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The Les Paul
Special was introduced in 1955 as an intermediate model between the regular Les Paul guitar and the lower-priced Junior and TV instruments. Like the latter, the Special underwent two successive body redesigns in 1958 and 1961 while the Les Paul affiliation was discontinued in late 1959.
446:
When the Les Pae back in the 1970s, the
Special ed more popular than the Junior. In fact, the Junior was nowhere to be seen until 1987, while the Special reappeared as early as 1972 in a single-cutaway version, one of which became the main axe of reggae legend Bob Marley. The double-cutaway version
719:
The success of the reintroduced Les Paul series ... One of the first of these limited editions appeared in 1970, and was the original Black Beauty Les Paul Custom. ... Other limited edition Les Paul models have been the single cutaway Les Paul
Special design of 1955 offered in 1974 as a limited
526:
795:
Les Paul
Special Double Cutaway (1976, 1978-85, 1993-94): Double cutaway, tune-o-matic bridge (wraparound 1993-94), selector switch on treble side near bridge, chrome-plated hardware (nickel-plated 1993-94) metal tuner buttons,
827:
The model was then renamed SG Special without any apparent changes in the specification other than the removal of Les Paul marking. Overall four variants of the
Special can be distinguished between 1955 and 1965.
534:
196:
guitar. It was introduced in 1955. It is designed to be an intermediate level instrument, at a price point and trim level between the low-cost Les Paul Junior and the standard Les Paul.
245:
746:
The only other limited edition Les Paul not so far described, is the 1974 edition of the 1955 sunburst flat top Les Paul
Special, with the two black covered single coil pickups.
1086:
204:
Like most of Gibson's other budget models, the Les Paul
Special was produced in a TV Yellow finish, which was made by Gibson as a finish that would look good on
394:
223:. Les Paul's contract had expired by 1963, bringing a change to the submodels. When the contract was renewed in 1968, the original models were rebooted.
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Gibson
Electrics: The Classic Years: An Illustrated History of the Electric Guitars Produced by Gibson Up to the Mid-1960s
487:
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205:
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342:
160:
46:
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In 1961, the Les Paul received a drastic change when it was redesigned into what would become known as the
1693:
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936:
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series, and again in 1977 to the range as the "Les Paul '55", plus the
Sunburst Les Paul Standard in 1974.
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2019–present: Les Paul
Special (reissue with wrap tailpiece; vintage cherry and TV yellow finishes)
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became a separate model when it was reintroduced in '76 as the Les Paul Special Double Cutaway.
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Gibson Les Paul Faded Special TV Yellow (speed knobs were swapped for SG Top Hat knobs)
213:
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810:. Musical Instruments Series (revised ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. p.
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208:. In 1958, the model received a major change when it was introduced as a
140:
122:
269:
1989–1998: Les Paul Junior II (Les Paul Special Single Cutaway Reissue)
266:
1974/1977/(1978)–1981: Les Paul '55 (Special Single Cutaway Reissue)
571:"Les Paul Junior II/Les Paul Special Single Cutaway Reissue (LPJ2)"
1639:
889:
323:
780:
The Gibson Electric Guitar Book: Seventy Years of Classic Guitars
1597:
170:
1068:
893:
854:
The Electric Guitar Sourcebook: How to Find the Sounds You Like
804:
Duchossoir, A. R. (1998). "Les Paul Special & SG Special".
392:
358:
1959–1961: SG Special (Les Paul Special Double Cutaway)
333: The guitar on the photo features later aftermarket
1064:
364:
1993–1995: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway (2nd Reissue)
361:
1976–1989: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway (1st Reissue)
337:
tailpiece bridge, similar to so called "Pigtail" bridge.
297:
2003–2006: Les Paul Junior Special Faded With Humbucker
37:
Gibson Les Paul Special Singlecut in Spearmint (1998)
521:
519:
517:
515:
513:
415:
413:
411:
409:
407:
315:
2014: Les Paul Special AAA Flame Top Semi-Hollowbody
237:
The list of Special models manufactured since 1955.
