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.
