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Gibson unveils 12-string Les Paul

News
By Matthew Parker last updated 25 September 2020

US firm turns it up to, err, 12

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Introduction

Introduction

Gibson has once again been tinkering in the garage and this time has emerged with the Les Paul Traditional 12-string, a guitar it describes as possibly “the most powerful-sounding and best-playing rendition of the [12-string] breed ever created”.

Based around the Les Paul Traditional, the new 12-string guitar makes a couple of tweaks to that mainstay model, aside from the obvious. It seems the firm is (probably very wisely) keen to make as few adjustments as possible to the 'standard' Les Paul on top of the 12-string augmentation.

Click through the gallery to take a closer look at the new model and available finishes.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Body

Body

As with the vast majority of (traditional) Les Paul models, the 12-string's body is maple-capped mahogany and has been weight-relieved and carved for playing comfort. The bridge is a specially modified 12-string Tune-O-Matic.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Pickups

Pickups

The pickups are Gibson '57 Classic (neck) and '57 Classic Plus (bridge) humbuckers, as featured on the Les Paul Traditional, which Gibson maintains helps provide “more guts and glory than you've ever heard in a 12-string before”.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Neck/headstock

Neck/headstock

One of the main differences between the Les Paul Traditional and the 12-string is that the latter features a maple neck, as opposed to the conventional mahogany, which the firm says is for extra stability demanded by the 12-string's string tension. The striking headstock features 12 Mini Grover tuners.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Controls

Controls

Controls-wise it's business as usual: two Volume and two Tone pots with a three-way pickup selector. As the 12-string is based on the Les Paul Traditional you'll find no coil-splitting, piezo pickups, or automatic tuning going on here.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Goldtop finish

Goldtop finish

The Les Paul Traditional 12-string is available in three finishes: Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Goldtop and Ebony.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Ebony finish

Ebony finish

The Gibson Les Paul Traditional 12-string has an MSRP of $3,299 (approx. £2,092) - the same price for all finishes - and will be available in stores soon. For more information head to the Gibson site.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Read more
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Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
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