1957 Les Paul Standard, Serial Number 7 3949

Few guitars command the reverence of a 1957 Les Paul Goldtop. Representing the final evolution of the Goldtop before transitioning to sunburst finishes in 1958, the 57 introduced the legendary Patent Applied For humbuckers and cemented the Les Pauls role in shaping modern electric guitar tone. With its striking finish, solid mahogany/maple construction, and unrivaled sonic clarity, the 57 Goldtop remains one of the most iconic and sought-after electric guitars ever built.

This Certified Vintage 1957 Les Paul Goldtop comes to us from the family of the guitars longtime owners and represents everything you could want from this legendary instrument. According to family lore, the grandfather purchased it decades ago from someone trying to raise money for a bus ticket to Miami. Despite spending much of its life in Florida, it remains remarkably clean and well preserved.

Stamped 2 on the back of the headstock, this guitar left the factory as a designated second, yet theres no obvious blemish or flaw to explain why. It is all original except for a vintage replacement Catalin switch tip and a Custom ABR-1 bridge (the original is included in the case).

An early example of the model, this Goldtop features brushed stainless steel covers paired with stainless-steel baseplates and bobbin mounting screws on its set of pre-sticker Patent Applied For pickupsso named because they predate the use of the now-famous decal. These early construction details would soon change, with the covers shifting to nickel-plated nickel-silver, the baseplates to nickel-silver, and the bobbin mounting screws to brass.The neck is substantial but not intimidating, and easy to get your hand around, with original frets in great shape that play cleanly. Light checking and mild playwear add just the right amount of character, and theres no significant greening of the gold finish.

Truly one of the great examples of this iconic model, this ’57 Goldtop comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, and new Limited Lifetime Warranty. The original chipboard case is no longer present, but an era-correct, 4-latch Lifton brown and pink Les Paul case accompanies the guitar.