Gibson Les Paul 59 Washed Ch VOS #2
The Gibson Les Paul 59 Washed Ch VOS #2 pairs detailed Custom Shop construction with vintage-style appointments and two Alnico III humbuckers. Its premium price makes the most sense for players specifically seeking this style of Les Paul.
★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 5 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
Gibson Les Paul 59 Washed Ch VOS #2 review
The Gibson Les Paul 59 Washed Ch VOS #2 is a U.S.-made Custom Shop guitar modeled on the 1959 Les Paul. Its listed specifications combine a solid mahogany body, a flamed maple top, a one-piece mahogany neck, and two Custombucker Alnico III humbucking pickups. Gibson describes the finish treatment as VOS, or Vintage Original Specifications. The product name identifies the color in abbreviated form, while the detailed specification lists it as Washed Cherry Sunburst.
This assessment is based only on the supplied product information. No customer reviews are available, so there is no basis for claims about playing feel, sound quality, build consistency, or long-term reliability. The specifications do, however, give a clear picture of the materials, electronics, and hardware included.
Body, top, and neck construction
The body is solid mahogany, topped with flamed maple attached using hide glue. The neck is a single piece of mahogany, and its listed profile is an authentic 1959 medium C shape. These are specific construction choices rather than broad descriptions of the guitar's sound or comfort. The one-piece neck and glued maple top will appeal to buyers seeking a build that follows the stated vintage-inspired design, but the supplied details do not include neck measurements or a weight figure.
The rosewood fingerboard is also attached with hide glue. It has aged cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays and 22 historic medium-jumbo frets. The scale length is 628 mm, which is approximately 24.7 inches. Gibson specifies an aniline-dyed back, adding another detail to the finish and materials package. There is no information here about fretboard radius, nut width, fret condition, or setup, so those points should be checked with the seller before purchase if they affect your choice.
Pickups and controls
The guitar uses two Custombucker Alnico III unpotted humbucking pickups. "Unpotted" describes the pickups' construction, while Alnico III identifies the magnet type. The listing also specifies CTS 500k potentiometers and oil-in-paper capacitors. Those component details make the electronics package relatively clear, but the available data does not state the control layout, switching options, pickup output, or wiring scheme. Buyers who need those particulars should request confirmation rather than assume a specific circuit.
The two-humbucker configuration is consistent with the product's listed pickup system. No tremolo is fitted. That keeps the hardware description straightforward, although it does not tell us how the bridge or tailpiece will affect tuning stability in use. The supplied details identify both components and materials, which is more useful than a generic hardware listing.
Bridge, tuners, and included items
Bridge hardware consists of a wire-free ABR-1 bridge and an aluminum stopbar. The tuners are vintage-style Kluson units with single rings. The plastic parts are specified as cellulose acetate butyrate, and the hardware has a nickel finish. Together, these components support the guitar's stated period-inspired specification. The listing does not provide adjustment range, tuning ratio, or detailed dimensions for the bridge and tuners.
A Lifton case and certificate are included. A gig bag is not included. For a guitar listed at 5,599, the hard case is a significant part of the package, but the source data does not state the price currency or provide details about the certificate's contents. The item number is 638680, and the product is listed as available since March 2026.
What the specifications establish
The strongest point of this listing is its level of construction detail. It identifies the wood species, hide-glued joints, neck profile, fret type, pickup model, electrical components, bridge, stopbar, tuners, and case. That gives prospective buyers useful information for comparing this model with other Custom Shop instruments.
There are still practical questions the specification sheet cannot answer. It does not give the guitar's weight, neck measurements, fretboard radius, setup condition, or measured pickup output. Nor does it establish how this individual instrument sounds or feels. There are no customer reviews available, and this review does not infer user feedback from the parts list.
Verdict
The Gibson Les Paul 59 Washed Ch VOS #2 is a detailed 1959-style Custom Shop specification, built around a solid mahogany body, a hide-glued flamed maple top, a one-piece mahogany neck, and a pair of unpotted Alnico III humbuckers. Vintage-style bridge and tuner hardware, a Lifton case, and a certificate complete the stated package. At the listed price of 5,599, buyers should verify the currency, instrument weight, setup, and any missing measurements with the seller. The published specifications are substantial, but they cannot substitute for an in-person inspection or verified feedback about this particular guitar.
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 hide-glued flamed maple top
- Two unpotted Alnico III Custombucker humbuckers with 500k CTS pots and paper-in-oil capacitors
- Includes a Lifton case and certificate
What bugged me
- The $5,599 price places it firmly in the high-end market
- No tremolo, and the humbucker configuration offers less of the bright, single-coil sound
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
A strong fit for players seeking a vintage-specification Les Paul, Custom Shop construction, and unpotted humbuckers. Also suited to collectors who value the included Lifton case and certificate.Look elsewhere if
Not a good match for buyers with a tight budget or those seeking a tremolo-equipped guitar. Players who need single-coil tones may prefer a different pickup configuration.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Color
- Sunburst
- 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
- 2020
- Model
- 1959
- Shape
- LP-Style
Up close
Watch and listen
Before you decide
Questions players ask
What pickups does this Les Paul have?
It has two unpotted Alnico III Custombucker humbuckers, with 500k CTS potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors.
What are the body and neck made of?
The body is solid mahogany with a hide-glued flamed maple top. The one-piece neck is mahogany, and the fingerboard is rosewood.
Does it include a case?
Yes. The package includes a Lifton case and a certificate. No gig bag is included.
Does this guitar have a tremolo?
No. It uses a no-wire ABR-1 bridge and an aluminum stopbar.
Is it suitable for a first guitar?
Its specifications are accessible to a range of players, but the $5,599 price and vintage-focused design make it a substantial first-guitar purchase.
The last word from the bench
This model offers a solid mahogany body, a hide-glued flamed maple top, a one-piece mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. Its unpotted Custombucker pickups, ABR-1 bridge, aluminum stopbar, and vintage-style tuners support a period-focused specification. The included Lifton case and certificate add useful package value, but the $5,599 price is a major commitment. With no customer reviews available, buyers should assess it from the specifications and their own playing needs.
Hanging next to it
Gibson Les Paul 59 Washed Ch VOS #2
Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.






