Nashville, TN (July 6, 2010) -- Gibson Custom Shop has debuted a new series of guitars directly modeled after famous originals now in the hands of collectors. The Collector's Choice series launched with Collector's Choice #1, a 1959 Les Paul in British-born collector Melvyn Franks' collection. The original Les Paul that this Custom Shop replica is based on was what is considered by some to be the Holy Grail of Holy Grail Les Pauls. The original was owned by Gary Moore and used on recordings with Thin Lizzy, including “Still in Love with You” and “Waiting for an Alibi,” and afterward, as a solo artist. This Les Paul is also the "Peter Green Les Paul" that was rumored to be once owned by Peter Green and used on early Fleetwood Mac recordings, then later given or sold to Gary Moore by Peter.


Collector's Choice #1: Melvyn Franks Butterscotch VOS version

The original features a highly figured top and a beautiful, faded “unburst” finish, and the wiring and orientation of the neck pickup has been reversed to create a unique “out of phase” middle position tone. The Collector's Choice #1 guitars will be available in two options: Gary Moore Butterscotch Aged and Melvyn Franks Butterscotch VOS. Both versions feature period-correct details: rounded ’59 neck profile, Deep-Amber “Unburst” finish, “reverse-phase” BurstBucker humbuckers, bumble bee tone capacitors, nickel-plated Sperzel tuners, deep-set long neck tenon, correct body top binding in the cutaway, missing silver inserts on the top two “Top Hat” control knobs, and 17-degree back-angled headstock. The Aged version will be limited to 150, carry a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Gary Moore, and retail at $12,468. The VOS version will be limited to 300 and retail at $9,174.


Collector's Choice #1: Gary Moore Butterscotch Aged version

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Source: Gibson's website