Gibson offering $59K for help finding a piece of Les Paul guitar history - Tennessean
After filing for bankruptcy nearly two years ago, prominent guitar brand Gibson plans a big comeback. Nashville Tennessean
You could help fill the blank pages — literally — to one of the most important periods in guitar making history.
Nashville-based Gibson guitars launched Tuesday a campaign to find missing shipment ledgers from 1959 and 1960, when the company crafted one of the most sought-after models in six string lore: The ‘59 Les Paul Standard.
The ledgers, which documented serial number, type of finish and original shipment, likely went missing when Gibson relocated from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Nashville in the early 1980s. Gibson offers a $59,000 reward for “zero questions asked” to anyone who safely returns the documents.
This period marks the peak of Gibson’s 13-year “Golden Era,” said Cesar Gueikian, chief merchant officer at the company. From 1958 to 1960, Gibson launched the Flying V and Explorer models, as well as the first semi-hollow body guitar, ES-335, and the Les Paul Standard sunburst finish.
What’s that mean to the music fan who isn’t a dedicated guitar nerd?
“These guitars from 1958 to 1960 became the most sought after and collectible guitars of all time,” Gueikian said.
The ‘59 Les Paul Standard, in particular, became a vital instrument for rock ‘n’ roll torchbearers riffing the soundtrack to a generation. Since entering the market more than six decades ago, a list of who’s who in guitar playing adopted the Standard. Among others, ‘59 players include Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, George Harrsion, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, Kirk Hammett and, most recently, Jason Isbell.
Gibson produced a total 643 Les Paul Standard guitars in 1959; certain designs from that year could be valued at $500,000, the company said.
Some, including blues player Joe Bonamassa and Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen, consider it the “holy grail” of guitars.
“They were hand-made by the great luthiers from Gibson,” Nielsen, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, told The Tennessean. “They were made so well. They weren’t the flavor of the day back in the day, but they were the highest-priced solid bodies out at that point.”
Nielsen owns five of the ‘59 Les Paul guitars and seven more that span 1958 to the early 1960s, part of his expansive 500-plus instrument collection. He most recently purchased a ‘59 from Rush frontman Geddy Lee in January.
And Nielsen said he’s traveled to Gibson headquarters in Nashville to see existing ledgers for his 1955 Les Paul model.
More: Iconic guitar brand Gibson vows to 'stay true' to historic roots after bankruptcy
“That stuff is just fabulous history to have,” he said. It tells all the music dealers it went to.”
The ledgers could subdue circulation of counterfeit guitars, as well. Despite crafting less than 650 Les Paul models in 1959, Gueikian said that owners of roughly 850 guitars from ‘59 claim authenticity.
“The information contained in the ledgers will be disappointing to those collectors who purchased counterfeits believing they were authentic 1959 bursts,” he said.
And the documents may contain information on a guitar more valuable than any Les Paul — the Gibson Moderne, a prototype considered “the great white whale” of vintage collectors.
“If ever found, we believe the Gibson Moderne would be the most valuable guitar in history,” Gueikian said.
Gibson also hopes to recover any “pre-1970 documents, blueprints, and unique Gibson historical assets,” a news release said. Those who believe to possess relevant documents can email 59Ledger@gibson.com with a written description, photograph of items and contact information. A “Gibson Historical Committee” will review submissions within 15 business days.
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2020-07-14 16:21:50Z
https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/07/14/gibson-1959-ledgers-les-paul-rick-nielsen-guitar-collections-music-history/5427539002/
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