Vintage Vibes | 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst"
See One of the Gibson Les Paul Standard Guitars That Started It All at Chicago Music Exchange!
Chicago Music Exchange is one of the only places in the world where gear lovers can have the opportunity to play any current Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab ’59 Les Paul Standard right alongside one of the original vintage models that inspired it!
Behold—the real deal: a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst"! “This 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard #9 0830 has been known to us for almost 20 years,” said Chicago Music Exchange CEO Andrew Yonke, “And it has been used on dozens of famous recordings under the stewardship of its previous three owners.”
Fender Highways Series Event Featuring Julia Rizik
Join us at Chicago Music Exchange on Thursday, November 30, for a special Fender event introducing the new Highway Series guitars and featuring Fender artist Julia Rizik in CME’s Lincoln Avenue showroom!
In addition to a demonstration of the new series, guests will receive Fender-branded swag. Guests will also be invited to record themselves playing a Highway Series guitar to enter an exclusive raffle!
A Bit About the Bursts
An evolution out of Gibson's first solid-body guitar models introduced in 1952, which featured a gold top and soapbar P-90 pickups, the Les Paul Standard got a new look in late 1958 when Gibson introduced a new model with a sunburst finish.
Boasting maple tops with sunburst finishes and solid Honduran mahogany bodies covered with aniline dye, Gibson's original Les Paul Standard Burst models came with a vibrant finish and deep red hue that, over time, would react to ultraviolet light and other environmental conditions to bleed, fade, and otherwise change.
“Bucking the Hum”
While the debut of the Les Paul Standard in 1958 marks the most significant visual change to the legendary model, the model had only just been granted its definitive sonic signature the year before (in 1957) with the introduction of the humbucker.
Designed to "buck the hum" of Gibson’s earlier P-90 single-coil electric guitar pickups—which Gibson installed on all Les Paul models before 1957—Seth Lover's "PAF" humbucking pickups ditched the noise altogether, boasting a full-bodied, high-output tone that is now generally agreed to be the essence of the Les Paul sound.
Historic Vintage Originals—Plus, New Reissues of Historic Instruments—@ CME
Replaced in 1961 by the body shape we now know as the SG, it wasn’t until about five years later that a few British blues guitarists gravitated to the famous single-cutaway Les Paul Standard burst models that the Gibson factory produced from 1958-1960, eventually putting the 1,700-or-so original burst Les Pauls among some of the highest-grossing vintage guitars on the planet!
By its reintroduction in 1968, the Gibson Les Paul Standard had already made its mark. From Jimmy Page to Mike Bloomfield, the Les Paul Standard Burst helped define the rock music genre and has become an invaluable part of our cultural history—plus, a centerpiece of our Gibson inventory selection here at Chicago Music Exchange!
CME House Amps: 1970's Park 2x12 50w Combo Video Demo
To try any of the Gibson Les Paul Standard models we have in store, including Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab editions modeled after original 1959 "Burst" models like the one you see here, call us, chat us online, or come into our Lincoln Avenue showroom today!
SHOP GIBSON GUITAR
Related Posts
CME on Tour | Powers Electric May 2025
Recently, CME Director of New Product, Dan Bordonaro, visited Powers Electric’s San Diego headquarters to select tonewoods for a new run of A-Type Select guitars! Working with Andy Powers himself, who is uniquely hands-on with the tonewoods and building process of every Powers Electric guitar, the two selected tonewoods and specifications for our next run of striking Powers Electric A-Type Selects!
Read more
Orangewood | Del Sol Baritone
Meet the Del Sol: Orangewood’s First Electric Guitar—Now at CME! Known for quality, affordable acoustics, Orangewood breaks into electric territory with the Del Sol Baritone, a bold collab with boutique builder Josh Forest of TreeTone Guitars. Featuring a chambered mahogany body, roasted maple neck, P-90 pickups, and a 27.5" scale length, the Orangewood Del Sol blends vintage tone with modern playability. A phase switch adds tonal versatility, while locking tuners and premium hardware make it stage-ready out of the box. Shop the Del Sol and the full Orangewood lineup today at Chicago Music Exchange!
Read more
Introducing | Strandberg Guitars
Explore the cutting edge of electric guitar design with Strandberg Guitars, now available at Chicago Music Exchange! Renowned for their headless construction, ultra-lightweight builds, and ergonomic EndurNeck profiles, Strandberg guitars deliver maximum comfort and precision for today’s most adventurous players. From 6, 7, and 8-string models to signature artist designs, these multi-scale instruments combine futuristic tone, innovative hardware, and sleek aesthetics—perfect for prog, metal, jazz, and beyond. Shop the full lineup of Strandberg guitars online or in-store and experience modern guitar mastery at CME.
Read more