Description
Description & Specifications
1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard – Sunburst – Burst “Rosie”
We present an exceptional 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard – Sunburst “Burst”, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
This Burst has not yet been registered on burstserial.com. We leave it up to the next owner to decide whether the serial number should be published. Now you have the chance to get it listed on burstserial.com.
The Story of Rosie
This historical piece of Gibson history comes from the original owner in McNabb, IL, dating back to August 2021.
This original 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard and Gibson amplifier were given brand new to Rosie as a gift from her parents. Rosie played it in her three-piece band, The Rhythmettes, for around four or five years before getting married and having children. Marriage and kids became a higher priority than guitars. The band broke up, and she lost interest in playing. Therefore, this incredible Burst has been stored in its case ever since.
Fast forward to when one of her children had a daughter who wanted to learn to play guitar. She didn’t have an electric guitar, so she asked Grandma Rosie about hers. Rosie was pleased her granddaughter wanted to play and happily lent her the guitar after digging it out of the closet. After comparing similar guitars online, the granddaughter quickly realized this was not a reissue — this was the real deal. Rosie was not fully aware of how valuable a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst truly is.
In August 2021, Rosie contacted John Shults, founder and owner of True Vintage Guitar, to sell it. John connected Rosie with a guitar collector who offered a price that truly impressed her.
John from True Vintage Guitar is a good friend of ours. When we heard about this guitar with full documentation and provenance back in August, we became very interested. We contacted John to get in touch with the collector to see if they were willing to sell the guitar and amp. Thankfully, John made it happen. By February 2022, we acquired this beautiful 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard Burst with the matching Gibson amplifier. We were thrilled and incredibly excited.
Three years later, in February 2025, we were fortunate enough to buy it back from the person we sold it to in 2022.
Condition and Originality of this 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard “Burst”
This Gibson Les Paul Standard, nicknamed “Rosie,” is an exceptionally clean and original 1960 Gibson Les Paul ‘Burst’. It remained with its original owner from the time it was purchased new in 1960 until August 2021. Moreover, it is particularly rare due to the inclusion of all original paperwork, tags, and documentation, fully tracing the guitar’s history. A bulletproof Burst — completely original throughout. Exactly as it left the Kalamazoo factory in early 1960 — untouched and undisturbed from top to bottom.
The guitar features a beautifully flamed, book-matched top with a Cherry Sunburst finish. This classic late-’59 style finish predates the so-called ‘Tomato Soup Burst’. The color remains vivid with only minimal fading, and the back shows a deep, vibrant red with almost no color loss. It boasts a one-piece mahogany body and neck, along with a dark rosewood fingerboard featuring trapezoid celluloid inlays. The neck profile is comfortable and best described as a typical ’60s slim taper. The original finish is remarkably well-preserved, showing only minor finish checking.
The original Kluson tuners turn smoothly and function flawlessly, although the tuner buttons have slightly crumbled with age. As they had shrunk — a common issue — they were replaced with exact replica buttons. There are no extra holes or visible marks from this replacement, so the guitar’s value and originality remain uncompromised. The original tuner buttons are included for the next owner, should they wish to reinstall them.
The original P.A.F. humbuckers sound outstanding — powerful, articulate, and well-balanced. A rare ‘double white’ P.A.F. is fitted in the neck position. The pickup covers have never been removed, and both pickups retain their clean “Patent Applied For” decals. The control cavity and toggle switch cavity are completely untouched and factory stock. The original nut and frets are in near-new condition, with plenty of life remaining.
The serial number confirms the guitar was built and assembled in the first quarter of 1960. It also features four original gold top hat knobs — a clear indication of an early ’60 model, as Gibson transitioned to gold reflector knobs later that same year.
Pickups, electronics, and internal wiring are entirely original and unmodified, with no broken solder joints and no rewound pickups — everything remains intact and correct.
This Les Paul Standard comes with its original brown hardshell case, complete with pink interior. All latches and the handle are in perfect working condition.
Note: Our friend and photographer Eleanor Jane captured stunning photos of “Rosie” in 2022. We’re very grateful for her beautiful work — one of her images is included at the end of the product gallery. That photo was also featured in the “Bursts & Goldtops Calendar 2023,” which we are proud to be a part of.
