For those of you unfamiliar with the bewildering array of Les Paul iterations, the Collectors Choice is a series of guitars, built in limited numbers, that reproduce noteworthy Gibsons. These can be either artists owned guitars or simply superb examples. They are built to a high standard using traditional techniques with particular attention to materials to True Historic spec.

This is the 37th in the series dubbed Carmelita.

The custom shop took great care to ensure that all aspects of the guitar were copied, in particular the weight and the neck carve.

The guitar itself is in fantastic, near MINT condition having been very well cared for. The top is a stunning piece of book matched flamed maple. All the dinks and knocks are copied from the original. 

The neck is in great condition with no real wear which can also be said of the fretboard and frets. The headstock has been reliced to match the original.

Hardware has been aged and is in good condition as are the plastics.

Electrically everything looks correct and undisturbed.

The guitar comes with its Gibson Custom Shop hard-shell case and all the case candy plus documentation you see in the pics,

Its a joy to play with a sublime ‘59 profile neck and the Burstbucker pickups delivering a those wonderful PAF-like tones.

One of a run of 300, these Collectors choice guitars exude quality and attention to detail.. With looks and tone to die for, what more could you want?

A word from Gibson…

Introducing a True Historic Replica of one of the guitar collector world's most celebrated Les Pauls.

One look at "Carmelita" and it's easy to see why the most passionate admirers of original vintage Gibsons have followed her history from the contiguous United Sates to the Islands of Hawaii and back.

Even through multiple nickname changes, as each new owner chose to personalize their ownership, Carmelita, as she's referred to by her current, anonymous co-owners, is instantly recognizable for her wide, lush flame, near perfect cherry sunburst finish, and a trademark "Claw" (a pattern of three finger-wide flames in "the gut," as one current owner describes it) in her figured top.

Throughout her known history, she's been called "The Claw", the "Hawaii 'Burst" and "Carmelita".

By any name, original ser# 9 1953 is visually breath-taking and sonically 100% '59 Les Paul.

Gibson Custom was afforded access to Carmelita in order to craft a Collector's Choice run and worked in close collaboration with her two current owners to insure the final outcome allows a few fortunate players and collectors around the world to experience the beauty, playability and tone of the original.

Each is rendered to True Historic Specifications, Gibson Custom's intricately detailed replica-level parts and process spec that goes beyond visual and sonic details and into a deeper level of craft than any other reissue guitar ever offered.

These details include a double-carved top and neck profile, hand-sanding throughout (to retain original carve integrity); re-formulated butyrate knobs; multi-laminate plastics made from original formula materials, and a long list of features that bring this Collector's Choice Les Paul as close to an original as is humanly and currently possible.

Carmelita will be re-created in a limited run based on the very specific nature of the top flame and, as such, will be made in a final quantity determined by the availability of materials.

While the maximum run is set to 300, it remains highly unlikely that this number will be achieved.Known as - "Goldfinger" among collectors, Charles Daughtry's original 1957 Goldtop #7 3308 is as recognized for its tone as it is easily identifiable by its trademark finger wear around its cutaway.

Collector's Choicee #36 is the first Standard Historic Spec in the series for 2016 and is handcrafted based on digital analysis of the original as well as collaboration with its owner.

To pick up one of the Limited Run guitars and play it is to experience the tone, look and feel of #7 3308 just as Charles has since adding it to his collection.

You'll find CC#36 to be one of the most gorgeous sounding, excellent feeling and character-rich Les Pauls we've ever crafted.

Additional InfoTop Only (back binding), 1 (back pieces), Aged Reissue Lightweight Aluminum (tailpiece type), 2.26 cm /.900 (thickness fret 1), 2.54 cm / 1.0 (thickness fret 12), .040 True Historic Reissue Cream (fingerboard binding), Tortoise Shell (fingerboard side dots), 30.38 cm / 12 (fretboard radius), None (includes), 1959 Les Paul (neck shape), Hot Hide Glue (neck fit adhesive), 1 (neck pieces), Nylon (nut material), 5.6896 cm / 2.24 (neck end board width), 1959 True Historic Thin Head Veneer (peg head type), Figured Maple (top material), Single Bound, True Historic Reissue Cream (top binding), 2 (top pieces)

• Carmelita Burst Finish
• Historic "Vintage" Aniline Dye Back and Sides
• Flame Maple Top with Signature Broad Flame and Claw Pattern
• 1-Piece Genuine Mahogany Body
• 1-Piece Genuine Mahogany Neck
• Rosewood Fretboard
• 24-3/4" Scale Length
• .910" Neck Profile at Nut
• 1.000" Neck Profile at 12th Fret
• Tortoise Side Dots
• Trapezoid Inlays
• Burstbucker 3 Humbucker
• Vintage Single-Band Green Key Tuners
• ABR-1 Bridge with Stopbar Tailpiece
• Nickel Hardware