Gibson Les Paul Slash Gold Top. Limited Edition. 2008 - Used

Gibson Les Paul Slash Gold Top

Made in USA - 2008

Limited Edition - only 1000 worldwide.

Beautiful example in fantastic condition. Unfortunately the certificate is missing.

Currently set-up with 10-46 gauge strings.

Weight is 4.02kg

Gibson USA Slash Signature Goldtop (from www.gibson.com/Slash)

Rock and roll lost its focus in the late ’70s. That is, until the arrival of an old-school guitar slinger with a Gibson Les Paul around his neck. Armed with only Les Pauls, Slash singlehandedly slammed rock and roll back on course. The new Slash Signature Goldtop from Gibson USA is a heartfelt tribute to this iconic rocker, and one of his most beloved guitars. The new Slash Goldtop offers an un-chambered mahogany body with Gibson’s traditional weight relief system. A hand-carved maple top is then painted with Gibson’s classic Bullion Gold finish. A pair of Seymour Duncan Alnico II pickups provides all the power, punch and performance expected of a Slash Les Paul. The mahogany neck features a Slash-designed hybrid profile matching the roundness of a ’50s neck with the slimness of an early ’60s neck. New wiring, caps, resistors and tone pots give it its own unique tone, and the revolutionary Plek system delivers a computer-controlled set up that measures and dresses each fret. Other features include a TonePro Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar, Kluson-style Gibson tuners, a certificate of authenticity signed by Slash, and a custom-made hardshell case with a screened Slash logo. The new Slash Signature Goldtop from Gibson USA is a fitting tribute to a true rock music legend, and limited to just 1,000 guitars worldwide.

Finishes
Goldtop

The Gibson Logo
Some of the best guitars ever produced have proudly displayed the Gibson logo. The logo itself is made from hand-cut mother of pearl, inlayed into a pressed fiber-head veneer, glued to the face of the mahogany headstock, and protected by a thin coat of lacquer. Some of the best guitars ever produced have proudly displayed the Gibson logo. The logo itself is made from hand-cut mother of pearl, inlayed into a pressed fiber-head veneer, glued to the face of the mahogany headstock, and protected by a thin coat of lacquer.

Angled Headstock
Carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck and precisely angled at 17 degrees, the  Gibson headstock increases the pressure on the strings and helps them to stay in the nut slots. This also diminishes the loss of  string vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain. Unique to the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA is the artwork and logo personally designed by the legendary guitarist and positioned in the center of the headstock where the Les Paul Model script would normally be found. Carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck and precisely angled at 17 degrees, the Gibson headstock increases the pressure on the strings and helps them to stay in the nut slots. This also diminishes the loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain. Unique to the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA is the artwork and logo personally designed by the legendary guitarist and positioned in the center of the headstock where the Les Paul Model script would normally be found.

Adjustable Truss Rod
Gibson introduced the adjustable truss rod in the early 1930s and instantly revolutionized the guitar. Before this important innovation, the truss rod was used primarily to strengthen and stabilize the neck of the guitar. Now it’s the safest and most efficient way to straighten the neck, and allows a guitar to be set up using a variety of string gauges and string heights to accommodate any style of playing. In addition, by placing it at the base of the headstock, the adjustable nut is easily accessible, making any adjustment possible even while the strings are still on the guitar. Gibson introduced the adjustable truss rod in the early 1930s and instantly revolutionized the guitar. Before this important innovation, the truss rod was used primarily to strengthen and stabilize the neck of the guitar. Now it's the safest and most efficient way to straighten the neck, and allows a guitar to be set up using a variety of string gauges and string heights to accommodate any style of playing. In addition, by placing it at the base of the headstock, the adjustable nut is easily accessible, making any adjustment possible even while the strings are still on the guitar.

