well, that wesellguitars site has been updating its description of Keith's 59 LP: [
www.gbase.com]
i hope that link leads directly to the page with the description and additional photos,
but in case they change it again, here's the current text (with a couple of typos fixed) -
curiouser and curiouser is all i can say. :E
Model Name: Keith Richards original '59 Les Paul Standard
Case: Hard
Color: sunburst
Condition: Very Good
Price: Call for price!
Description: 'We Sell Guitars Limited' are pleased to be able to offer for sale what we believe to be
the most important Les Paul Standard in modern rock history. This is a very well known documented guitar
that has some incredible provenance and has made its eternal mark on the pages of rock'n'roll,
most notably with The Rolling Stones. In recent months the complete history of this incredible guitar
has come to light and a recent feature in 'Guitarist Magazine' last month brought to light the original owner.
History: The guitar is an original 1959 Les Paul Standard that was purchased new in March 1961
from 'Farmers Music Store' in Luton, United Kingdom by John Bowen. John played with 'Mike Dean & The Kinsmen'
and he had a Bigsby Vibrato fitted at 'Selmers' in London before trading the guitar in there
for a Gretsch Country Gentleman in late 1962. The guitar was then purchased by Keith Richards
who was playing rhythm guitar in a little known outfit called 'The Rolling Stones'.
Keith Richards used this guitar extensively in the early days of 'The Rolling Stones'
and it was seen regularly until 1966 when Keith began to favour a Les Paul Custom.
Appearances on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', 'Ready Steady Go' and classic songs like
'The Last Time', 'Satisfaction', 'Little Red Rooster' have this guitar all over them.
There are many great photographs of Keith and the guitar and as Keith was the first major pop star
to use a 'Burst' he was probably singlehandedly responsible for inspiring Clapton and Page
to both pick up Les Pauls. Keith owned and used this guitar way before Clapton had one, before Jeff Beck,
before Peter Green, before Jimmy Page, Mike Bloomfield, Joe Walsh, Billy Gibbons, Duane Allman
etc etc. (need we go on?) Keith sold the guitar to Mick Taylor in 1966 when Taylor had replaced Peter Green
in 'John Mayal & The Bluesbreakers' (who in turn replaced Eric Clapton). 'The Bluesbreakers'
classic British Blues sound was forged when Clapton plugged a 'Burst' into a Marshall JTM45 combo
and Peter Green followed suit, later controversially selling his 'Burst' to Gary Moore in 2006.
Taylor stood in for Clapton when he failed to show for a gig one night and ended up
playing Clapton's own Les Paul so it was inevitable that the young Taylor would go for the same guitar
and he exclusively played the Les Paul until he joined The Rolling Stones three years later.
Before Led Zeppelin Jimmy Page was a red hot session musician who cut his teeth on
a 3 pickup Les Paul Custom with fitted Bigsby. When the guitar was stolen he didn't replace it
until he purchased the famous 'Burst' he still owns from Joe Walsh of 'The Eagles'.
It is possible that Jimmy considered buying the 'Keith Burst' from Richards
in an effort to replace his - we aren't sure - but we are sure that Jimmy used the guitar
on at least one mid-60s recording session (pictured above). Eric Clapton used the 'Keith Burst' in 1966.
His original 'Bluesbreakers' 1960 Les Paul was stolen in Manchester in 1966 and obviously
missing the tone of a 'Burst' he borrowed the guitar from either Keith or Mick Taylor
when 'Cream' played at the Windsor Jazz & Blues Festival alongside 'John Mayal & The Bluesbreakers'.
Maybe Keith sold it to Eric then Eric sold it to Mick? Either way there are various photographs
taken of Clapton with this very guitar at the concert. In the summer of 1969 Taylor was invited
to the 'Let It Bleed' recording sessions by The rolling Stones. What he didn't realise
was that he was being 'auditioned' to replace Brian Jones. Taylor made his live debut with the band
at the famous Hyde Park concert in July 1969 after the shocking premature death of Stones guitarist Brian Jones.
