We love the idea behind the Collectors Choice Series from the Gibson Custom Shop. Instead of reissuing an entire year of Les Pauls, i.e. the ’57, 58, or 59 Les Paul, the Collectors Choice takes one specific guitar built in those historic years, and clones the instrument down to a T. For the 16th instrument released from the Collectors Series guitars, Gibson got their hands on the go-to guitar for Ed King, member Lynard Skynyrd and Strawberry Alarm Clock; a 1959 Les Paul nicknamed „Redeye.“

King’s original ’59 has an immediate aesthetic appeal, with a light burst that has spots of red due to uneven UV exposure over the years. This has been recreated to exacting detail at the Custom Shop. The feel and sound of the guitar are extremely special, something that has kept Ed King attached to it for all these years, and Gibson has chosen the right weight mahogany and exacting neck carves to recreate that magic.

Of course, like other 2013 Custom Shop Reissues, the „Redeye“ was constructed using a hide glue neck joint, historically accurate truss rod assembly, aniline dye for the back and sides, accurate binding, and a single layer rosewood fretboard. This will get you as close as possible to owning one of the quintessential rock relics of all time.