February 2002 Issue - Gibson Price List 1959: Les Paul Model - Custom, Standard Sunburst
By Larry Meiners
Who wouldn't want to go back to 1959 in a nuclear powered DeLorean motorcar with Michael J. Fox and buy a few Les Paul guitars? Sign me up I'm ready!
In 1959 Elvis Presley, rock 'n' roll and the Wham-O Hula Hoop were wildly popular. Gibson and Fender were manufacturing a full line-up of solid-body guitars and basses to fill the musical bill for all the players wanting to "be like" Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins and Chuck Berry.
Although the Fender Stratocaster is probably the most copied guitar design, the flametop Les Paul Standard guitars from 1958-1960 top the non-celebrity solid-body vintage guitar market for the highest demand and the highest sales prices.
1960 Les Paul 'Burst
Checking out Gibson's 1959 Price List, the Les Paul Custom guitar was priced at $395.00, plus $47.50 for a Faultless case. Next in line is the now famous Les Paul Sunburst Model at $265.00, plus $42.50 for the case. At the list price, these guitars cost the average working person around a month of wages in 1959. It is interesting to note that the figures for 2001 median wages work out about the same today for a new Les Paul guitar. Gibson's Les Paul Custom in 1959 was priced 50% more than the Standard Model and today sells for much less in the vintage marketplace. Even though the Custom is more rare, the Sunburst is more 'in demand'.
According to data supplied by the Federal Reserve regarding consumer price indexing and the US dollar, the equivalent list price of that 1959 Les Paul Sunburst today is about $1900.00. In 1959 Gibson produced 7828 Les Paul guitars of all types, including the Custom, Standard, Special and Jr. models. Less than 10% that year were Standard Sunburst guitars and only about 3% were Custom Models. Original 1959 Les Paul guitars are rare and high priced.
Maybe it's your density to uncover one of these coveted wooden gems someday. Rock on McFly!
For more information regarding Gibson instrument shipments by year and model and to help determine which instruments are rare, buy the Gibson Shipment Totals 1937-1979 book available at JK Lutherie, call toll-free at 1-800-344-8880, or on the web at www.jklutherie.com.
2002 © Larry Meiners All Rights Reserved