“There are really good ’Bursts, average ’Bursts and some that are not that good at all”: What this pristine 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard tells us about the myth of the ’Bursts

A 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard, made in 1960 but with 1959 parts, a mythical Double O.

When is a ’59 ’Burst not a ’59 ’Burst? The answer is when it’s a ‘Double O’. Most people associate 1960 Les Pauls with vibrant cherry sunbursts that never fade, reflector control knobs and skinnier neck profiles, but those features were not introduced right at the start of the year.

Well into 1960, Gibson continued building Les Pauls using necks, bodies and even pickups that had been made in 1959. These ’59-spec early 1960 ’Bursts have become known as ‘Double O’s because the first two serial number digits were zeros. That’s why they look, feel and sound indistinguishable from 1959 Les Pauls.