Gibson’s Les Paul Standard model from 1959 is the most highly acclaimed, widely recognized solid body electric guitar in the entire world, coveted by both players and collectors as the ultimate example of playability, attractiveness and tone among all six-stringed instruments. In an industry filled with imitations and replicas, the iconic 1959 Les Paul Standard simply has no equal. Named after Lester William Polsfuss, aka Les Paul – legendary American jazz guitarist, and true pioneer in the development of recorded music – the Les Paul model guitar became the “Standard” in July 1958 after company president Ted McCarty and his staff decided to add the new designation and forego the guitar’s traditional Goldtop finish for a new, brighter finish dubbed Cherry Sunburst, which allowed the natural beauty of the Les Paul Standard’s maple top to be showcased. The company was hoping the changes would improve its sales of solid body electric guitars, which had been declining since 1953 when the Gibson shipped 2,245 Les Paul Model guitars.