Gibson unveils Joe Perry ‘Gold Rush’ Les Paul Axcess
Aerosmith legend’s electric guitar teams Strat and LP features
After teasing his latest electric guitar back in February, Joe Perry has now officially unveiled his new signature model with Gibson, the ‘Gold Rush’ Les Paul Axcess.
The Aerosmith icon’s signature model marries the Les Paul outline with a number of Strat-like appointments, including a Wilkinson/Gotoh VS100N two-point tremolo system and a rear belly cut.


A single hot 498T humbucker provides the tone, but there’s a push/pull coil-split on the tone knob, which is accompanied by a single volume control, as opposed to the usual four-knob LP layout.
Perry’s favourite chunky ’59 profile appears on the mahogany neck, while the mahogany body is finished in Antique Gold and hand-aged at the Gibson Custom Shop.
“After several decades of playing many different guitars I think this one represents the nearly impossible task of bringing the best of all of them into this new signature model,” says Perry.
Back in 2015, the guitar legend told us, “It’s the best of the Stratocaster and the best of the Les Paul, because I love the sound of the Les Paul and, ultimately, I love the way a Les Paul feels, but I love the ergonomics of a Strat. I love the whammy bar.”
The guitar will only be available in limited numbers, with 25 signed and 125 unsigned models available worldwide for $5,499/£4,299.
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Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.
