1959 Les Paul Standard - Worth the Hype? | Friday Fretworks 

Your solos just blow me away every time! I think all history lessons should begin and end with guitar solos.

I am being serious here. I don’t think I’ve discovered a player like you in the last 30 years. You have the potential to be a generational talent. Hearing you play for me was the same feeling I got when I first heard SRV, or Frampton. You play like I aspire my playing to be. And I’ve been playing way longer than you’ve been alive. Thanks for your work. I’m already getting to know Cardinal Black and have told several guitarist friends of mine about you.

Superb! You're not only a brilliant guitarist but a fantastic expert on the Les Paul history. That was really enjoyable.

I love these Friday videos Chris! so inspiring

Fantastic video and fantastic playing

What a great study and narrative. Thanks

Best playing I’ve heard for a long long time. Subscribed.

Chris of course would sound incredibly great and epic on an Epiphone.

OMG! That outro jam was simply AMAZING!!!

Concise with jaw-dropping playing and tone. Cool guitars too. I enjoyed this!

You are just an amazing musician. Thank you!

Dude that intro was just *chefs kiss* MWAH!

Real great playing, sir...!!!

Great video, sir!

I love watching you utterly command that guitar. Fantastic ! And I like your wise words and wise beyond your years views. Well done Chris !

Chris, each time you play, it's an amazing experience for me, thank you, you play like magic, and you're an amazing exquisite musician too.

I love how effortlessly you (Chris) go from pick to finger playing. True mastery!

Superb insight as ever with two gorgeous bursts, but sh*t, that last solo was friggin’ awesome!!!

Great video!!

Nice job Chris. Well done.

Cheers Chris, i am lucky enough to have heard Mark Knopfler play his 58 live it is an amazing thing in the right hands.

Such an excellent player and with one of these beauties in your hands the combination is amazing! 👌

Your technical acumen and knowing the pots are the secret sauce have earned you my highest respek; you can play and know the technicals exceptionally well. Thanks for the great content and inspiration 👏👏

that outro was seriously stunning.

Really great riffs this time... always so good, but even that bit better today. Love the history, as well

What an episode! I was highly amazed by your playing once again... Totally absorbed into the beauty of your solos! 😭🙏🙏 Anyway can't wait to see you change the pickups of your Revstar with the Stuart P90s you ordered to him. 😁😁

So much awesome playing here. These guitars got the work out they deserve. I really appreciate your videos and especially the fact you don’t ‘sign off’ with a cheesy one liner that seems to afflict so many RU-vid channels.

As always Chris..stunning playing and great evaluation of the '59' subject ..Andy certainly has some beauts on sale..nice bloke too tbf!✌️❤️👊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Dang bro. That natural sounding improv intermision in the shop really places you on a high place as a guitarist for me. Soul.

Its always nice to hear the stories and history but your playing it's what's really worth it here...

Wonderful as ever.

Great music - very soothing. You go to great places there.

Very nice!

Excellent work on this week’s video There is no shortage of reviews on the infamous Les Paul 59 and 60 models, but I must say I think yours is the gold standard and the benchmark, well done

Great video Chris, wonderful playing as always! cheers

Thanks, great vid Mr buck !!!!

Much of the mystique has to be how they are played. You showcased these ones brilliantly, Chris.

I’ve been a guitar nut for 25 years, and your playing truly blows me away!

That outro solo. ❤️

By Jove Buckmaster! I do believe you're playing is getting better and better. Is this possible? Magnificent performance.👏👏

Well done mate great feel!!

Thanks for sharing much appreciated 👍

Well I have to agree that the 59 and 60 Les Pauls have been discussed extensively on the Web and on RU-vid particularly, but this video has got to be the best one out there on that subject in my opinion. Superb playing and very informative. I did own a 2008 Les Paul Standard which I sold after 12 years. It was dark sounding and I could no longer stand the sticky nitro finish that never seemed to cure. But I have always loved that design and I still do. Great review!

