Gibson

It is no secret that the Gibson Les Paul is one of the most popular and influential instruments to ever be put into production. It’s known for a fat and cutting tone that can be found on countless classic and modern recordings, as well as a great deal of sustain that a mahogany body and set neck are often associated with. It can be played clean in a jazz style, and in the same instant be turned up and transformed into an unruly beast.

This Gibson R7 is modeled after the illustrious “Black Beauty” of 1957-- a guitar that, with a visceral authority, that has commanded the attention of listeners for over 50 years. This guitar is not to be wielded lightly, as it exudes class and tone for days. The jet black finish, coupled with elegant gold hardware, makes this instrument look as good as it sounds.

Armed with ’57 classics, this Les Paul perfectly captures the wide range of sounds that are desirable to a player. You’re able to dial back the volume pots for a serene clean tone, while in the same breath push the volume to its limit and peel paint off the walls with a screaming lead. Especially when paired with an expressive amplifier, the player quickly unlocks a brand new palette of inspiration.

The distinct feel of a Gibson Les Paul is typically a topic of note when discussing the model. In regards to this R7, one word comes to mind – muscle. Weighing in at 9.18 lbs, this guitar is quite stout. However, the late 50’s neck profile (widely considered Gibson’s most comfortable) of this guitar makes it incredibly comfortable to grip and fret chords. Just like sitting down in the driver seat of an old muscle car, this guitar instills a certain blend of confidence, excitement and pure adrenaline in its player. Much like gripping the steering wheel of said car, one can feel the power of this guitar before ever striking a note.

In every aspect of the review, this guitar did NOT disappoint. It bleeds class, muscle, elegance and ferocity all in one. In typical Gibson fashion, this Les Paul defies any preconceived ideas by excelling in just about any kind of situation you put it in.

Condition

In light of its age, and the fact that it was routinely used, this 2005 R7 understandably has some wear to report. Sadly, like many a Gibson before and like many to follow, this Black Beauty had sustained a headstock injury and thus was sporting a “Gibson smile” upon its arrival here.  While not completely severed, the headstock was cracked enough to warrant a structural reinforcement.  This repair entailed routing two channels (one on each side of the truss rod) that extend from roughly the A and B string tuners respectively to approximately the 4^th fret.  These channels are then filled with mahogany splines, and those splines are then sanded to match the contour of the neck.  In this instance, to further stabilize this area and to ensure a more cohesive appearance, an a mahogany overlay was also laminated over the splines before the affected area is re-finished. All in all, this repair is pleasingly consistent with the overall aesthetic of the guitar, and one would be challenged to detect any evidence of the damage or the associated repairs--though, under close inspection under the right light, a faint line from the overlay joint above the E tuners can be seen. Most importantly, the result is a marriage of neck and headstock that is actually far stronger than it was prior to the repair!

Other than the headstock repair, the most significant wear is clearly the result of an impact on the treble side of the lower bout, where there is some notable finish cracking around the input jack that extends to a section of the back—fortunately, the finish is intact and stable in this area.  Meanwhile, there are some deeper scratches on the treble side horn; the back of the instrument is has some buckle rash, but nothing particularly deep or extensive; and, otherwise, there are a number of various dings and dents on the body including some dents that are roughly the size of a ballpoint pen tip. The gold hardware does have a worn-in patina, but the plating is in very good condition overall with plenty of gold luster and no major oxidation or blistering to report. Battle scars aside, having been thoroughly prepped by our repair staff, this R7 is in exceptional playing condition and it is ready to rock once more!  GOOD+ Condition.  

• Les Paul Body Shape
• Solid Mahogany body
• Carved Mahogany Top
• Crème Binding
• Gloss Black Nitrocellulose Body Finish
• 6-ply Top Purfling
• Mahogany Neck
• Ebony Fingerboard
• Mother of Pearl Block Fingerboard Inlays
• Mother of Pearl Split Diamond Headstock Inlay
• Deep “C” Neck Carve
• Gloss Black Neck Finish
• ’57 Classic Pickups with Gold Covers
• Gold ABR-1 Tune-o-matic Bridge and Stop Tailpiece
• Gold Grover Rotomatic Tuning Machines
• Black Pickguard
• Black Bell Knobs
• 24.75” Scale Length
• 1 11/16” Nut Width
• Original Hard Case