The concert was immortalised by Granada Television who filmed the concert and released it
as 'The Stones In The Park'. Although the guitar wasn't seen during the gig it was filmed backstage
in the bands dressing room where Taylor is seen playing the guitar again. The guitar is next seen
in the hands of Mick Jagger (pictured above) during later recording sessions and it was later used
by Keith on the 1969 Rolling Stones Tour of America, most notably at the infamous free concert
held at The Altamont Speedway where a young man was murdered in front of the stage.
Keith Richards straps on the guitar for the second time during 'Honky Tonk Women'
and the concert is again documented in the film 'Gimme Shelter'. The guitar is last seen
in the hands of The Stones at the turn of the 70s where its disappearance is shrouded
in mystery and controversy. Rumour has it that the guitar was stolen from 'The Marquee' in 1971
during the 'Farewell Tour' of that year but Dave Brewis of 'Rock Stars Guitars' recounts a story
he heard from the next owner, Cosmo Verrico, who played guitar with 'The Heavy Metal Kids'
who were signed to Atlantic Records alongside The Stones. The story goes that a Stones representative
gave the guitar to Cosmo to replace one that was stolen. What is definite is that Cosmo did own the guitar
until 1974 when he sold the guitar to Bernie Marsden of 'Whitesnake'. Bernie owned the guitar
for a little over a week. He sold it to guitar enthusiast Mike Jopp and thought he had done well
when he made £50 profit. Mike Jopp owned the guitar until 2003 when it was sold to a private investor
being brokered by 'Rock Stars Guitars'. The 'Keith Burst' was next seen in late 2004
when it was offered up for auction by Christie's in New York. The guitar failed to meet reserve
possibly due to poor publicity and surrounding controversy where rumour has it that
a representative of Keith Richards laid claim to the guitar. This claim wasn't followed through
and Christie's let the guitar go to auction but the vintage boom had not yet happened
as original 1959 Les Pauls that are today $500,000 - $750,000 were then $150,000.
A private collector purchased the guitar in 2006 and spent considerable time and expense
in 'restoring' the guitar to its original condition.
Physical History: When the guitar last changed hands it had a couple of issues which are as follows:
The original Kluson tuners were replaced with Grovers. This was most probably done by Mick Taylor
for tuning stability. The pickup covers were also missing and the Bigsby unit wasn't the original one
that was fitted by Selmers in 1962. When Cosmo Verrico owned the guitar he confirmed
that he removed the Bigsby preferring a stop tailpiece and removed the bridge pickup and pickup covers.
This was the early 70s and this was all the trend. Some people believed the pickups sounded better
with the covers removed. Cosmo admits he accidentally cracked the headstock during a gig
and continued to play the guitar in that condition until Mike Jopp purchased it.
Mike confirms that he got Dick Knight to repair the crack professionally. Dick Knight
was a London based guitar builder and expert repairman. Interestingly enough, Dick also repaired
the damaged headstock of Jimmy Page's Les Paul. Mike also re-fitted a period Bigsby
and kept the guitar in this condition until he sold it in 2003. The current owner has since purchased
the original Bigsby from Cosmo and fitted an accurate replica pickguard and original style pickup covers
but decided to keep the Grovers as they were present the last time Keith Richards played the guitar.
All other parts are original and present and correct including the pickup rings.
The guitar was last delivered in a late 60s black Les Paul case. The current owner has recently purchased
an original brown 'Burst' case from 'The Hard Rock Cafe' that accompanied another Les Paul owned by Keith Richards.
Pricing: At the end of the day this is an original 1959 Les Paul Standard. It is the holy grail
of the electric guitar world and one of the most coveted instruments in the world
as well as being the most valuable. We appreciate that putting a price on such a significant piece
of rock'n'roll history is extremely hard and considering the documented pedigree of the guitar
and the fact it has been used in the hands of at least four iconic guitar players
we believe it to be the most important 'Burst' to ever surface in the public domain.
'We Sell Guitars' are offering the guitar exclusively at the personal request of the current owner.
Please contact us via the following for further info and pricing.
We Sell Guitars Limited +44(0)777 926 5314 www.wesellguitars.com