1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard

Made by Gibson1959Rockford, Illinois

A 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard — the 'Burst', the most coveted production electric guitar ever made — heard on Cheap Trick's early records and documented in coverage of the collector's ~2,000-instrument holdings.

Provenance

1959

Built by Gibson, Kalamazoo

confirmed

1970s

Used on Cheap Trick's early recordings (documented in guitar-press coverage)

documented

2026

Digitally preserved in Relic

confirmed

Current Custodian

Rick Nielsen

Rockford, Illinois

Request Research Access

Access Matrix

Digital viewingpublic
Additional photographsby request
Remote video inspectionavailable
Research visitowner approval
Temporary research loancase by_case
Museum exhibition loanavailable
Scientific samplingnot permitted
Commercial licensingcontact owner

Record Metadata

CategoryMusical Instruments

MaterialsMahogany body and neck, carved maple top, PAF humbuckers

Dimensions99 cm length

ConditionPlayed-in; original finish

Digital Record

24 high-res images (8,192 × 6,144)

3D Mesh / Photogrammetry

Precise digital measurements

Doc. Score: 90/100Scanned 8/30/2026

Cite this object

Relic Archive. (1959). 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard [Object record]. Relic Object RL-1959-007082.