1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom
The inaugural Les Paul Custom — the 'Black Beauty' — set a new standard for luxury electric guitar. Original 1954 Customs with the unique staple/P-90 pickup combination are extremely rare and historically significant.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Mahogany (body), Maple (carved top) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Ebony (bound) |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 22 |
| Pickup Config | HH |
| Bridge | ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic (early), stop tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe single-ring |
| Finish Options | Ebony Black (standard), Gold Top (rare) |
| Est. Production | 200 |
Pickups & Electronics
Alnico V 'staple' pickup (neck) and P-90 soap-bar (bridge) — unique two-pickup configuration for the first Custom.
What Changed in 1954
First year of the Les Paul Custom — the 'Black Beauty.' Featured an alnico V staple pickup at neck and P-90 at bridge, multiple binding layers, ebony fingerboard, and gold hardware. The most upscale Les Paul model.
Collector's Notes
The staple pickup is the defining feature of 1954 Customs — verify it has not been replaced with a humbucker. Only around 200 were produced, making originals extremely rare.