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Gibson Les Paul Custom® The Les Paul Custom, introduced in 1954, has been affectionately nicknamed the Black Beauty and the Fretless Wonder. By any name, it has always represented the highest level of elegance and beauty in the Les Paul family. Body Carved maple top, Mahogany back Neck/Profile Mahogany/'59 Rounded Les Paul Fingerboard/Inlay Ebony 22 frets/Pearl block Scale/Nut Width 24 3/4" - 1 11/16" Binding Multi-ply top, back and headstock, single-ply fingerboard Bridge/Tailpiece Tune-o-matic/Stop bar Hardware Gold Pickups 490R Alnico magnet humbucker 498T Alnico magnet humbucker Controls Two volume, two tone, three-way switch Gibson Les Paul Custom - Vintage specs Available: 1954 to present Collectibility Rating: 1954-1957: C, 1957-1960: C+, 1961-1963: C-. Even though the Les Paul Custom was the top-of-the-line Les Paul model, it has far less value today than it's cheaper cousin, the Les Paul Standard. Players feel the additional pickup, inlays, body binding, and gold plating makes the guitar "more show than go". 1954 Les Paul Custom introduction specs: Carved mahogany top, single cutaway, mahogany back and neck, one black P-90 pickup in bridge position, one Alnico V pickup in neck position, both pickups have black covers, Tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece (Bigsby vibrato optional), multiple bound top and back, single bound ebony fingerboard and peghead, block fingerboard inlays, pearl logo, 5-piece diamond peghead inlay, low "fretless wonder" frets, gold plated parts, black finish, early examples have no serial number. Later 1954 models have gold "inked on" serial numbers. mid 1957 Les Paul Custom specs: 3 Humbucking pickups replace 2 pickups. 1959 Les Paul Custom specs: Grover rotomatic tuners. 1961 Les Paul Custom specs: complete body style change to symmetrical pointed double cutaways, thin mahogany body with beveled edges, white finish (refered to as the "SG" body style). Les Paul Custom discontinued 1963 in name only (now called SG Custom). In 1968, single cutaway model resumes again with black finish, two Humbucking pickups. Still in production today in several different variations.