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.
Gibson Les Paul Special
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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.
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wikidata · Q10855932 · wikipedia · Gibson Les Paul Special
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Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Gibson Les Paul Special • Manufacturer — Gibson • Period — * 1955–1959 • 1959–1961 (as SG Special) • 1972 /1974 /1976 • 1977 /1978 –2013 • 2015 –present • (for details, see #Timeline) * • Bodytype — Solid • Necktype — Set • Scale — 24.75" • Woodbody — Mahogany • Woodneck — Mahogany • Woodfingerboard — Rosewood • Bridge — Wraparound / Tune-o-matic (reissue) • Pickups — 2 Single-coil, P-90 • Colors — TV yellow, white, cherry red
Overview
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
Models
The list of Special models manufactured since 1955.
Single Cutaway
Single Cutaway
• Illustration — Gibson Les Paul Faded Special TV Yellow (speed knobs were swapped for SG Top Hat knobs) • 1955–1958: Les Paul Special (Single Cutaway) • 1974: Les Paul '55 Special limited edition • 1974 /1977 /(1978)–1981: Les Paul '55 (Special Single Cutaway Reissue) • 1989–1998: Les Paul Junior II (Les Paul Special Single Cutaway Reissue) • 2019–present: Les Paul Special (reissue with wrap tailpiece; vintage cherry and TV yellow finishes) • 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–(2005): 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
Double Cutaway
• Illustration — 1960 SG Special (renamed from "Les Paul Special Doublecut" in 1959) The guitar on the photo features later aftermarket Badass tailpiece bridge, similar to so called "Pigtail" bridge. • 1958– /1959 Les Paul Special (Double Cutaway) • 1959: Les Paul Special 3/4 (Double Cutaway) • 1959–1961: SG Special (Les Paul Special Double Cutaway) • 1976 –1989: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway (1st Reissue) • 1993–1995: Les Paul Special Double Cutaway (2nd Reissue) • 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
Timeline
ImageSize = width:700 height:auto barincrement:15 PlotArea = left:200 bottom:140 top:0 right:5 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1955 till:31/12/2015 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1955 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1955 Legend = position:bottom columns:1 Colors = id:sc value:rgb(0.8,0,0) legend:SingleCut_(SC) id:scr value:red legend:SC_reissue id:scj value:rgb(1,0.5,1) legend:SC_LP Jr. id:scjh value:pink legend:SC_LP Jr. hum id:scv value:orange legend:SC_variation id:scvh value:lightorange legend:SC_hum id:dc value:darkblue legend:DoubleCut_(DC) id:dcr value:blue legend:DC_reissue id:dcj value:lightpurple legend:DC_LP Jr. id:_3 value:white legend: id:dcv value:rgb(0.5,0.9,1) legend:DC_variation id:_5 value:white legend: id:uncertain value:gray(0.8) legend:uncertain_period id:lightgray value:gray(0.95) BarData = bar:LPS text:"Les Paul Special (Single Cutaway)" bar:LP55LE text:"LP '55 Special Limited Edition (1974)" bar:LP55 text:"LP '55" bar:LPJII text:"LP Jr. II" bar:LPSL text:"LP Special SL" 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 (Double Cutaway)" bar:LPSDC34 text:"LP Special DC 3/4" bar:LPSGS text:"SG Special (1959–1961) bar:LPSDCR1 text:"LP Special DC (1st reissue) bar:LPSDCR2 text:"LP Special DC (2nd reissue) 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 PlotData= width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:LPS from:01/01/1955 till:31/12/1958 color:sc bar:LP55LE from:01/01/1974 till:31/12/1974 color:scr bar:LP55 from:01/01/1974 till:31/12/1976 color:uncertain bar:LP55 from:01/01/1977 till:31/12/1981 color:scr bar:LPJII from:01/01/1989 till:31/12/1998 color:scj bar:LPSL from:01/01/1996 till:31/12/1999 color:scv bar:LPJS from:01/01/1999 till:31/12/2003 color:scj bar:LPJ+ from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2005 color:scj bar:LPJSH from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2002 color:scvh bar:LPSFH from:01/01/2003 till:31/12/2005 color:scvh bar:LPJSFH from:01/01/2003 till:31/12/2006 color:scjh bar:LPJSHM from:01/01/2006 till:31/12/2008 color:scvh bar:RBLPJ from:01/01/2009 till:31/12/2011 color:scj bar:LPJSHO from:01/01/2011 till:31/12/2011 color:scvh bar:LSH from:01/01/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:scjh bar:LS90 from:01/01/2012 till:31/12/2013 color:scj bar:LPSDC from:01/10/1958 till:01/01/1959 color:uncertain 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 bar:CLPSDC from:01/01/1994 till:31/12/1994 color:dcv bar:LPJL from:01/01/1999 till:31/12/2002 color:dcj bar:LPFD from:01/01/2003 till:31/12/2008 color:dcv LineData = at:01/01/1955 color:black layer:back at:31/12/1961 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1972 color:lightgray layer:back at:01/01/1974 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1975 color:lightgray layer:back at:01/01/1976 color:lightgray layer:back at:01/01/2014 color:lightgray layer:back at:31/12/2014 color:lightgray layer:back
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1- Gibson Les PaulTerminology
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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