Gibson LP Special DC Figured Top CB

Gibson LP Special DC Figured Top CB review

The Gibson LP Special DC Figured Top CB makes a strong first impression. Its Cobra Burst finish and figured maple top give this Custom Shop Les Paul Special a striking appearance, and the reported fit and finish raise no obvious concerns. The central issue is more practical: during hands-on use, the guitar proved difficult to play while standing because the neck tended to drop under its own weight.

That balance problem matters more than a small comfort preference. The player who supplied the field report said they had to hold the neck while playing with a strap, since it otherwise moved toward the floor. For anyone who expects to play standing, that behavior could make the instrument unsuitable without a dependable solution. The same report found that relocating the strap attachment did not fix the problem, and advised against drilling the body to move it.

Construction and hardware

This is a double-cut Les Paul Special built in the United States. Its body and neck are mahogany, with a flamed maple top and a rosewood fingerboard. Gibson uses an all-hide-glue construction method, and the neck has a 1960s Slim Taper profile. The fingerboard carries 22 authentic medium-jumbo frets, while the scale length is 628 mm.

The guitar's hardware includes a black multi-ply pickguard, black Top Hat control knobs, Grover kidney tuning machines, and an ABR-1 bridge. There is no tremolo. The included case and certificate are useful additions, while a gig bag is not included. The listed sales unit is one guitar, and the item number is 459717. The model has been available since May 2019, with no limited-run designation in the supplied specifications.

Pickups and controls

Two Custombucker Alnico III pickups provide the HH configuration. The control section uses two 500 K CTS volume and tone potentiometers, with oil-in-paper capacitors. Those details identify the electronics clearly, but the available field feedback does not describe the guitar's sound, output, or response through an amplifier. A tonal verdict would therefore go beyond the evidence here.

The pickup and control layout is conventional for a two-humbucker electric guitar, and the specification sheet gives players useful information when comparing the instrument with other Les Paul models. It does not, however, resolve the main concern raised in use. A guitar can have appealing materials and carefully specified components yet still be hard to manage if its balance is poorly suited to a strap.

Standing playability is the key concern

The reviewer's objection focuses on the relationship between the light body and the neck. With a strap around the neck, the instrument reportedly becomes neck-heavy, requiring the player to keep a hand on the neck to prevent it from falling. That can interfere with playing, especially when a passage calls for the fretting hand to move freely or briefly leave the neck.

Strap-button placement may contribute. On this guitar, the reported position is at the back of the body rather than at the tip of the upper cutaway, where the reviewer had seen it on other Les Paul Special and Junior guitars. A test using tape to simulate a relocated strap attachment did not solve the imbalance. That result does not establish how every player or strap will experience the guitar, but it is a clear warning for buyers who rely on standing play.

The concern is not cosmetic, and it should not be dismissed as a minor setup issue. The field report describes the guitar as effectively unplayable while standing for that player. Moving a strap button would require drilling, and the reported test suggests the change may not help. Anyone considering that modification should first assess the balance in person and weigh the risk of altering the body.

Verdict

The Gibson LP Special DC Figured Top CB has a compelling visual presentation, a figured maple top, mahogany construction, and a detailed Custom Shop specification. It includes a case and certificate, and the reported workmanship was not a source of complaint. At a listed price of 4285, however, the balance issue deserves serious attention before purchase.

Players who mainly sit may find the neck-heavy behavior less disruptive, though the field report does not establish how it feels in that position. Players who perform standing should try the guitar with a strap and test whether the neck stays where they place it. Based on the available hands-on feedback, this model is difficult to recommend sight unseen for regular standing use. Its appearance and construction make a persuasive case, but they cannot compensate for a balance problem that affects basic playability.