Les Paul vintage Gibson guitars were first produced
in 1952. These guitars were the first solid body electric
that Gibson had made. The 1952 version of the Les
Paul vintage guitar has a gold top nitro-cellulose
lacquer finish, and no serial number. This Gibson
was designed by Les and included Kluson tuners,
a pair of P90 pickups, and retailed for $210.

These Gibson vintage guitars were simply called
"Les Paul" models, and later became known as
Gold Tops because of the finish. Most Les Paul
Gibson vintage Gold Tops have a gold colored
maple top with natural back, a few guitars were
made that had the gold finished all over.

In 1954 Gibson launched the Les Paul Custom
vintage guitar. The Les Paul Custom has an ebony
fretboard, with elaborate bindings on the guitar
body and headstock. Among some guitarists this
Gibson vintage acquired the name "black beauty"
because of its gold plated hardware and black finish.
The Custom was the first fitted with a tune-o-matic
bridge and tailpiece.

The Les Paul Junior has a flat, uncarved mahogany
body with no binding. The Junior guitar is equipped
with a single P90 pickup, along with an old wraparound
combined bridge/tailpiece. Some Les Paul Juniors
were referred to as Les Paul TV models because of
their blond/yellow finish instead of a sunburst.