Slash-designed Neck Profile
The neck on the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop is modeled after the necks on Slash’s personal Les Pauls, which feature characteristics of both of Gibson’s traditional profiles rounder, yet slim. The necks on all of Gibson USA guitars are machined in a rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. Once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest of the construction including the final sanding is done by hand, which ensures that every neck will have its own distinct, but traditional, feel. The neck on the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop is modeled after the necks on Slash’s personal Les Pauls, which feature characteristics of both of Gibson’s traditional profiles rounder, yet slim. The necks on all of Gibson USA guitars are machined in a rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. Once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest of the construction including the final sanding is done by hand, which ensures that every neck will have its own distinct, but traditional, feel.

22-Fret Rosewood Fingerboard
The rosewood used by  Gibson is inspected and qualified before it enters the factories. Noted for its denseness and resiliency, rosewood makes fingerboards extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note an unparalleled clarity and bite. The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates dead or choked out notes, which can occur on fingerboards with lesser radiuses. The rosewood used by Gibson is inspected and qualified before it enters the factories. Noted for its denseness and resiliency, rosewood makes fingerboards extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note an unparalleled clarity and bite. The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates dead or choked out notes, which can occur on fingerboards with lesser radiuses.

Nickel and Silver Alloy Fret Wire
A combination of nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver) is shaped by hand into Gibson’s traditional medium-jumbo size and cut to an exact 12-inch radius. Each one is then hand-pressed into the fingerboard, where a machine then finishes the job to eliminate any gap that might exist between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard. A combination of nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver) is shaped by hand into Gibson’s traditional medium-jumbo size and cut to an exact 12-inch radius. Each one is then hand-pressed into the fingerboard, where a machine then finishes the job to eliminate any gap that might exist between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard.

Classic Trapezoid Inlays
Trapezoid inlays have graced the fingerboards of the most iconic  stringed instruments in the world, including the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA. They are manufactured from figured, swirl acrylic to get that classic pearl look then inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps, thus eliminating any need to use fillers. Trapezoid inlays have graced the fingerboards of the most iconic stringed instruments in the world, including the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA. They are manufactured from figured, swirl acrylic to get that classic pearl look then inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps, thus eliminating any need to use fillers.

Set-Neck Construction
All Gibson Les Pauls feature a glued neck joint, guaranteeing solid wood-to-wood contact between the neck and the body, leaving no air space in the neck cavity, and allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The neck on the Gibson USA Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop also features a historically correct short-neck tenon, which goes deeper into the body of the guitar to enhance tone and sustain and eliminate the possibility of a loose or misaligned neck. All Gibson Les Pauls feature a glued neck joint, guaranteeing solid wood-to-wood contact between the neck and the body, leaving no air space in the neck cavity, and allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The neck on the Gibson USA Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop also features a historically correct short-neck tenon, which goes deeper into the body of the  guitar to enhance tone and sustain and eliminate the possibility of a loose or misaligned neck.

Unchambered Solid Mahogany Body
As with all the wood that enters Gibson’s factories, the maple and mahogany used to build the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop is personally inspected and qualified by a team of skilled wood experts. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees, which guarantees that all woods are dried to a level of equilibrium where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also helps improve the woods machinability and finishing properties and adherence to glue. Consistent moisture content means that every new Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory. As with all the wood that enters Gibson’s factories, the maple and mahogany used to build the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop is personally inspected and qualified by a team of skilled wood experts. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees, which guarantees that all woods are dried to a level of equilibrium where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also helps improve the woods machinability and finishing properties and adherence to glue. Consistent moisture content means that every new  Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Pickups
The pickups in the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA are identical to the ones used by Slash in all his Les Pauls. I have Seymour Duncan Alnico IIs in all my Les Pauls, Slash says. They’re just great pickups. They’re actually low-output pickups so they’re a little bit cleaner than your average humbucker. They’re very sweet sounding. They handle gain very well, and they don’t over distort. They don’t try and add any phony dynamics that I don’t need. They’re as natural sounding as I can get. The Alnico II magnets on these Seymour Duncan pickups yield a warm, sweet tone with more natural string vibration for increased sustain. Since Slash gets most of his distortion from the amp rather than the pickup, these pickups allow him to back off the crunch and achieve beautiful, clean tones with a softer attack. The pickups in the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA are identical to the ones used by Slash in all his Les Pauls. I have Seymour Duncan Alnico IIs in all my Les Pauls, Slash says. They’re just great pickups. They’re actually low-output pickups so they’re a little bit cleaner than your average humbucker. They’re very sweet sounding. They handle gain very well, and they don’t over distort. They don’t try and add any phony dynamics that I don’t need. They’re as natural sounding as I can get. The Alnico II magnets on these Seymour Duncan  pickups yield a warm, sweet tone with more natural string vibration for increased sustain. Since Slash gets most of his distortion from the amp rather than the pickup, these pickups allow him to back off the crunch and achieve beautiful, clean tones with a softer attack.

