1958 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Darkback, Serial Number 8 3313
This 1958 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Darkback has lived a life few guitars can match. Shipped to Jenkins Music Company in Kansas City on June 30, 1958, it remained in Kansas for nearly seven decades before making its way to Gibson in 2025. Its been played hardan instrument that wears its history openly, with the kind of wear patterns that can only be earned by decades of honest use.
The guitar underwent a professional headstock repair in April 2025 by Jim Baggett at Mass Street Music, addressing a smile break at the headstock transition and through the high and low-E tuner holes. There is light finish work in the repaired area, and the rest of the headstock has not been oversprayed. Playability was further improved with a refret by Glaser Instruments using Jescar 51100 fretwire, and the installation of a shimmed vintage Gibson nylon nut. Longer bridge post bushings were fitted to ensure rock-solid stability.
Under the wear and tear, the important original components remain intact. Both original Patent Applied For pickups are present (covers off and back on), along with the M69 pickup surrounds, pots and knobs, switch and poker chip, Stop Bar tailpiece and studs, pickguard assembly (bracket, hardware, screws), original backplates, and original truss rod cover (broken at top screw hole). Non-original parts include aged reproduction Kluson Deluxe tuners, a vintage cream plastic switch tip, Gibson Custom strap buttons and screws, an aged Gibson Custom ABR-1 bridge with posts and thumbwheels, three of the seven backplate screws, and a mix of original and vintage pickup mounting screws from different eras. The input jack is non-original, mounted on a black metal plate secured with two larger flathead screws and two larger Phillips head screws. Solder touch-up is visible on the bridge tone pot ground and on the original switch to address a loose wire.
The finish shows heavy, even checking with moderate greening and extensive areas worn to the wood, especially around the pickups, bridge, tailpiece posts, and arm wear area. The back is heavily worn, the back of the neck is nearly bare, and theres even a light divot in the wood at the 9th freta testament to years of dedicated playing. As a final flourish, a Jimi Hendrix sticker graces the control cavity cover.
Comes with a Gibson Protector hardshell case and its original 5-latch Lifton case (included in heavily-worn condition), along with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, and new Limited Lifetime Warranty.
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