Les Paul Custom Black Beauty by Gibson and Epiphone

les paul custom black beauty

The ultimate black tie guitar, the '57 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty

With the introduction in '54 of the Les Paul Custom, a luxury version of the Les Paul Standard, was born. Available in black, and with low, smooth frets, it was called "the fretless wonder" or "Black Beauty", the perfect "tuxedo" guitar. At first build by Gibson, and much later for a larger public by Epiphone, Gibson's budget brand. The Black Beauty is one of those guitars with a lot of history and a whole lot of "grandeur". Welcome in the nightclub!

What makes the Les Paul Custom Black Beauty as unique as it is?

les paul custom black beauty 3 humbuckers

The reason that the Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, and the Epiphone Black Beauty, are different from lot's of other Les Pauls is obviously not the Les Paul model or the black color. The fact that the guitar has 3 golden humbuckers, makes it unique. Even without a closer look, the 3 humbuckers on the Black Beauty catches the eye, as clearly can be seen on the images.

These (PAF) humbuckers, with different number of windings for a unique sound, were introduced in '57, and they put their stamp on the Black Beauty. The earlier Gibson Les Paul Customs, from the introduction in '54, have 2 Alnico-V humbuckers. Widely known though, are the Black Beauties with the 3 golden humbuckers. Epiphone uses for their Black Beauty the much beloved Alnico Classic humbuckers.

les paul custom black beauty

These features make this guitar probably a bit to controversial for some real Les Paul fans. I suppose the looks don't hurt much, but just the fact that the Black Beauty has three instead of the usual two humbuckers is a little to much for Les Paul fanatics. However, from what I read on the forums, the Black Beauty owners speak in lyrious terms about their guitar. For them it is a real Les Paul with a classy extra. It's no wonder that the vintage Les Paul Custom Black Beauties are real collectors items, and for guitar players with a smaller wallet, Epiphone offers a great looking, and sounding, alternative.

50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty

For those who don't believe in "more is better", Gibson introduced the 50 th. Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Custom, equiped with 2 BurstBucker pick-ups, image below!  Either way, two or three humbuckers, both types are true Black Beauties.

50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Custom