Electric guitars

Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1

The Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1 pairs detailed Custom Shop construction with a classic mahogany-and-maple setup and two Alnico II humbuckers. Its high price and conflicting color listings are worth resolving before purchase.

★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 5 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1 review

The Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1 is a U.S.-made Custom Shop guitar based on the 1959 Les Paul. Its listed specification combines a lightweight solid mahogany body, a selected maple top, a one-piece mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. The supplied details also identify a pair of Custombucker Zebra Alnico II humbuckers, an ABR-1 bridge, and an aluminum stopbar. This review is limited to those published specifications. No customer reviews or first-hand playing results were provided, so sound, comfort, setup, and build quality cannot be independently assessed here.

Construction and neck

The body is described as solid mahogany and lightweight, with a selected maple top attached using hide glue. The neck is one-piece mahogany, and the rosewood fingerboard is also specified as hide-glued. These details describe the materials and assembly, but the listing gives no body weight, neck measurements, or individual instrument weight. "Lightweight" is therefore a product description rather than a supplied figure that can be compared across guitars.

The neck profile is named Carmelita Fine Carved "C." That is a specific profile designation, but no depth measurements are provided, so players cannot use the listing alone to determine how it will fit their hand. The fingerboard has aged cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays, and the guitar is fitted with 22 Historic medium-jumbo frets. The scale is listed as 628 mm, the standard scale figure included in the product data.

Pickups and controls

The pickup layout is HH, meaning two humbuckers. Gibson specifies two unwaxed Custombucker Zebra pickups with Alnico II magnets. The listing does not provide resistance readings, output measurements, or a wiring diagram. It also does not state whether the controls include coil splitting or other switching options, so those functions should not be assumed.

The control components named are CTS 500k potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors. These parts identify the specified control hardware, but the available information does not describe the control circuit in detail or establish how the guitar sounds through a particular amplifier. Buyers interested in exact wiring or pickup readings should request that information for the individual instrument.

Bridge, tuners, and finish

The bridge is a no-wire ABR-1, paired with an aluminum stopbar. Kluson reissue tuners and nickel hardware complete the listed hardware specification. No tremolo is fitted. The data identifies a Custom Shop medallion and notes that a historically correct backplate is included in the case.

The finish information needs clarification. One part of the supplied product data lists the color as Trans Amber, while the detailed specification gives Mojave Fade and identifies the finish as Ultra Light Aged by the Murphy Lab. These color descriptions do not match, and the available details do not explain whether they refer to different versions or whether one entry is incorrect. Confirm the exact finish with the seller before ordering, ideally using photographs or the instrument's serial number.

Included items and listing details

An aged GWW case and certificate are specified as included. The general listing also confirms that a case is included and that a gig bag is not. The instrument is not identified as a limited run. It has been available since December 2023, and its item number is 570942. The listed sales unit is one piece. The price is given as 7599, but no currency is specified in the supplied information.

What the specifications establish

The published details present a traditional single-cut Les Paul format with a mahogany body and neck, a maple top, a rosewood fingerboard, and two humbuckers. They also identify period-referencing hardware and construction details, including the ABR-1 bridge, aluminum stopbar, trapezoid inlays, and the historically correct backplate supplied in the case. Those facts offer a useful basis for comparing this model with other Custom Shop instruments.

They do not establish the guitar's actual weight, setup, fret condition, acoustic response, or tonal character. There is also no customer feedback available for this product. The finish-color discrepancy is the clearest point to resolve before purchase. For a buyer considering a high-priced Custom Shop guitar, confirming the exact color, included certificate, and condition of the specific instrument would help close the gaps left by the listing.

Verdict

The Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1 has a clearly detailed materials and hardware specification, including unwaxed Alnico II humbuckers and hide-glued top and fingerboard construction. The supplied information supports a technical overview, but not a playing-performance verdict. Verify whether the guitar is Trans Amber or Mojave Fade, and confirm the currency and instrument-specific details with the seller before making a decision.

Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1, front view
8.3/ 10 overall score
$7,599current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • Custom Shop construction with a solid mahogany body and selected maple top
  • Two unwaxed Alnico II Custombucker humbuckers with CTS 500k pots and paper-in-oil capacitors
  • Includes an aged GWW case and certificate

What bugged me

  • The listed price is high
  • The color is inconsistent across the specifications: Trans Amber and Mojave Fade are both listed

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

A good fit for players seeking a Custom Shop Les Paul with traditional humbuckers and premium materials. Also suited to collectors who value aged details, a certificate, and an included case.

Look elsewhere if

Not a strong fit for buyers seeking a low-cost guitar or a tremolo-equipped design. Those who need a specific finish should confirm the color discrepancy before purchasing.
RockBluesJazz

Suggested level: Intermediate

Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1, $7,599Check today's price →

Specifications

Color
Trans Amber
Body
Mahogany
Top
Maple
Neck
Mahogany
Fretboard
Rosewood
Frets
22
Scale
628 mm
Pickups
HH
Tremolo
None
Including case
Yes
Incl. gigbag
No
Limited run
None
Model
1959 Les Paul
Shape
Single Cut

Up close

Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1, detail 2Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1, detail 3Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1, detail 4Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1, detail 5

Watch and listen

Watch the video demo on YouTube →

Before you decide

Questions players ask

What are the listed finish and color?

The specifications list both Trans Amber and Mojave Fade. Confirm which finish applies to the item being sold.

What pickups does this guitar have?

It has two unwaxed Custombucker Zebra humbuckers with Alnico II magnets.

Does it come with a case?

Yes. The listing includes an aged GWW case and a certificate; it says no gig bag is included.

Does this model have a tremolo?

No. The specifications state that it has no tremolo, and list an ABR-1 bridge with an aluminum stopbar.

What should I check before buying?

Ask the seller to confirm the exact finish color, since the listing names both Trans Amber and Mojave Fade. The listed price is 7599.

The last word from the bench

This Custom Shop Les Paul has a one-piece mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, selected maple top, and Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged finish. Its two unwaxed Custombucker pickups and ABR-1 bridge point to a traditional, humbucker-based setup without a tremolo. The included aged case and certificate add useful purchase details, but the listed finish colors conflict. At this price, confirm the exact color and specification with the seller before ordering.

Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1, $7,599Check today's price →

Hanging next to it

Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT MF #1

Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.

See it at the retailer →
Guitar Gear Reviews Played on the bench before it gets a score