Musikmesse 2016: Gibson Custom replicates Rick Nielsen's favourite 1959 Les Paul Standard guitar

MUSIKMESSE 2016: Although famed for his use of a veritable cavalcade of guitars - including a bevy of multi-necked Hamers - Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen does, in fact, have a favourite stage and studio guitar: his 1959 Les Paul Standard, which Gibson Custom has now replicated down to every last detail with a new limited-edition model.

Two finish options are available - aged and vintage gloss - and the guitar's body pairs a two-piece maple top with a one-piece genuine mahogany back. The neck is double-carved, one-piece mahogany, and the fingerboard is one-piece, hand-rolled Indian rosewood with cellulose trapezoid inlays.

Pickups, meanwhile, are specially wound Custom Bucker PAFs, tone-matched to Nielsen's original '59, and the pickup covers, plastics and period-correct finish all carry the same remarkable attention to detail.

In fact, the True Historic Specifications are so accurate, Nielsen has dubbed the guitar "remarkable" - the same goes for the price tag, which weighs in at $8,599. That's no cheap trick.

Nielsen and his Cheap Trick cohorts are due to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame on 8 April - as they gear up for the big night, Rick shared his top 5 tips for guitarists with us. Get the knowledge here.

Michael Astley-Brown

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.