1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard

Name: 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Brand: Gibson

Lightburst, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gibson sold it for $280 in 1959. Dealers couldn't move them. The Les Paul Standard with its carved flame maple top and new humbucker pickups was too heavy, too expensive, and too flashy for the market. Gibson discontinued the model in 1960 after producing only about 643 sunburst Standards. Then British blues musicians discovered what those PAF pickups could do, and the '59 Les Paul became the most valuable production guitar in history. Mark Knopfler's sold for $876,000 at Christie's in 2024.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard ("The Holy Grail")
Year	1959
Category	Musical Instruments - Electric Guitar
Manufacturer	Gibson Guitar Corporation
Original Retail	~$280
Condition Range
Refinished or Major Repairs	$150,000 – $250,000
Original Finish, Some Wear	$300,000 – $500,000
All-Original, Excellent	$500,000 – $900,000+
Celebrity Provenance	$876,000+
Record Sale	Mark Knopfler's: $876,000 (Christie's, 2024)
Production	~643 made; fewer than 500 believed to survive
Rarity	Very Rare

The Story

The Les Paul Standard was Gibson's answer to Fender's Telecaster and Stratocaster. Designed in collaboration with guitarist Les Paul himself, it featured a carved maple top over a mahogany body - beautiful but heavy. The 1959 model added two new "Patent Applied For" (PAF) humbucker pickups that would define the sound of rock and blues for the next 65 years.

Nobody cared at the time. The guitar was too expensive at $280 (nearly $3,000 in today's dollars). It was too heavy. The flame maple top - now the most prized visual feature - was considered gaudy. Gibson shipped about 643 sunburst Standards in 1959 and discontinued the model the following year.

Then Eric Clapton played one with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Jimmy Page used one to record Led Zeppelin's early albums. Peter Green's 1959 Standard - with its out-of-phase pickup wiring - produced some of the most distinctive blues tone ever recorded. Keith Richards, Slash, Joe Perry, Duane Allman - the list of players who built their sound on '59 Standards reads like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The book "Burst" by Vic DaPra documents known surviving examples. Fewer than 500 of the original 643 are believed to exist today. At $280 original retail and $500,000+ current value, a '59 Les Paul has appreciated roughly 3,000x from its original price.

How to Identify It

Key Features

Carved flame maple top with cherry sunburst finish (the quality of the "flame" or "figuring" varies and dramatically affects desirability)
Two PAF humbucker pickups - "Patent Applied For" stickers on the bobbin bases
Mahogany body and neck
Rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays
Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop tailpiece
Fatter neck profile compared to 1960 (preferred by most players)
Nitrocellulose lacquer finish that ages beautifully
Kluson Deluxe single-line tuners

Serial Number and Components

Serial number should be in the 9-xxxx range for 1959
PAF pickups: DC resistance approximately 7-8.5k ohms
Potentiometers: Centralab pots with 1959 date codes
Capacitors: Sprague "bumble bee" .022 400v
Body routing patterns specific to the era

The Flame Top

Not all '59 Les Pauls have dramatic flame tops. Some have subtle figuring; others are spectacular. Heavily figured "flame" or "tiger stripe" tops command significant premiums. A plain-top '59 is still worth hundreds of thousands, but a spectacularly flamed example is the ultimate prize.

Value by Condition

Condition	Description	Value
Refinished	Original finish stripped and repainted	$150,000 – $200,000
Major Repairs	Headstock break repair (common), some replaced parts	$200,000 – $250,000
Original, Wear	Original finish with significant play wear	$300,000 – $400,000
Original, Good	Original finish, moderate wear	$400,000 – $500,000
All-Original, Excellent	Exceptional condition, both PAFs intact	$500,000 – $900,000+

Headstock breaks are common. The Les Paul's angled headstock is prone to snapping at the neck joint if the guitar falls. A professional repair reduces value by 30-50% but doesn't make the guitar worthless. A headstock-repaired '59 at $200,000 is still a '59 Les Paul.

Both original PAF pickups must be present for top value. These pickups are the sonic heart of the instrument. A '59 with one or both PAFs replaced is worth significantly less.

Authentication & Fakes

Serial number in the 9-xxxx range for 1959
PAF pickups should read approximately 7-8.5k ohms and show "Patent Applied For" stickers
Centralab pots with 1959 date codes
Bumble bee capacitors (Sprague .022 400v)
Original Kluson Deluxe single-line tuners
Body routing patterns - the cavities inside the guitar are specific to the era
Professional authentication is mandatory at these values. Consult recognized vintage Gibson experts and dealers
"Conversion" guitars exist - 1950s Gibson guitars (Specials, Juniors) modified to look like Standards. Expert examination can detect these

Where to Sell

Christie's / Bonhams - Handle the highest-value vintage guitar sales (Knopfler's '59 went through Christie's)
Heritage Auctions - Regular vintage guitar auctions
Specialist dealers - Gruhn Guitars, Norman's Rare Guitars, Rumble Seat Music
Private sale - At $500,000+, dealers can facilitate direct sales to serious collectors

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Common Questions

How much is a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard worth?

$150,000 to $900,000+ depending on condition, originality, and provenance. A refinished example starts around $150,000. An all-original example in excellent condition with spectacular flame can approach $900,000.

Why is the 1959 the most valuable year?

The '59 has the preferred "fat" neck profile (the 1960 has a thinner neck that most players find less comfortable), both PAF humbucker pickups, and the cherry sunburst finish. It was also the peak of Gibson's build quality before the model was discontinued.

How many 1959 Les Paul Standards exist?

About 643 were made. Fewer than 500 are believed to survive. The book "Burst" by Vic DaPra documents known examples.

My '59 Les Paul has a broken headstock. Is it still valuable?

Yes. Headstock breaks are common on Les Pauls due to the angled headstock design. A professional repair reduces value by 30-50%, but a repaired '59 is still worth $200,000 or more.