Rick Nielsen and his band Cheap Trick have been bringing the world's arenas to the boil since 1973. Hits like "Surrender" or "The Flame " cemented the band's place in the Olympus of the Hard Rock Gods and impressively highlight Nielsen's expressive and virtuoso guitar playing.
For 25 years now, Rick Nielsen has been using his 1959s Les Paul Standard , both in Studio and on stage, which are inseparably linked to him and his sound. The exclusive edition Gibson Custom Shop now offers the opportunity to enjoy the sound and feel of the Holy Grail.
Based on the True Historic Specs introduced in 2015, the Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul has the authentic shape and ceiling contour of the golden era thanks to elaborate Double carving, while the use of Hot Hide Glue to join all the wooden parts together ensures historical correctness. Great care was also taken in the selection of the maple top, whose intense flame looks similar to that Original of the one to be confused.
Thanks to the elaborate nitrocellulose finish and broken fingerboard and body edges, the Rick has a high degree of playing comfort whose haptic impression is indistinguishable from that of a well-rehearsed Original guitar from the golden era.
The well-known Custom Bucker from True Historic the Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul Collector's Choice range are also used as pickups on the Rick Nielsen. Produced after extensive analysis of the best PAFs, these Humbucker come closer to the legendary sound than ever before. With transparent dynamics, crystal clear highs and vocal mids, they transport the singing Les Paul sound both on the clean and on the distorting amplifier and thus form the perfect basis for expressive solos, rich riffs and moving melodies.
Originally developed by Ted McCarty and patented in 1952, the ABR -1 " Tune -O-Matic" bridge has proven itself to this day and is also used on the Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul Custom . Its construction supports the typical sound behaviour of the Les Paul strings and ensures perfect adjustment of intonation and string position. The strings are held in place by the light Stopbar - Tailpiece out Aluminium position on the body side, while on the headstock Kluson Deluxe mechanics with historically correct " Single Ring Green keys" ensure high tuning stability.
In addition to the classic Lifton-Style case, the Gibson Rick Nielsen 1959 Les Paul comes with a bound certificate and a neutral cover for the Switch Cavity.