Learn More About the Guitars
Oxblood & Olive Drab Finishes
There’s something about a finish that feels like it should’ve always existed. Our CME Exclusive Oxblood and Olive Drab do exactly that—colors pulled from a different corner of the 20th century, reimagined on a 1960 classic. Oxblood leans deep and moody, rich without being flashy, like a well-worn leather chair in a dimly lit room. Olive Drab, on the other hand, carries a utilitarian cool—subtle, earthy, and quietly bold. Neither is traditional in the Les Paul lineage, but both feel instantly at home here. Paired with the stripped-down honesty of a double cut Special, these finishes don’t just dress the guitar—they define it. Familiar, but with a point of view.
Underwound Gibson Custom P-90 Pickups
The magic of a great P-90 isn’t just in what it says—it’s in how it says it. These Gibson Custom underwound soapbars take everything we love about vintage examples and ease them back just enough to let the guitar breathe. There’s clarity here, a kind of open-air quality that lets chords ring with definition and single notes carry weight without excess grit. Push them, and they still bite—but it’s a more articulate growl, less bark, more voice. Clean tones sparkle with a woody warmth; driven sounds stay dynamic and responsive. It’s the sound of a 1960 Special, not frozen in time, but tuned with intention—balanced, expressive, and alive under your hands.
Gibson Open Book Headstock
It’s a small detail, until it isn’t. The Gibson-style “Open Book” headstock carries a certain weight—visually, historically, and emotionally. It ties these Epiphone builds more closely to their Kalamazoo lineage, restoring a silhouette that feels complete the moment you see it. Beyond aesthetics, it’s about proportion, balance, and that unmistakable outline that’s been part of countless records. There’s a reason players notice it right away. It doesn’t change how the guitar sounds—but it changes how it feels to own, to hold, to play. Sometimes, getting the details right is everything.
60s Slim Taper Neck Shape
By 1960, the Les Paul Special had settled into something undeniably playable—and the neck had a lot to do with it. This Slim Taper carve feels fast without feeling slight, substantial without getting in your way. It’s the kind of neck that disappears when you need it to, whether you’re sliding through first-position chords or climbing higher up the board where the double cut really opens things up. There’s a naturalness to it—no adjustment period, no fight. Just a familiar, broken-in feel that invites longer sessions and looser playing. It’s a quiet evolution from earlier, chunkier profiles, but once you feel it, it’s hard to go back.
Inspired by Gibson Custom Lifton-Style Brown/Pink Hardshell Case
Before you even plug in, there’s the case—and this one sets the tone. Inspired by the classic Lifton designs of the late ’50s and early ’60s, the brown exterior and pink interior feel like a time capsule done right. It’s protective, of course, but it’s also part of the ritual: unlatching it, lifting the lid, seeing the guitar framed in that soft, unmistakable lining. It reminds you that these instruments come from somewhere—that they have a lineage worth honoring. It’s not just about getting your guitar from point A to point B. It’s about how it arrives when you open it up.