Jimmy Page [LED ZEPPELIN]
2004 Gibson Custom Jimmy Page Number One Les Paul
AGED & SIGNED - Limited Edition 25 pieces
AGED - Limited Edition 150 pieces
Custom Authentic finish - Limited Edition 870 pieces
The pilot run of Jimmy Page Signature Model Les Pauls is completed and will begin shipping from the Custom Shop today. This initial public offering consists of 25 guitars, all of which have been meticulously aged by Tom Murphy to faithfully replicate Page's legendary #1 Les Paul. Page first started using Les Pauls with Led Zeppelin on “Led Zeppelin II”, and his #1 and #2 Pauls were prominently featured on every Zeppelin record and in live shows from that point on.
Each of these 25 Jimmy Page Signature models has been personally played and approved by Jimmy Page. To verify his approval, Page has signed and hand-numbered these highly collectable instruments on the back of the headstock.
Each of these 25 Jimmy Page Signature models has been personally played and approved by Jimmy Page. To verify his approval, Page has signed and hand-numbered these highly collectable instruments on the back of the headstock.
Because Jimmy Page received the first guitar of this limited run as part of his arrangement with the Custom Shop, the 25 guitars released to the public will number 2-26.
The pilot run of Jimmy Page Signature Models will also include a unique set of collateral items. A wall display box with a silk-screened Page signature (with hangers for the included violin bow) and a portfolio that contains the Page-signed Certificate of Authenticity and an exclusive color photo of Page holding the prototype of the Signature model will all be part of the package. And the guitars will ship with the original strings on them—played by Page himself!—and the super-low action that Page prefers.
The pilot run Page Signature Models will ship in a black Custom Shop case with a silk-screened Page signature.
The pilot run of Jimmy Page Signature Models will also include a unique set of collateral items. A wall display box with a silk-screened Page signature (with hangers for the included violin bow) and a portfolio that contains the Page-signed Certificate of Authenticity and an exclusive color photo of Page holding the prototype of the Signature model will all be part of the package. And the guitars will ship with the original strings on them—played by Page himself!—and the super-low action that Page prefers.
The pilot run Page Signature Models will ship in a black Custom Shop case with a silk-screened Page signature.
The release of the first 25 Gibson Custom Shop Jimmy Page Signature models has been met with unmatched enthusiasm by players and collectors. There have been reports of two of these signed, limited edition guitars selling for over $50,000—more than twice the MSRP of $23,699.
The Custom Shop is offering three versions of the model: 25 signed guitars, with “aging” by renowned vintage guitar restorer Tom Murphy; 150 unsigned guitars, also aged by Murphy; and an unlimited run of Page models featuring a Custom Authentic finish. The first run of 25, as well as the second run of 150, was sold out as soon as it was offered to Gibson Custom dealers.
From his earliest experiences as an in-demand session guitarist to the halcyon days of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page has consistently crafted music so memorable and influential that its effect is still being felt today in genres as diverse as hip-hop and folk. At the heart of much of Page's landmark work is his #1 Les Paul. The new Custom Shop Jimmy Page Signature model is based on exhaustive research on Jimmy's actual guitar, and faithfully recreates all the unique features (including an elliptical neck profile and single push/pull pot) that make #1 the legendary instrument it is.
The Jimmy Page Signature model will be available in a Limited Edition of 150 (all of which will be aged by Tom Murphy) and an unlimited run in Custom Authentic finish.
Background
Edwin Wilson from the Gibson Custom Shop and a few others from Gibson went to England to examine Jimmy's #1. Another representative of Gibson was the primary contact with Jimmy and was the fellow who brought the 30 Jimmy Page Signature Les Paul 'Number One' to England for Jimmy to play and examine.
With respect to the wiring, Edwin actually examined the wiring of Jimmy's guitar and put a meter on it. The pickups in Jimmy's actual vintage number one are definitely out of phase in the middle position, and the switch is definitely a coil tap. So the reissues are wired and make sounds just like Jimmy's guitar as it currently resides in his possession.
Gibson sent 30 guitars to Jimmy because they didn't want to be presumptuous by sending just 25 of them and not allowing for any rejections. In fact, after playing the guitars, Jimmy was hard pressed to "reject" any of them. There were a few (like the guitar he kept) that just felt and sounded a little bit better to him, but he really was blown away by all of them. The Custom Shop had gone over each guitar with a fine tooth comb before sending them.
Jimmy had originally planned to spend just a few hours with the guitars, but actually ended up playing them and inspecting them for almost six hours.
Edwin only had 45 minutes with the guitar, in one of Jimmy's mansions, with Jimmy watching everything. Edwin didn't get to weigh the guitar, or pull pickups out of the guitar, etc. He basically was allowed to take some pictures, measure and take a mold of the neck, and look in the control cavity with a meter. With the limited time and information, plus two prototypes subsequently sent to Jimmy for early feedback, they tried in earnest to duplicate a close replica honoring Jimmy's number one. The final guitars met with Jimmy's approval.
Body:
Top wood: Carved figured maple
Back wood: Solid mahogany
Binding: Single-ply cream on top
Available left-handed: No
Finish Colors: Page Burst, aged by Tom Murphy
Neck:
Neck construction: 1-piece mahogany with long neck tenon
Fingerboard wood: 22 fret rosewood
Inlays: Vintage trapezoid (accurate shape and color)
Binding: Single-ply cream
Profile: Jimmy Page custom
Scale length/Nut width: 24 3/4"; 1 11/16"
Strings: Vintage Reissue .010-.046
Electronics & Hardware:
Pickups: Jimmy Page custom BurstBuckers
Back wood: Solid mahogany
Binding: Single-ply cream on top
Available left-handed: No
Finish Colors: Page Burst, aged by Tom Murphy
Neck:
Neck construction: 1-piece mahogany with long neck tenon
Fingerboard wood: 22 fret rosewood
Inlays: Vintage trapezoid (accurate shape and color)
Binding: Single-ply cream
Profile: Jimmy Page custom
Scale length/Nut width: 24 3/4"; 1 11/16"
Strings: Vintage Reissue .010-.046
Electronics & Hardware:
Pickups: Jimmy Page custom BurstBuckers
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch, push/pull pot splits coils on lead pickup
Hardware color: Aged Nickel and Gold
Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR-1/Lightweight aluminum
Tuner style: Kidney bean
Collateral: Custom Shopcase, Jimmy Page Certificate of Authenticity,
Custom Care Kit
Hardware color: Aged Nickel and Gold
Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR-1/Lightweight aluminum
Tuner style: Kidney bean
Collateral: Custom Shopcase, Jimmy Page Certificate of Authenticity,
Custom Care Kit
