Gibson Les Paul Special


The Gibson Les Paul Special is a variation of the Gibson Les Paul 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.

Overview

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 black and white television. In 1958, the model received a major change when it was introduced as a doublecut model instead of the traditional singlecut.
In 1961, the Les Paul received a drastic change when it was redesigned into what would become known as the Gibson SG. 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.

Models

The list of Special models manufactured since 1955.

Single Cutaway

  • 1955–1958: Les Paul Special
  • 1974: Les Paul '55 Special limited edition
  • 1974/1977/–1981: Les Paul '55
  • 1989–1998: Les Paul Junior II
  • 2019–present: Les Paul Special
;variations
  • 1996–1999: Les Paul Special SL
  • 1999–2003: Les Paul Junior Special
  • 2001–2005: Les Paul Junior Special Plus
  • 2001–2002: Les Paul Junior Special With Humbucker
  • 2003–: Les Paul Special Faded With Humbucker
  • 2003–2006: Les Paul Junior Special Faded With Humbucker
  • 2006–2008: Les Paul Special New Century
  • 2009–2011: Les Paul Junior Special Robot
  • 2011: Les Paul Special Humbucker
  • 2012–2013: Les Paul Junior Special Humbucker
  • 2012–2013: Les Paul Junior Special P-90
  • 2014: Les Paul Special AAA Flame Top Semi-Hollowbody

Double Cutaway

  • 1958–/1959 Les Paul Special
  • 1959: Les Paul Special 3/4
  • 1959-1961: SG Special
  • 1976–1989: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway
  • 1993–1995: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway
  • 2015: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway 2015
;variations
  • 1994: Centennial Les Paul Special Double Cutaway
  • 1999–2002: Les Paul Junior Lite
  • 2003–2008: Les Paul Faded Double Cutaway

Timeline


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ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1955
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Colors =
id:sc value:rgb legend:SingleCut_
id:scr value:red legend:SC_reissue
id:scj value:rgb legend:SC_LP Jr.
id:scjh value:pink legend:SC_LP Jr. hum
id:scv value:orange legend:SC_variation
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id:dcr value:blue legend:DC_reissue
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bar:LPJS text:"LP Jr. Special"
bar:LPJ+ text:"LP Jr. Special Plus"
bar:LPJSH text:"LP Special with Hum"
bar:LPSFH text:"LP Special Faded with Hum"
bar:LPJSFH text:"LP Jr. Special Faded with Hum"
bar:LPJSHM text:"LP Special New Century"
bar:RBLPJ text:"LP Jr. Special Robot"
bar:LPJSHO text:"LP Special Hum"
bar:LSH text:"LP Jr. Special Hum"
bar:LS90 text:"LP Jr. Special P-90"
bar:_ text:" "
bar:LPSDC text:"Les Paul Special "
bar:LPSDC34 text:"LP Special DC 3/4"
bar:LPSGS text:"SG Special
bar:LPSDCR1 text:"LP Special DC
bar:LPSDCR2 text:"LP Special DC
bar:LPSDC2015 text:"LP Special DC 2015
bar:CLPSDC text:"Centennial LP Special DC
bar:LPJL text:"LP Jr. Lite
bar:LPFD text:"LP Faded DC
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bar:LPSDC from:01/01/1959 till:31/12/1959 color:dc
bar:LPSDC34 from:01/01/1959 till:31/12/1959 color:dc
bar:LPSGS from:01/12/1959 till:31/12/1961 color:dc
bar:LPSDCR1 from:01/01/1976 till:31/12/1989 color:dcr
bar:LPSDCR2 from:01/01/1993 till:31/12/1995 color:dcr
bar:LPSDC2015 from:01/01/2015 till:31/12/2015 color:dcv
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at:01/01/2014 color:lightgray layer:back
at:31/12/2014 color:lightgray layer:back