Description
Gibson Les Paul Marc Bolan Signature Model (Aged) in “Bolan Chablis” finish made in 2011 with original hard shell case. This guitar features a solid 1-piece mahogany body with a maple cap, 1-piece mahogany neck with long neck tenon and volute and a bound ebony fingerboard. Equipped with a pair of Gibson Custom Bucker zebra-coil Humbuckers with Alnico 3 magnets in the neck and bridge positions controlled by 2-volume, 2-tone knobs and a 3-way toggle switch. The 24.75″ scale length neck has mother of pearl block inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets with a ’50’s rounded neck profile. The aged mismatched nickel and gold hardware is comprised of Grover tuning machines, a corian nut, a ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, and gold bell knobs knobs with a single-ply cream pick-guard.
This guitar is #13 out of 100 made and was aged by Gibson custom shop to accurately recreate Marc Bolan’s infamous Les Paul down to every last detail which includes heavy belt buckle rash, replaced tuners, heavy finish checking, mismatched hardware, replaced neck and of course the iconic “Bolan Chablis” finish! This example was previously owned by a collector who purchased the guitar new and was stored away until now. The guitar is still in mint condition (aside from the intentional aging). Guitar is freshly setup and restrung with 10-46 strings and includes original hard shell case, COA, and case candy.
More about this model from the original release:
Marc Bolan is famous for his work as the founder, writer, and guitarist of T. Rex, and the inspiration for the Glam Rock movement of the 70’s. Gibson Custom has worked with his son, widow, and archive photos of the guitar to recreate Marc’s mainstay instrument, a ’50s Les Paul Model. Originally an unknown finish, Marc removed the original paint and had it stained resulting in the “Bolan Chablis” finish of this limited edition guitar. The replacement Les Paul Custom neck is also recreated, reflecting the breaking of its original neck as well as Gibson’s policy at the time of only providing replacement necks with a black finish. This is a limited edition of 100 Marc Bolan Aged Les Paul guitars with the Finish and hardware are gently aged to make it look exactly like the real Marc’s distinctive Les Paul. Each instrument comes with a hard shell Custom case, vintage replica woven strap and a certificate of authenticity inset with a photo of Marc Bolan with reproduction signature.
Although the Les Paul Custom neck with which it was most often seen has lead to some confusion over the origins of Marc Bolan’s guitar, the instrument was actually a late-’50s Les Paul that was stripped and refinished by Bolan himself in a faded translucent orange dubbed “Bolan Chablis”, then “re-necked” after an accident in the early ’70s. As such, the body of the Gibson Custom Marc Bolan Les Paul is produced with period-correct woods and techniques, and includes a solid (non-chambered) one-piece mahogany body and carved plain maple top, as revealed through Gibson Custom’s recreation of Bolan’s own “DIY” refinishing work, while its sides and back retain the original back finish.
Its mahogany neck is set with a long-tenon neck joint like all the great original Les Pauls, for added resonance and sustain, although its look and the rest of its construction mark a major departure for the instrument. Like the early-’70s Les Paul Custom neck that Bolan had added to his guitar in the course of its repair, this neck carries the ebony fingerboard that distinguishes that “upgraded” model, along with the large mother-of-pearl block inlays, period-correct 14º headstock pitch, and mother-of-pearl split-diamond headstock inlay in a holly headstock veneer.
To translate all of this thick, juicy vintage Les Paul tone to your amp of choice, the guitar carries a pair of Custom Buckers, an accurate PAF-reproduction humbucker designed specifically for the Marc Bolan Les Paul. Along with its mismatched nickel-plated ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and gold-plated aluminum stopbar tailpiece, the Custom-spec gold-plated Grover tuners and a PLEK-cut Corian nut further enhance the resonance and singing sustain of this unique instrument.
Only 450 produced in total”100 hand aged (this model), a further 350 given the VOS (Vintage Original Spec) include a black Gibson Custom case with plush red lining, Artist Model Certificate of Authenticity with Marc Bolan photo, warranty and adjustment literature.
Specs
- Make: Gibson
- Model: Les Paul
- Sub-Model: Marc Bolan Signature Model (Aged)
- Year: 2011
- Finish: “Bolan Chablis”
- Finish Type: VOS Nitrocellulose
- Country: USA
- Serial #: 013
- Weight: 9lbs 11.4oz.
- Condition: Mint
- Body Shape: LP (Single Cut)
- Body Type: Solid
- Body Wood: 1-Piece Mahogany Body
- Top Wood: Maple Cap
- Scale Length: 24.75″
- Neck Joint: Set Neck
- Neck Wood: 1-Piece Mahogany Neck With Long Neck Tenon and Volute
- Neck Finish: Matching
- Finger Board: Ebony
- Neck Radius: 12″
- Neck Profile: ’50’s Rounded
- Inlays: Mother of Pearl Block
- Nut Width: 1 11/16″
- Nut: Corian
- Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
- Pickup Config: HH
- Neck Pickup: Gibson Custom Bucker Zebra-coil Humbucker With Alnico 3 Magnet
- Bridge Pickup: Gibson Custom Bucker Zebra-coil Humbucker With Alnico 3 Magnet
- Pickguard: 1-Ply Cream
- Pots: 2-Volume, 2-Tone
- Capacitors: Bumblebee Tone Capacitors
- Switch: 3-Way Toggle Switch
- Hardware: Aged Mismatched Nickel and Gold
- Tuning Machines: Grover Rotomatic with Kidney Bean Heads
- Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
- Knobs: Gold Bell Knobs
- Other Features: Certificate of Authenticity
- String Gauge: 10-46
- Case: Original Hard Shell Case
Condition
- Overall Condition: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Body Back: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Body Front: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Body Binding: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Fretboard: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Fret Life: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Neck: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Neck Binding: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Neck Pocket: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Headstock Front: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Headstock Back: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Pickups: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Bridge: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Tailpiece: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Knobs: ✯✯✯✯✯
- Hardware: ✯✯✯✯✯