Hi Chris, consider sharing your practice routine when you started out, when you were intermediate and now when you are one of the most interesting and amazing guitarist. Thank you and this is a very enjoyable video

this is probably the best I have heard anyone play a burst Les Paul, including all the greats you mentioned.

I ended up making several of my own. They are wonderful.

Thank you for another fantastic installment of Friday Fretworks! Great analysis of the Classic Vintage LP. Such a coincidence; I saw the ABT posting yesterday and drooled all over my phone screen. I keep wondering if paying the price tag will really yield appreciation of value over time, other than the historical and personal pride of owning a real Vintage LP.

Excellent advise and knowledge. I'll have to consider these issues the next time I'm buying my next 59 Les Paul. lol I have followed your advise, buying a Yamaha THR30ii and a Revstar 502t, in British Racing Green. :) love em

Phenomenal playing.... Really interesting article.. Love your current band..Cardinal Black.. Nothing more to say...

Interesting. Thanks for sharing ✌🏼

Mick Taylor was also a Burst player. A 59' he bought to Keith R.

Just obtained a re-issue LesPaul Standard Goldtop with a 12” radius. It has the soap bar pickups! Love it

Saved the best for last, that final impro at the end….sublime 👌

that playing in the first 58 seconds…… F*** mental playing Chris!

Love, love, love the outro. ❤❤❤😲😍🥰 I don't know what you're playing but I'm getting a bit of a Chris Isaacs vibe (??)

Your comparo to a vintage Ferrari is absolutely spot-on. It's impossible to assess whether certain Iconic things should have gone into the stratosphere like they've done. But the fact is that they have! I think icons are a good thing, in that they spark one's imagination. Having just typed that, yes, it's sad that speculators have driven prices beyond anyone's reach. But happily, "other" good guitars abound and players will forever be making worthy music on their guitars of choice! On that note, lemme say again that you're an absolute monster on the guitar, Chris Buck!

Beautiful player

Beautiful playing on beautiful guitars. Doesn’t get more iconic than a Burst. After 30+ years of playing & owning many different Les Pauls I finally found the sunburst Standard for my collection. She’s not a vintage Burst (2021 Standard 60’s Unburst) but she’s a monster player & after I put a set of Wizz PAF clones in she has THAT sound. I’ve been lucky enough to play a couple of real Bursts as well as tons of Historics, Customs, Juniors & Standards. Not all of them were great but the ones that were special have a magic that no other guitar model has.

Nostalgia aside, what does it for me isnt the name on the headstock but the feeling and inspiration the guitar instills in me and I tend to pick it up more often than much more expensive guitars. Thanks for the history lesson on these magnificent guitars Chris, cheers!

Out of the 58’ 59’ 60’ Les Paul’s, the 58’ is my favorite. I was fortunate enough to visit Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville and play a 58’ Les Paul along with a 58’ Stratocaster.

Hey Chris, Hoping to see on RU-vid this summer you jamming on your signature Yamaha with Joe Bonamassa on one of his 59 Les Pauls on the KTBA Cruise. Something tells me you would still be second to none!!!😎🎸👍

Chris puts together such great videos. Good history here on these amazing guitars. He's spot on when he talks about getting that sound with pickups and electronics. I'll add that the hardware matters a good bunch too. The correct hardware removes a hardness to the sound IMO and adds a little warmth. I have 2 Custom Shop Historic 59 Les Pauls and I swapped out the custom buckers recently in one of them and put in Doyle Coils with their wiring harness. The difference is staggering and I'm willing to bet this guitar now sounds very very close to a $300k LP. For those chasing that sound that don't have $5k-8k to spend, go find a 50's or 60's LP(around 9lbs or less) and then go buy Doyle Coils, Throwbacks or what have you. Make sure you get 550k pots. Consider swapping hardware to Faber or Pigtail and you'll be shocked. To this day, I don't know why Gibson can't get the pickups and hardware right.

Chris, I am totally flashed by your monster solo at the end, never heard something like this

I’m just wanting you guys to come to Nashville!

