“Jeff was the ultimate ‘tinkerer’, always changing the look, feel and sound of his guitars”: Up close with the Gibson Custom Shop reissue of Jeff Beck’s ‘YardBurst’ 1959 Les Paul Standard

Gibson Custom 1959 Jeff Beck YardBurst Les Paul.

Jeff Beck’s career with the hugely influential Yardbirds lasted from March 1965 to November ’66. And while he’s probably better remembered with a Stratocaster in his magical hands, this latest release from Gibson Custom and the Murphy Lab celebrates Beck’s 1959 Les Paul Standard, reportedly purchased in London in early ’66, just before the recording sessions started for The Yardbirds’ eponymous album, aka ‘Roger The Engineer’.

While its maker reminds us that the ‘YardBurst’ Gibson Les Paul is “a faithful recreation of this legendary guitar”, it might be wise to add “…and one he’d mucked about with”. For example, Jeff is pictured on Ready Steady Go! (27 May 1966) with the dark sunburst guitar, showing off its distinctive black pickguard but still with a cream toggle switch surround and covered humbuckers.