Image: A Gibson Man, CC BY-SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Gibson Les Paul Special
| Category | Strings (solid-body electric guitar) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | electric guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q10855932 |
Overview
The Gibson Les Paul Special is a no-frills version of the Les Paul, introduced in 1955. Instead of the carved maple top of the standard Les Paul, the Special has a flat mahogany body, and instead of humbucking pickups it uses two P-90 single-coils. The result is a lighter, brighter, more raucous instrument that has become a favourite of players seeking the Les Paul shape with a more direct tone.
Origin & History
Gibson released the Les Paul Special as part of a price-tiered Les Paul line that also included the cheaper Junior and the more decorated TV Yellow finish. It evolved through several body shapes, including a double-cutaway form by the late 1950s, before being repositioned within Gibson’s broader catalogue. Various reissues and signature variants have kept the model in production at different points since.
How It’s Played
The Special plays as a standard Gibson scale solid-body. The two P-90 pickups produce a bright, slightly gritty tone that responds strongly to playing dynamics and amp overdrive. The flat slab body keeps the weight down compared with full carved-top Les Pauls, and the simple control layout (two volumes, two tones, three-way switch) keeps the focus on tone rather than complex routing.
Cultural Significance
The Les Paul Special has been particularly important to punk, garage, and indie players, who value its raw P-90 character and stripped-down look. From early punk to alternative rock and beyond, the model has consistently appeared in the hands of guitarists seeking an edge that polished Les Paul Standards do not offer in the same way.
Related Instruments
- – the carved-top flagship
- – the simpler one-pickup sibling
- Gibson SG Junior – a related stripped-down SG variant
- Gibson ES-125 – another P-90 Gibson classic
- – a contrasting bright solid-body
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Special have humbuckers?
No. It uses P-90 single-coil pickups, which give it its characteristic bright, raunchy tone.
Is the Special lighter than a standard Les Paul?
Generally yes, because it uses a flat slab body instead of a carved maple-topped mahogany body.
Was the Special offered as a double cutaway?
Yes, by the late 1950s. Earlier production was single cutaway.
Image: photograph by A Gibson Man, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