Gibson’s Classic Bullion Goldtop Finish
The body of the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA is painted with the same finish found on the first Les Paul model in 1952 Bullion Gold. Les Paul himself and long-time Gibson executive Maurice Berlin originally settled on the gold finish in the early 1950s because they wanted the guitar to convey an impression of being expensive, the best, and most superb, and felt the color of gold would achieve this. The craftsmen at Gibson USA have worked closely with Slash to match the hue of the Goldtop finish on Slash’s original guitar. The body of the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA is painted with the same finish found on the first Les Paul model in 1952 Bullion Gold. Les Paul himself and long-time Gibson executive Maurice Berlin originally settled on the gold finish in the early 1950s because they wanted the guitar to convey an impression of being expensive, the best, and most superb, and felt the color of gold would achieve this. The craftsmen at Gibson USA have worked closely with Slash to match the hue of the Goldtop finish on Slash’s original  guitar.

Binding
The binding on a Les Paul Standard, or any other Gibson guitar, is a fundamental part of the company’s rich, guitar-making history. Though some people assume it is applied for aesthetic purposes only, the binding actually protects the body’s edges against damage and eliminates the sharp edges of the frets, providing a much smoother neck and easier playability. The process of applying the binding to any Gibson guitar is something that has to be seen to be truly appreciated. A lone craftsman carefully glues and fits two pieces of binding around the entire body of a Les Paul. A single, very long piece of narrow cloth is wound around the entire body until the entire surface is nearly covered. The body is then hung to dry for a full 24 hours before it is unwrapped and moved into the next phase of production. It has been done the same way at Gibson for over 100 years. The binding on a Les Paul Standard, or any other Gibson guitar, is a fundamental part of the company’s rich, guitar-making history. Though some people assume it is applied for aesthetic purposes only, the binding actually protects the body’s edges against damage and eliminates the sharp edges of the frets, providing a much smoother neck and easier playability. The process of applying the binding to any Gibson guitar is something that has to be seen to be truly appreciated. A lone craftsman carefully glues and fits two pieces of binding around the entire body of a Les Paul. A single, very long piece of narrow cloth is wound around the entire body until the entire surface is nearly covered. The body is then hung to dry for a full 24 hours before it is unwrapped and moved into the next phase of production. It has been done the same way at  Gibson for over 100 years.

TonePros Tune-O-Matic Bridge and Stopbar Tailpiece
The Tune-o-matic bridge on the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA is TonePros Model TP6, which is the locking version of the Nashville Tune-o-matic, combined with TonePros T1ZSA aluminum featherweight locking stopbar tailpiece. Both pieces are exactly as they are on Slash’s original Les Paul. The original Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954, and was a true revelation in intonation, setting a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. To this day, the Tune-o-matic remains the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed. The Tune-o-matic bridge on the Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop from Gibson USA is TonePros Model TP6, which is the locking version of the Nashville Tune-o-matic, combined with TonePros T1ZSA aluminum featherweight locking stopbar tailpiece. Both pieces are exactly as they are on Slash’s original  Les Paul. The original Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954, and was a true revelation in intonation, setting a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. To this day, the Tune-o-matic remains the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed.