Page 121 - Guitar Classics Magazine - The Les Paul Bible 2019
P. 121
THE MONEY SHOT
ibson moved to colourfast ‘tomato
soup’ sunburst finishes in mid
1960, but Bursts from earlier that
G year are to all intents and purposes
’59s, as evidenced here by serial number
0-1500, with its partially faded finish and
transitional neck profile. One of three
Les Paul Standards sold in Italy in 1960,
this guitar was nicknamed ‘Giotto’ after
the 14th-century Florentine Gothic/
proto-Renaissance painter.
Its first paintings with sound were made
by a local musician who added a Hagström
vibrato and broke its headstock. During
the 1980s, second owner Franco Tonini
converted it back to a stoptail, covering
the Hagström vibrato rout with an inlay
featuring his initials. It certainly gives the
guitar an unmistakable look and makes this
Burst slightly more affordable than many –
although at €174,300, we’re still firmly in
high-end collector and rockstar territory.
Visit mattsguitar.shop for more on this distinctive
and glorious-sounding Les Paul Standard
THE LES PAUL BIBLE 121
