Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Bourbon Burst 2019

This second hand electric guitar is in great condition.

2019 model. Includes original Gibson Hardcase and paperwork

Has been upgraded with EMG active pickups.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s is one of the flagships of Gibson’s Modern Collection. It faithfully recreates the look, feel, and sound of a classic late-’50s/early-’60s Les Paul but with modern build consistency. The Bourbon Burst finish is one of the standout colour options, showcasing Gibson’s AAA-grade flame maple top with a deep, rich sunburst.

Normally, this model comes with Burstbucker vintage-voiced, PAF-inspired humbuckers that deliver the classic Les Paul growl. However, in this case, the guitar has been modified with EMG active pickups , shifting its tonal identity.

Build & Design

• Body: Solid mahogany with AA or AAA flamed maple cap.

• Neck: Mahogany, slim taper ’60s profile — faster and slimmer than the chunkier ’50s style.

• Fingerboard: Rosewood with trapezoid inlays, 22 medium jumbo frets.

• Hardware: Nashville Tune-o-Matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, Grover Rotomatic tuners.

• Finish: Bourbon Burst — deep amber-to-red gradient that shows off the flame beautifully under light..

Build quality is excellent, as expected from USA-made Gibsons. The addition of EMG pickups introduces a different set of controls and often requires battery routing, but the craftsmanship of the core instrument remains superb.

Tone & Performance

• With stock Burstbuckers: The guitar would normally lean into warm, harmonically rich PAF tones — ideal for blues, classic rock, and jazz. Smooth cleans, creamy mids, and singing sustain define the original voice.

• With EMGs installed:

  • Clean tones: Clear, glassy, and very precise — less organic warmth than Burstbuckers, but more clinical definition.

  • Overdrive/Distortion: Tight, aggressive, and razor-sharp — the guitar now roars with modern metal and hard rock tones rather than vintage crunch.

  • Dynamics: EMGs compress naturally, meaning less variation with picking intensity but more consistency at high gain.

  • Sustain: Already a strong point on a Les Paul, but with EMGs, it’s endless. Palm-muted riffs are tight and articulate, leads sing with searing clarity.

Playability

The ’60s Slim Taper neck is a dream for faster players — smooth, slim, and fast without being too thin. Combined with the Les Paul’s shorter 24.75" scale, bends are easy and fluid. The added EMGs make this guitar far more suited to modern rock and metal players, who might otherwise look elsewhere.

Strengths

• Classic Gibson craftsmanship — feels luxurious and solid.

• Stunning Bourbon Burst flame top — one of Gibson’s best finishes.

• Slim Taper neck offers excellent playability.

• EMG pickups bring crushing metal tones and surgical precision.

• Sustain and power are unbeatable when paired with high gain amps.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s Bourbon Burst with EMGs is a fascinating hybrid: a luxurious, vintage-style Les Paul dressed in one of Gibson’s finest finishes, but with the ferocity of a modern metal machine. The EMG swap radically alters its tonal DNA, making it less of a vintage rock/blues guitar and more of a powerhouse for metal, hardcore, and high-gain progressive styles.