
Description
Description
A love-letter to one of the coolest guitars of all time, with f-hole label hand-signed by Keith Richards and limited to just 100 examples globally
Is there a more iconic guitar player on Earth than Keith Richards? For more than six decades, the “Human Riff’ has been the heartbeat of The Rolling Stones, inspiring millions of fans and musicians the world over to get out of their seats and rock ’n’ roll. It’s impossible to imagine the popular music landscape without the monolithic presence of Keith Richards looming over it with impossible cool, godlike nonchalance, and, of course, impeccable taste in guitars. Ask any guitarist which instrument of Keith’s they desire the most, and we're willing to bet his black 1960 Gibson ES-355 is top of the list. Keith first used an ES-355 back in 1969, taking it out on the road and into the studio during the legendary recording sessions for Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. His black 1960 model has also been a staple of each and every planet-straddling Rolling Stones tour since 1997.
Gibson Custom now proudly introduces the Keith Richards 1960 ES-355 Collector’s Edition—a painstaking recreation of the ES-355™ that Keith made famous. Built by hand in the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, this isn’t just a tribute; it’s an exacting replica, crafted using advanced 3D scanning, period-correct materials and construction techniques, and Murphy Lab aging to mirror every detail of the original, including its distinctive tone.
This remarkable guitar features a multi-ply bound body made from three-ply maple/poplar/maple with red spruce bracing and a weight-relieved maple centerblock for enhanced sustain and reduced feedback. Its mahogany neck sports a Custom Keith Richards profile derived from 3D scans of the original, measuring approximately .801” at the first fret, 905” at the 12th, and 1.625” at the nut. The bound ebony fingerboard includes mother-of-pearl block inlays and Medium Wide fretwire, just like Keith's guitar. Hardware consists of a Bigsby® B7 vibrato tailpiece and Grover® Rotomatic® tuners with Milk Bottle buttons, while every metal part, plastic component, and the Ebony nitrocellulose finish has been aged by Murphy Lab artisans to replicate decades of wear. A pair of unpotted Custombucker pickups with Alnico 5 magnets, wired to CTS® 500k audio taper pots and paper-in-oil capacitors, delivers the unmistakable sound of the original.
Each guitar ships in a Gibson Protector series case with a certificate of authenticity and a strap. Only 100 of these instruments exist, each bearing Keith Richards’s signature on the f-hole label as part of this exclusive Collector’s Edition. This is your chance to own a piece of music history.
Specs
Specs
General
| Series: | Gibson Custom Shop Artist |
| Country of Manufacture: | Made in the USA |
| Serial Number: | KRSL069 |
| Product Color: | Ebony |
| Relic/Aging Level: | Murphy Lab Light Aged |
| Case Type: | Hardshell Case Included |
| Factory Setup: | E Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E) |
Body
| Body Shape: | ES-335 Semi-Hollow |
| Body Material: | 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Body Finish: | Murphy Lab Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Top Material: | 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Bracing Pattern: | Unique Chambered Center Block |
| Body Binding: | 7-Ply Top, 3-Ply Back |
Neck
| Neck Material: | Mahogany |
| Neck Finish: | Murphy Lab Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Neck Tint/Color: | Ebony |
| Neck Shape: | Custom Keith Richards Profile |
| Fingerboard Material: | Ebony |
| Headstock Veneer: | Holly |
| Nut Material: | Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.625" (41.275mm) |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 12" (304.8mm) |
| Scale Length: | 24.75" (628.65mm) |
| Number of Frets: | 22 Frets |
| Neck Joint: | Long Tenon Neck Joint |
| Fingerboard Inlay: | Mother of Pearl Blocks |
| Inlay Shape: | Blocks |
| Side Marker Inlay: | Tortoise Side Dots |
| Headstock Inlay/Decal: | Gibson Split Diamond Logo |
| Neck Binding: | Single-Ply Cream w/5-Ply Headstock |
Electronics
| Bridge Pickup: | Custombucker Alnico 5 Magnet |
| Neck Pickup: | Custombucker Alnico 5 Magnet |
| Controls and Switching: | 3-Ply Switchcraft; 2 Volume, 2 Tone |
| Electronics Notes: | CTS 500k Audio Taper Potentiometers and Paper-in-Oil Capacitors |
Hardware
| Hardware Color: | Aged Gold |
| Bridge: | ABR-1 |
| Tailpiece: | Aged Gold Bigsby B7 Vibrato |
| Tuning Machines: | Grover Rotomatic w/Milk Bottle Buttons |
| Saddle: | Metal |
| Truss Rod Cover: | 2-Ply Black Bell |
| Knobs: | True Historic Black Top Hat w/Dial Pointer |
| Switch Cap: | Amber |