The Les Paul Custom started out as an upgrade to Gibson’s original Les Paul model.

Introduced in 1954, it featured the adjustable “Tune-o-Matic” bridge invented by Ted McCarty, and was fitted with two different types of single-coil pickup: a P-90 in the bridge position, and an Alnico V, named for the type of magnet used for it’s pole-pieces, near it’s neck.

Gibson engineer Seth Lover’s Alnico transducer offered high output, but performed less well when players raised it’s height excessively.

It’s all-black finish led to the nickname “Black Beauty”, while the low, wide profile of it’s frets, which made fast left-hand work easier, earned it the soubriquet “Fretless Wonder”.