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331:(renamed from "Les Paul Special Doublecut" in 1959)
176:
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128:
118:
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52:
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704:The History and Development of the American Guitar
294:2003–(2005): Les Paul Special Faded With Humbucker
597:
595:
291:2001–2002: Les Paul Junior Special With Humbucker
377:1994: Centennial Les Paul Special Double Cutaway
647:"Les Paul Special [FADED] - Humbuckers"
553:
551:
734:. Bold Strummer guitar series. Bold Strummer.
1080:
905:
757:Gibson guitars: 100 years of an American icon
577:, Blue Book Publications, Inc, archived from
533:, Blue Book Publications, Inc, archived from
8:
701:Achard, Ken (August 1996). "The Seventies".
501:
499:
497:
495:
479:
477:
461:
459:
457:
455:
352:1958–/1959 Les Paul Special (Double Cutaway)
309:2012–2013: Les Paul Junior Special Humbucker
260:1955–1958: Les Paul Special (Single Cutaway)
355:1959: Les Paul Special 3/4 (Double Cutaway)
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367:2015: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway 2015
263:1974: Les Paul '55 Special limited edition
31:
20:
383:2003–2008: Les Paul Faded Double Cutaway
303:2009–2011: Les Paul Junior Special Robot
244:
403:
312:2012–2013: Les Paul Junior Special P-90
300:2006–2008: Les Paul Special New Century
288:2001–2005: Les Paul Junior Special Plus
557:
505:
483:
465:
7:
1700:
760:(1st ed.). General Pub. Group.
603:"2003 Faded Series from Gibson USA"
575:Blue Book of Electric Guitar Values
531:Blue Book of Electric Guitar Values
155:Wraparound / Tune-o-matic (reissue)
707:. Bold Strummer (published 1996).
285:1999–2003: Les Paul Junior Special
14:
527:"GIBSON Les Paul: Special Series"
212:model instead of the traditional
1699:
1688:
1687:
878:
831:Les Paul Special (1955-1958) ...
783:. Music Series. Backbeat Books.
444:(June 2007). February 25, 2010.
306:2011: Les Paul Special Humbucker
380:1999–2002: Les Paul Junior Lite
282:1996–1999: Les Paul Special SL
1:
436:"The Gibson Les Paul Special"
182:TV yellow, white, cherry red
835:Les Paul Special (1959) ...
731:The Gibson Guitar from 1950
1749:
839:SG Special (1959-1961) ...
340:
252:
230:
206:black and white television
1728:Gibson Les Paul submodels
1683:
625:Les Paul Faded Double Cut
343:Gibson Les Paul Doublecut
181:
30:
1733:Gibson electric guitars
885:Gibson Les Paul Special
777:Carter, Walter (2007).
754:Carter, Walter (1994).
728:Bishop, Ian C. (1990).
190:Gibson Les Paul Special
25:Gibson Les Paul Special
621:Les Paul Special Faded
338:
250:
233:Gibson Les Paul Junior
192:is a variation of the
1018:Pearly Gates (guitar)
887:at Wikimedia Commons
851:Hunter, Dave (2006).
327:
248:
1234:Gibson Barney Kessel
843:SG Special (1961-...
672:"Les Paul Faded DC"
857:. Backbeat Books.
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883:Media related to
864:978-0-87930-886-5
790:978-0-87930-895-7
741:978-0-933224-46-9
714:978-0-933224-18-6
581:on April 10, 2016
560:, p. 196–197
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821:978-0-79359210-4
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685:on June 5, 2003.
681:. Archived from
679:
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660:on June 5, 2003.
656:. Archived from
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629:SG Special Faded
617:
616:on June 5, 2003.
