Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Zodiac

Sometimes Excess Becomes Art Through Meticulous Execution. Gibson looked at their already-fancy Les Paul Custom and decided it needed significantly more abalone than any reasonable person would consider necessary. The original Zodiac run proved that theory correct - collectors went absolutely crazy for instruments where nearly every visual element incorporated iridescent shell inlay that shifts colors under changing light conditions.

This Made To Measure recreation represents Gibson Custom Shop operating at full extravagance. That Aurora Borealis finish over massive flame maple top creates visual movement so dramatic it seems alive, with natural wood hues peeking through primary colors in ways photographs struggle to capture. The flame figuring runs super wide with incredible depth, proving that when Gibson's wood selectors commit to spectacular tops, they don't mess around with half measures.

Those zodiac constellation inlays aren't simple decorative flourishes - they're intricate abalone artistry requiring hundreds of hours of meticulous handwork. Each piece must be cut, fitted, and secured with surgical precision while maintaining structural integrity across decades of playing. The Gibson logo? Abalone. The split diamond emblem? Abalone. Side markers? Abalone. Even those custom knobs sport abalone inserts that catch light from every angle.

The multi-ply binding throughout frames all this visual luxury while the fundamental Les Paul Custom architecture remains unchanged: 24.75-inch scale length, mahogany body and neck, maple top, Nashville bridge, and that reliable 490R/498T pickup combination delivering everything from warm jazz tones to aggressive rock bite.

But here's the thing about the Zodiac - all that abalone and flame maple serves functional purposes beyond mere decoration. The exotic materials contribute harmonic complexity that standard appointments simply cannot match, while the painstaking inlay work demonstrates craftsmanship levels that separate genuine masterpieces from expensive guitars with fancy paint jobs.

This represents what happens when Gibson's Custom Shop receives permission to pursue excellence without budget constraints or production deadlines interfering with artistic vision.

Specifications

Brand: Gibson
Model: Custom Shop Special Order Les Paul Custom Figured
Categories: Solid Body
Made In: United States
Neck Construction: Set-Neck
Right / Left Handed: Right Handed
Number of Strings: 6-String
Body Shape: Single Cutaway
Model Family: Gibson Les Paul
Model Sub-Family: Gibson Les Paul Custom
Body Type: Solid Body
Series: Gibson Custom Shop
Number of Frets: 22
General:
Number of Strings: 6
Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed

Body:
Body Type: Solidbody
Body Shape: 1960 Les Paul Standard
Body Material: Mahogany
Top Material: 2-piece Figured Maple
Body Finish: VOS Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Color: Tangerine Burst

Neck:
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Shape: 1960 Slim Taper
Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Material: Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: Nitrate Trapezoids
Number of Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1.69"
Nut Material: Nylon

Hardware:
Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR-1 with Aluminum Stopbar
Tuners: Kluson Single Line

Electronics:
Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III unpotted Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III unpotted Humbucker
Controls: 2 x volume, 2 x tone, 3-way toggle pickup switch