electric · single-cut solidbody
Les Paul Special
| Maker | Gibson |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Type | electric · single-cut solidbody |
| Introduced | 1955 |
| Price | USD 1799.00 (2026-09) |
| Maker founded | 1894 |
| Status | current |
The Les Paul Special is the plainest Les Paul in current production: a slab mahogany body, a rosewood fingerboard and P-90 pickups, with no carved maple cap.
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Why it matters
It is the cheapest route into a new US-made Les Paul, trading the Standard's maple cap and humbuckers for a flat body and single coils. That combination gives a drier, more direct sound than a Standard, which is why the design has stayed in the catalogue. A double-cutaway version has also been sold through a single retailer at a higher price.
Note
Double-cutaway or single-cut, P-90 equipped, bare-bones Les Paul.
Specifications
- Scale length: 628.65 mm (24.75 in)
- Neck shape: 50s Vintage
Before you buy
- P-90s hum more than humbuckers, so try one through a loud amp
- Check whether a listing is the single-cut or double-cut version
- An all-mahogany body feels lighter than a Standard
Other opinions
One video is one opinion. These are the other videos for this entry, most-viewed first. The order is the view count, not a ranking of ours.
Peach Guitars · 2023-11 · 94,149 views
“Check it out here: Are you curious what gear we use to record our videos?”
Tones from a TV Yellow Les Paul Special, no talking.
N Stuff Music · 2020-10 · 83,987 views
“Here's the link: Check out Jim Graff Online: Return Of The Special: The Les Paul Special returns to the classic design that made it relevant, played and loved shaping sound across generations and genres of music.”
In-depth demo of a TV Yellow Gibson Les Paul Special.