612:. Archived from
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537:on April 8, 2016
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177:Colors available
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108:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
81:
74:
71:
68:
65:
61:
58:
57:
55:
51:
48:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
16:
1704:
1692:
1612:Subsidiaries
1526:Discontinued
1432:Discontinued
1227:Discontinued
1213:Melody Maker
1136:David Harvey
1049:Gibson GK-55
1012:(Neil Young)
961:
952:Melody Maker
877:
853:
840:
836:
832:
828:
825:
806:
794:
779:
756:
745:
730:
718:
703:
694:Bibliography
683:the original
678:(Gibson.com)
675:
666:
658:the original
653:(Gibson.com)
650:
641:
619:
614:the original
609:(Gibson.com)
606:
583:, retrieved
579:the original
574:
565:
539:, retrieved
535:the original
530:
445:
439:
430:
236:
218:
203:
189:
187:
83:Construction
75:2015–present
63:
43:Manufacturer
15:
1670:Slingerland
1624:Steinberger
1619:Mesa/Boogie
1588:F5 mandolin
1517:Thunderbird
1423:Hummingbird
1259:ES-Les Paul
1121:Ted McCarty
1103:Key figures
1034:ES-Les Paul
676:Gibson USA
651:Gibson USA
607:Gibson USA
558:Carter 1994
506:Carter 2007
484:Bishop 1990
466:Achard 1996
422:, pp.
167:Single-coil
1722:Categories
1126:Seth Lover
1116:Lloyd Loar
767:1881649393
486:, p.
468:, p.
398:References
372:variations
341:See also:
277:variations
253:See also:
231:See also:
96:Neck joint
64:SG Special
1650:Kalamazoo
1464:LG Series
1397:J Series
1364:Super 400
1334:Nighthawk
1244:Blueshawk
1173:ES Series
1112:(founder)
1009:Old Black
942:Doublecut
930:Submodels
618:"Fadeds:
585:March 28,
541:March 28,
221:Gibson SG
214:singlecut
210:doublecut
161:Pickup(s)
137:Fretboard
88:Body type
59:1955–1959
1694:Category
1660:Original
1645:Epiphone
1459:L Series
1444:B Series
1383:Acoustic
1339:The Paul
1324:Marauder
1249:Citation
1239:Byrdland
1208:Les Paul
1203:Flying V
1198:Firebird
1193:Explorer
1168:EDS-1275
1153:Electric
1131:Les Paul
1039:Les Paul
1027:See also
967:Standard
388:Timeline
200:Overview
147:Hardware
141:Rosewood
132:Mahogany
123:Mahogany
1706:Commons
1665:Orville
1568:Victory
1553:Grabber
1512:SG bass
1500:Current
1474:Style U
1391:Current
1329:Moderne
1289:ES-350T
1161:Current
1145:Guitars
962:Special
1675:Tobias
1655:Kramer
1633:Brands
1563:Ripper
1492:Basses
1401:J-160E
1359:Spirit
1294:Futura
1284:ES-345
1279:ES-330
1274:ES-295
1269:ES-225
1264:ES-150
1254:Corvus
1188:ES-355
1183:ES-335
1178:ES-175
1096:Gibson
988:Greeny
972:Studio
947:Junior
937:Custom
861:
818:
787:
764:
738:
711:
335:Badass
227:Models
152:Bridge
109:24.75"
53:Period
47:Gibson
1640:Dobro
1411:J-200
1369:335-S
1354:Sonex
1299:GK-55
957:Robot
114:Woods
105:Scale
91:Solid
1598:P-90
1548:EB-3
1543:EB-2
1538:EB-1
1533:EB-0
1418:Dove
1406:J-45
1319:L6-S
1003:Lucy
859:ISBN
841:", "
837:", "
833:", "
829:", "
816:ISBN
785:ISBN
762:ISBN
736:ISBN
709:ISBN
587:2016
543:2016
345:and
188:The
171:P-90
129:Neck
119:Body
1469:L-1
1314:L-5
1309:L-4
812:211
796:...
470:121
424:211
99:Set
1724::
1558:G3
1349:S1
1344:RD
1218:SG
824:.
814:.
793:.
744:.
717:.
674:.
649:.
631:/
627:/
623:/
605:.
594:^
573:,
550:^
529:,
512:^
494:^
476:^
454:^
438:.
406:^
216:.
169:,
165:2
1088:e
1081:t
1074:v
913:e
906:t
899:v
867:.
770:.
636:"
488:8
66:)
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