Since it’s first appearance in 1952, the single-cutaway Gibson Les Paul has been highly successful. By the early 1960s, however, sales were declining, as demand grew for lighter-bodied, more streamlined types of elctric such as the Fender Stratocaster. The bosses at Kalamazoo responded by giving their Les Pauls a makeover.

A 3-pickup Les Paul Custom was introduced in 1961, with a narrower, contoured body with two sharp-horned cutaways. The model’s new features included a vibrato and a choice of finishes. The “fretless wonder” neck was retained.

By 1963, the Les Paul name had vanished from the company’s guitars, as “Les Pauls” were renamed “Solid Guitars” (“SGs”). The ornately engraved solid tailpiece seems a little out of place on the face-lifted contoured solid body which the Kalamazoo company hoped would help them to compete with the likes of Fender.