Gibson moved to colourfast ‘tomato soup’ sunburst finishes in mid 1960, but Bursts from earlier that year are to all intents and purposes ’59s, as evidenced here by serial number 0-1500, with its partially faded finish and transitional neck profile.
One of three Les Paul Standards sold in Italy in 1960, this guitar was nicknamed ‘Giotto’ after the 14th-century Florentine Gothic/proto-Renaissance painter. Its first paintings with sound were made by a local musician who added a Hagström vibrato and broke its headstock.
During the 1980s, second owner Franco Tonini converted it back to a stoptail, covering the Hagström vibrato rout with an inlay featuring his initials. It certainly gives the guitar an unmistakable look and makes this Burst slightly more affordable than many – although at €174,300, we’re still firmly in high-end collector and rockstar territory.
Visit mattsguitar.shop for more on this distinctive and glorious-sounding Les Paul Standard. And read our interview with the shop owner, Matthieu Lucas.
