The 1960 Les Paul “The Babe” is Gibson Custom’s Collector’s Choice #3, a remake of an early ’60s transitional Les Paul equipped with Bigsby vibrato.
The 52 year old well preserved instrument labeled as “The Babe”, was owned by four owners and currently belongs to blues icon Joe Bonamassa.
This very limited remake will be based off the said 1960 Les Paul 0-0137 otherwise known as The Babe. The original owner of this guitar recalls that he purchased this Les Paul from the proceeds of a bumper season’s grain haul, it was a decision that left him unable to buy an engagement ring. Upon ordering the guitar, he was asked whether he preferred a “redder” or “more orange” sunburst finish, and opted for the former – which resulted in what is described as a “Cherry Tea Burst” finish.
The Gibson Custom 1960 Les Paul The Babe gets the same finish on a special two-piece plain maple top. They are carved from hand selected woods that closely resemble the grain pattern of the original. The body is then hand-aged to mimic the gently aged patina of Bonamassa’s guitar. The back, body and neck is made of one-piece mahogany finished in dark Analine red dye, while the top and the rosewood fingerboard are bound in vintage-accurate plastics.
Just like the original, the guitar features a heftier neck profile, with the one-piece quarter-sawn neck measuring .920″ deep at the first fret and 1.01″ at the 12th. The original PAF pickups were also copied in detail, producing an Alnico III magnet pickup with the same number of turns and correct coil wire.
Other vintage features include acrylic trapezoid inlays, Vintage Reissue fret wires, tortoise side dots, aged hardware, single-band green tuner keys, gold “Top Hat” knobs without silver inserts, and reproduction “Bumble Bee” tone caps. The guitar aims to provide a fortunate few players and collectors with an exact recreation of “The Babe” as humanly possible.
The Gibson Custom Collector’s Choice #3 1960 Les Paul “The Babe” comes with a price tag of $9,409.
For more information and complete specifications, head over to Gibson.
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