GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD 50S FADED, LES PAUL STANDARD 60S FADED & SG STANDARD ’61 FADED MAESTRO VIBROLA £2,169, £2,169 & £1,899
CONTACT Gibson WEB www.gibson.com
Since coming under new ownership in late 2019, the good ship Gibson is now very much back on track making some of the best guitars we’ve seen for many a year. With a focus on quality and consistency, the uptake on the new-spec models from the standard Gibson USA lines – not to mention the ‘pandemic effect’ – has meant new models have been scarce. Until now, with the release of three new Faded electrics you see here, and three acoustics that we’ll feature in our next issue.
“The original run of Les Paul Standard Faded models began shipping in 2005 and shipped into 2009,” clarifies Lee Bartram, Gibson EU’s head of marketing and cultural influence. “There have been some similar limited runs since. Over the years the Faded models have built up an amazing reputation, so we are bringing the Faded line-up back: the fan favourite is back.”
Part of the appeal of the original Faded concept was the more simple satin ‘worn’ finishes – a faster manufacturing process – that allowed a lower price. But these new models seem to have a slightly different aim. “When the original Faded series debuted in 2005, the idea was to create a very vintage vibe without a glossy finish while streamlining some of the specs,” continues