Here’s my close encounters with an original burst story. I’ve never told it before. When I was a young lad around 10 years old (this would have been ‘64 or ‘65) I started to play trumpet in the school band. My mom and I began making pretty regular visits to the local music store (Sievwright’s Music in Marysville , Calif). First to buy my trumpet (actually it was a rent-to-own deal) and occasionally thereafter for supplies (muties, valve oil, etc). I remember seeing, behind the counter, an absolutely beautiful Gibson guitar. It was in a lit glass case and just seemed to glow. What really struck me about it was the lovely paint job. It was a bright red color around the edges that faded gradually into the yellowish center. I mean, how did they even do that? It seemed magical. Of course I I knew nothing about “sunburst finishes” at the time, but it stuck with me. It looked brand new, still with the hang tags, and - since the color was still bright red - now I suspect it was 1960 sunburst Les Paul that had never sold. It was so gorgeous. Sigh. It’s too bad I didn’t play guitar yet - maybe they would have let me try it out? Can you imagine?

Very entertaining video and love the historical background on the guitars. Your playing is incredible, which I could play a 10th as good as you. I feel you can make any guitar sound incredible. The Gibson Les Pauls you played sound amazing. I have a Gibson ES 355 I believe its a 1966 model 12 string and its made in Kalmazoo Michigan. I really don't play it any more as it is my most valuable guitar and love the fact that I have kept it. There is something special about old guitars. The history you present is so amazing.

I should never have started watching this channel. I used to consider myself a pretty good guitarist.....used to. Thanks for great info on my second favorite guitar.

Hi Chris, great to see that you are using these russian PIO Caps K40N-2a for your guitar. You should turn them arround, cause they are shielded and the shield should be on the side where the Ground is - the Tone pot side - less noise! By the way, for the neck PU I use a 15nF Cap instead of a 22nF Cap.

On an instrument that expensive, that neck-push vibrato at 5:12 took balls. Good man. Lovely playing.

Hello Chris.Thanks for one of the best videos I have ever heard on this fascinating subject. I am not THE steve morse just an enthusiastic guitarist. I have played two genuine 59 Les Paul but didn't have enough cash to buy them..they sounded great of course but at around 450,000 pounds they were over priced in my opinion. I do have two Collector's Choices and a 1960 historical beautiful sunburst Custom Shop Les Paul, a Cloud Nine, a VOS as well as a Joe Walsh historical signature instrument as well as a Paul Kossoff signature model and you know what? I probably spent at least 100,000 $ on my Les Pauls.

Great playing, great overview, thanks for that! I can understand how the combination of rarity, the 'perfect storm' and the icons who managed to pick one up in the '60s all contribute to the price . . . I have a friend in the Philharmonic here who owns a Cremona Cello - insured for UKP 1,500,000 . . . one former owner was a guy called Ludwig van Beethoven . . . that might play a part !😀 Last year I bought the Epi 59 LP re-issue with Gibson custom shop electronics. I still have my 1968 Gibson Custom (bought it in 1974 when I was 19) so didn't really NEED another Les Paul but the Epi has a very different character and feel that I like. One day will maybe try a proper '59 Standard - who knows?

To be fair man, it doesn’t matter what guitar you play we can all tell it’s you. It’s unmistakable 🤟

Last week I had the pleasure to share the room with 3 original bursts and some 50s Goldtop Les Pauls. There was this '58 LP which sounded absolutely mindblowin. I never heard a guitar like this. It sounded raw, it sounded aggressive... she sounded great on the whole fretboard and on both pickups. Very well balanced. But on the other hand I also played a Goldtop which I really really enjoyed. I didn't like the bursts better than the goldtops to be honest. Either soundwise or playingwise.

I’m willing these things into existence. One day I’ll play one. Until then. Thanks for sharing Chris! Impeccable playing as always! 🙏

Chris, every guitar you play sounds magical! If I remember correctly, in the early 80s an acquaintance sold a 57 gold top for $25,000. An insane amount for the time, who knew prices would escalate?

Love the bright quackiness on the older Les Pauls. Almost Fenderesque but a thing of its own. If I were to own a Les Paul again I would have to Mod it to replicate this sound.

