1955 Gibson Les Paul Special

The 1955 Les Paul Special — two P-90s in a slab mahogany body. Single cutaway, TV Yellow or Cherry Red. The working musician's Gibson.

Current Market Value

Excellent
$12,600$18,000
Very Good
$7,200$12,600
Good
$3,600$7,200
Fair
$1,800$3,600

* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology

Specifications

Body WoodMahogany (flat top, no maple cap)
Neck WoodMahogany
FingerboardBrazilian Rosewood
Scale Length24.750"
Frets22
Pickup ConfigHH
BridgeWrap-over combination bridge/tailpiece
TunersKluson Deluxe
Finish OptionsLimed Mahogany (TV Yellow)
Est. Production1,200

Pickups & Electronics

Two P-90 soap-bar pickups. The two-pickup Junior — more versatile than the single-P-90 Junior but still raw and direct.

What Changed in 1955

First year of the Special — two P-90s in the Junior's slab mahogany body. TV Yellow (Limed Mahogany) finish.

Collector's Notes

TV Yellow (Limed Mahogany) finish is the most collected. Verify original P-90 pickups and wrap-over bridge. Single-cutaway models (1955-1957) command premium over double-cutaway.