Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Plugin Week 2026
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Eloise's guitar journey
  • Keef's greatest hit
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Led Zep's Rain Song
  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

In pictures: Gibson's 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Les Paul Custom

News
By Matt Parker published 6 March 2014

Limited to a run of just 15 guitars

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

Check out the gallery above to take a closer look at Gibson's 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Les Paul Custom. As the somewhat lengthy name suggests, the instrument's been created in the conjunction with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and will be distributed exclusively through the foundation.

Based around a '50s Custom body, it features an aged Antique Pelham Blue finish, ebony 'board and various other aesthetic flourishes. Read the Gibson press release below and then click through the gallery to see the model in more detail.

Gibson 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Les Paul press release

There’s no more fitting way to celebrate the pantheon of rock and roll than with a custom rendition of a truly classic Les Paul. Gibson Custom and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, team up once again to follow up 2013’s sold out edition and bring you the 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Les Paul Custom, produced in a limited run of 15 guitars.

This striking tribute to rock and roll takes the hallowed form of the timeless ’50s Custom Les Paul, with acrylic block inlays in an ebony fingerboard selected from an ever-dwindling supply, multi-ply body binding, and headstock with multi-ply binding.

What’s more, the presentation is made all the more “custom” for this celebration edition thanks to several exclusive features: an aged Antique Pelham Blue finish (which accurately mirrors the vintage lacquer’s “greening” after exposure to light over several decades), the Hall’s pyramid logo inlaid on the headstock, “The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame” etched in the 12th-fret inlay, and a commemorative engraved silver badge in place of the switch cover on the back (a spare plastic switch cover is included in the case).

From its carved hard-maple top and select one-piece mahogany back, to its quarter-sawn mahogany neck with comfortable ’50s profile, to the PAF-certified tone delivered by its Custombucker pickups, the 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Les Paul Custom is a tour de force of hand craftsmanship that makes it as desirable a showpiece for the player as it is for the collector. Reserve yours now exclusively through the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With only 15 being made this year, they’re guaranteed to go fast.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Body

Body

Underneath the custom-aged Antique Pelham Blue finish, there's one-piece mahogany body and a hand-carved maple top.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Pickups

Pickups

Pickup duties are handled by two PAF-style Custombuckers with mismatched coils for a vintage vibe and Alnico III magnets at the core.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Headstock

Headstock

The headstock features a tweaked version of the traditional diamond design, using the triangular logo of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in its place. The truss rod cover is also custom-stamped.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Headstock (rear)

Headstock (rear)

Those are Grover Keystone tuners. In addition, the back of the headstock is stamped with the guitar's individual serial number - from 01 to 15. Obviously, here, we're looking at number eight…

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Controls

Controls

In keeping with the vintage vibe, you'll find no coil-tapping jazz here. Just two volume and two tone controls, plus a three-way toggle switch pickup selector.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Finish

Finish

Did we mention how much we love the finish? No? Well… We REALLY love the finish - and it's nitrocellulose lacquer, to boot.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Matt Parker
Matt 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
Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian presents ZZ Top frontman Billy F. Gibbons with a custom Explorer that he designed and built himself.
Artists Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian has made a stunning custom Explorer – and Billy Gibbons is playing it onstage with ZZ Top
 
 
Ace Frehley plays his 1975 Les Paul Custom backstage in '77.
Guitars Ace Frehley’s iconic ‘Budokan’ Les Paul Custom sells at auction for $512,000
 
 
The Gibson 1950s and '60s ES-335 pictured on the factory floor in Nashville.
Guitars Gibson’s unveils ‘50s and ‘60s ES-335s, promising “decade-correct feel, look and tone”
 
 
Gretsch G6136TG-58 Limited Edition 1958 Custom Falcon and G6134TG-58 Limited Edition 1958 Custom Penguin with Bigsby, photographed on a green leather couch,
Guitars Gretsch's exquisite, limited run Penguin and Falcon are a pair of fine-feathered guitars to crow about
 
 
Gibson Les Paul Studio Double Trouble presents the "double-white" humbuckers for a more affordable take on the limited run Les Paul Standard of 2025.
Guitars One of our favourite Les Pauls just got more affordable as Gibson gives the Double Trouble the Studio treatment
 
 
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue
Artists Epiphone and Alex Lifeson team up for a replica of the Rush guitarist’s iconic 1976 ES-355
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
Johnny Marr in his studio with some of the guitars that are heading to auction on September 17, 2026.
Artists Johnny Marr is auctioning off his most-famous guitars
 
 
Stranberg x Jam Stik MIDI
Electric Guitars “Sounds you'll never have heard from a guitar before”: Strandberg x Jamstik Chameleon review
 
 
Charvel's Neo-Classic Series offers the San Dimas Style 1 with and without a Floyd Rose, with finishes including Robin's Egg Blue, Ivory Blitz, Gloss Black, Velvet Midnight and Racing Red
Guitars Dweezil Zappa shredding in a skate park? That must be Charvel’s all-new American Neo-Classic Series
 
 
The Gibson Victory Floyd Rose was teased at NAMM and arrives in Iguana Burst, Deep Ocean Burst, and Translucent Ebony Burst finishes.
Guitars Do not adjust your set – Gibson just unveiled a doublecut shred machine with a Floyd Rose
 
 
PRS SE Rock Lady
Guitars “One of the most creative, out-of-the-box things we have done in a while”: PRS Guitars just made a signature guitar for an anime character
 
 
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue
Artists Epiphone and Alex Lifeson team up for a replica of the Rush guitarist’s iconic 1976 ES-355
 
 
Latest in News
audioroute
Tech Sample YouTube, Spotify or any other app with a single keyboard shortcut – this time-saving tool captures system audio with minimum hassle
 
 
Image of a recording studio with wood panels in the backround
Gear & Gadgets Amazon Prime Day has over 100 sound treatment deals. I run my own studio – these are the only 5 products that will actually work in your space
 
 
Carlos Santana (R) and Rob Thomas perform during the 42d Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, 23 February, 2000. Santana received eight awards including Record of the Year.
Artists Rob Thomas explains the genius of Clive Davis and his influence on Santana's Smooth
 
 
An orchestra instrument lays on the ground surrounded by empty chairs during a concert recess in Caracas on December 20, 2017
Music Industry Honey, it’s shrunk the orchestra!: How KeyComp is reducing the number of musicians in the musical theatre pit
 
 
3 fans on a patterned blue background
Gear & Gadgets 4 Prime Day fan deals to keep your home studio cool and your creativity flowing during the UK heatwave – plus, 3 practical reasons it's a wise investment for any musician
 
 
Rod Stewart performs at Mortgage Matchup Center on June 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona
Gigs & Festivals “I nearly f***in’ fainted up there”: Rod Stewart has to steady himself with oxygen during show in Utah
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...