Wow! What an endorsement... Do ATB know how lucky they are to have you? 💚

Great episode! I have alot of respect for the man who goes for a neck bend on a 59! you sir are a legend! 5:11

Best playing and sound I heard from you so far , maybe it is inspirational thing ? ( mojo :D) excellent video!

I own a 58 Gibson custom shop Historic ... the closest I'll get to these. I'm very happy with it, been playing guitar for 40 yrs and got the Historic a few years ago and it has been the absolute dream sought after tone. I've sold off my other Gibson guitars for the most part ... this "58" from Gibson just has it.

Love the video man, awesome as always!!! Tell me CB is coming to the states relatively soon.....might I suggest one of these fine states????? (Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee (Illinois, Pennsylvania and the rest of yall going to have to fend for yourselves) .....but maybe wait until at least spring....

Liked that the opening solo was from my favorite song at the moment, “I’m Ready”. Hopefully there’s some performance footage of that one posted. The vocals on that are killer as well.

You are one badass guitar player!

Very good!

Good job

the thing about your playing is how aggressive you SEEM to play. Although not as violent as SRV you put out that verbosity he had and it is super rare to find. You and Stevie are the only two that I can think of that play that why. That is a complement you can be proud of. I saw SRV at the Elmo Combo on the Friday night show when he also played Little Wing. Keep it up your are a household name here in Canada my 86 year old mom loves how you play too.

Chris, honestly: in as much as these '59s are valuable, they're only as good as the person playing them. And seeing and hearing you play them, I'd say they're solid gold.

Looking forward to the day that a Chris Buck album is produced.

ONE question remains unanswered… effects chain? That’s all I could think of when watching. Lol Great video and playing Chris. 👌

The guitar is great but your playing is amazing!!!

Great review Chris. In 2001 bought a new R9 'Burst and over the next while a few mods were made by Cris Miabella, a very long-time and dear friend who I have known since he was a teenager working with Ronnie DeMarino, another long-time, dear friend. First, a pair of zebra '59 PAFs replaced the "Burstbuckers". They we expensive then, but nothing like they have become. Along with this, all of the electronics were replaced with a complete harness from a '61 Les Paul SG, as well as the control knobs and pickup switch. Next, the fingerboard was replaced by one from a '61 Les Paul SG. This board is Brazilian with the correct inlays, of course. Also, these inlays are particularly striking. It was then re-fretted with correct sized '59 wire. The tuners, bridge and tailpiece were replaced with vintage period-correct ones. The only 2001 parts on it are the body, neck (it's nice and "cultured" as you said) and the plastic parts. I just couldn't see spending many thousands on vintage plastic. The finish was very subtly aged by Tom Murphy (I've done the rest naturally over time) and the very slightly faded sunburst includes that elusive tomato-red colour at the edges. The maple flame is pronounced in a gently rearward-sweeping chevron. It weighs 8.25 lbs. I call it an "80% Burst", but it sounds and plays 100%. Those PAFs are as punchy, articulate and as nicely bright as they are supposed to be. As you well-know, the Humbucker was designed to replace the P-90 which is quite bright. The '61 LP SG parts came from a wrecked guitar (I would never destroy a playable one), and the result is incredibly close to the real thing in every way except the more than quarter million quid that the real thing costs.

you outdid yourself on this one Chris.

I'm so poor I'm not even aloud to spell Les Pau

Perfect timing for this. I literally just bought a Tom Murphy 1959 Les Paul yesterday. After the many guitars that I've owned and tried, this very guitar had something special that sent chills through me. My advice to anyone is to play as many as you can before buying. Every single guitar is unique. My wife wants to kill me after buying over $30k worth of guitars this past month. Then I showed her what the originals go for! Suddenly I'm forgiven! lol

Great intro solo. Masterclass in playing hard with minimal gain.

Incredible music man, awesome! And I think the guitar is worth the hype when played like that lol.

Best reviews online.

i bet the shop owner shat his pants when you did that neck bend 😂😂😂

Last jam made me think of Gary Moore...✌️

A class act on the guitar real beautiful tone 👏