Gibson Custom Shop Collector's Choice #4
"Sandy" — 1959 Les Paul Standard
The Gibson Custom Shop Collector's Choice #4 "Sandy" is far more than a standard Les Paul reissue. It is a highly detailed recreation of one of the most famous surviving 1959 Bursts — the original "Sandy" owned by Joe Bonamassa. Built as part of Gibson's respected Collector's Choice series, this guitar was designed to capture the exact look, feel and tonal personality of the original instrument. For Gerbman, this guitar is valued not only for its sound, but also for its relatively low weight, which makes it especially comfortable and responsive within his collection.
Manufacturer and Model Background
Gibson introduced the Les Paul in the early 1950s, but the late 1950s sunburst Les Paul Standards became the true icons. The 1958, 1959 and 1960 examples — known collectively as the Bursts — are among the most sought-after electric guitars ever built. The 1959 Les Paul Standard in particular is often seen as the holy grail, with its carved maple top, mahogany body, set neck and original PAF humbuckers delivering the sustain, warmth and harmonic richness that would define electric blues and blues rock for decades.
Gibson's Collector's Choice series was created to reproduce specific, historically important vintage instruments in exceptional detail. Rather than offering a generic reissue, each model in the series is based on a real original guitar — including its finish fading, wear patterns, neck shape and tonal identity. This model is officially designated as Collector's Choice #4, 9-1228 aka "Sandy", as confirmed by the certificate and case candy. That makes this guitar a direct tribute to Joe Bonamassa's famous original 1959 Les Paul.
This particular Sandy is fitted with zebra-style PAF humbuckers — one cream coil and one black coil per pickup. That is a classic late-1950s Les Paul detail and part of what makes the guitar visually distinctive and historically authentic.
Collector's Choice #4 — 9-1228 aka "Sandy". Certificate and case candy confirming the official designation.
Why This Guitar Matters in Blues
Few guitars matter more in blues than a great Les Paul. The design became legendary because it combines thick midrange, smooth highs and long, singing sustain with an expressive, vocal feel that suits blues phrasing perfectly. Compared to a Stratocaster, a Les Paul drives an amplifier harder and produces a fuller, more compressed sound with more low-mid authority. That makes it especially effective for slow blues, sustained lead lines and expressive bends that need weight behind every note. The Sandy model captures exactly that side of blues guitar tone.
What Respected Blues Guitarists Did With It
Eric Clapton helped define the Les Paul's place in blues history during his Bluesbreakers period, where the combination of a Les Paul and a cranked tube amp created one of the most influential lead tones ever recorded. Gary Moore later brought the Les Paul back to the forefront of blues with his soaring sustain, emotional vibrato and thick singing tone, proving how powerful the model could be in a more modern blues setting.
Joe Bonamassa has carried that tradition into the present day, and "Sandy" is one of the most recognizable guitars in his collection. Through live performances, studio work and public visibility, the guitar has become one of the best-known Bursts in the modern blues world.
Sound Profile
A great 1959-style Les Paul has a tone that feels immediately different from a Stratocaster.
What Makes It Special
What makes this guitar special is the combination of historical significance, Gibson Custom Shop execution and musical feel. The Collector's Choice series was never about broad approximation — it was about recreating a specific legendary instrument as faithfully as possible. That includes the top carve, maple figuring, faded honey burst finish, aging details, neck feel and vintage-correct hardware and electronics.
The zebra-style PAF humbuckers are an important part of that appeal. They give the instrument an unmistakable visual link to late-1950s Bursts and reinforce the sense that this is a historically grounded recreation rather than a generic Les Paul variation.
Another major reason this particular guitar stands out is its weight. Many Les Pauls are heavy instruments, which can affect both comfort and resonance. This Sandy is relatively light compared to others, giving it a more open, responsive feel and making it one of the most enjoyable Les Pauls to play in Gerbman's collection.
Gerbman is primarily associated with Stratocasters, but this Les Paul gives him a completely different tonal option. Where a Strat offers glassy highs, snap and attack, the Sandy delivers thickness, sustain and a broader midrange voice. In a trio or live band mix, a Les Paul can fill more sonic space and create a bigger, more sustaining lead tone for slower or more expressive material.
For Gerbman, this specific Sandy is especially appreciated not just for its tone, but also because of its relatively low weight. Compared to many other Les Pauls, it feels noticeably more comfortable and more responsive — which makes it one of the most valued Les Pauls in his collection when comfort, response and tone all need to come together.
Rarity and Availability
Original 1959 Les Paul Standards are among the rarest and most valuable electric guitars in existence. The Gibson Custom Shop Collector's Choice series occupies a very different but still highly respected space — built in limited numbers and widely regarded as more historically detailed and collector-oriented than standard reissues. Because this guitar is specifically a Collector's Choice #4 "Sandy", confirmed by the certificate and case candy, it has stronger collector appeal than a regular Custom Shop Les Paul. Rarity classification: collectible.
Variants and Alternatives
- Gibson Custom Shop 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue — the standard historic recreation
- Gibson Murphy Lab aged Burst replicas — heavily aged versions for maximum vintage authenticity
- Other Joe Bonamassa-associated Gibson Les Paul releases
- Collings City Limits — boutique alternative with exceptional build quality and similar tonal character
- Epiphone Les Paul Standard — accessible entry point to the Les Paul design
- Original late-1950s Gibson Les Paul Standard Burst — the vintage reference, extraordinarily valuable
