Description
Description & Specifications
1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom – Mickey Baker
We present an all original 1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom – Mickey Baker. Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
This incredible guitar is one of the rarest Les Paul Custom models to come across. Gibson only produced this version with P.A.F pickups in 1957, and some claim that only 7–12 units were made that year. In 1956, Gibson also made a very limited number of Mickey Baker models with three P-90 pickups.
The unique characteristic of this historical piece is the Mickey Baker wiring circuit (like the Gibson ES-5), which features three volume knobs on the lower bout of the guitar — one for each pickup. Instead of a toggle switch on the upper bout, it features a unique master volume knob. This configuration allows the player to blend all three pickups freely, achieving a wide range of unique tonal possibilities.
Overall, this vintage Gibson Les Paul Custom 1957 is in excellent condition with only minor nicks, dings, and cosmetic wear. It features beautiful finish checking across the body and neck. The gold-plated nickel hardware has naturally faded over the years, giving this historic guitar an incredible vintage aesthetic. The original frets are in great shape with plenty of life left.
The guitar features a one-piece, lightweight mahogany body and a one-piece bound mahogany neck with block inlays. The bound headstock with pearl inlay and the pearl Gibson logo looks overall excellent, with some finish checking and light wear on the back at the top. The original Kluson waffle-back tuners turn smoothly and work perfectly, even retaining their original pearloid tuner buttons.
1957 was truly part of Gibson’s golden era, especially considering the now-legendary “Patent Applied For” pickups — also known as P.A.F. pickups — which were produced from late 1956 to late 1962. This guitar features no fewer than three original P.A.F pickups. The tone is absolutely incredible — clear, articulate, and well-balanced. The neck pickup reads slightly hotter than the middle and bridge pickups, which is typical for the era.
The pickups and original electronics remain untouched and intact — no broken solder joints, no rewound pickups. 100% original and correct.
Comes complete with the original Gibson hardshell case, featuring a black exterior. Latches and handle are in perfect working order.
Mickey Baker History
Mickey Baker (also known as Mickey “Guitar” Baker) was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 15, 1925. He was one half of the pop duo Mickey & Sylvia, who had a hit single with “Love Is Strange” in 1957.
Mickey Baker is listed in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He was also a prolific session guitarist and influential guitar educator. Baker’s session work spanned jazz, calypso, mambo, and rhythm and blues. Alongside Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry, he is widely regarded as a key figure in bridging rhythm and blues with early rock and roll. In 1961, he performed the male spoken part (often misattributed to Ike Turner) on Ike & Tina Turner’s early hit “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine.” Soon after, he moved to France, recording solo material and collaborating with French pop and rock artists, including Ronnie Bird. His output slowed after the mid-1960s.
In 1999, Baker was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. His widely-used instructional book series, “Complete Course in Jazz Guitar,” has introduced countless students to the world of jazz guitar. Baker was also one of the early adopters of the solid-body electric guitar for jazz, especially the Gibson Les Paul Custom, which he and Johnny Cray heavily endorsed during the 1950s. Gibson created special triple-pickup versions for them with unique controls—now famously known as the Mickey Baker Les Paul Custom.
