be easily visible against a black background); Les got the gold in 1952, but had to wait for the black. The Les Paul Custom (also known as the Black Beauty and the Fretless Wonder) was introduced in 1954 and featured elegant appointments like gold hardware, multiple binding, and an ebony fretboard. The '54 Custom was also the first solidbody Gibson guitar to use the ABR-1 bridge.

Body: Top wood: Carved mahogany Back wood: Solid mahogany Binding: Multi-ply white/black on top and back Available left-handed: Yes Finish Colors: Ebony Neck: Neck construction: 1-piece mahogany Fingerboard wood: 22 fret ebony Inlays: Pearl block Binding: Single-ply white Profile: Rounded Scale length/Nut width: 24 3/4"; 1 11/16" Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046 Electronics & Hardware: Pickups: One P-90 single coil, one Alnico 5 single coil *Other: CTS pots and bumble bee caps Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch Hardware color: Gold Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR-1/Stopbar or optional Bigsby tremolo *Other: Thin, original-style toggleswitch washer and jackplate Tuner style: Kidney bean Collateral: Custom Shop case, Certificate of Authenticity, Custom Care Kit

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