1997 Gibson Les Paul Studio Tak Matsumoto Fireball Flame w/ Case, Yamano
$3,599.99
$3,599.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1997 Gibson Les Paul Studio in near-mint condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and hangtags. This Les Paul Studio has a painstakingly-applied aftermarket custom finish designed as a one-to-one recreation of the iconic instrument used by Takahiro “Tak” Matsumoto during the 1997 B’z “LIVE-GYM Pleasure ‘97 Fireball” concert. B’z is the best-selling music act in Japanese history, with over 100 million records sold worldwide (86 million units in Japan alone); Tak is the guitarist and main composer for the group, widely considered to be one of the most influential guitarists in Japanese history.
This guitar dates to the so-called “good wood” era of Gibson production, and this Les Paul Studio was also ordered by Gibson’s Japanese distributor Yamano; Gibson’s USA-made guitars distributed via Yamano are often considered to be among their absolute best, featuring the highest quality woods picked for Gibson’s discerning Japanese audience (this Les Paul retains the rare Japan-specific “Premium Quality For Japan” hangtag).
Traditional tonewoods include a mahogany body with a carved maple top and a mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard. The 490R and 498T alnico magnet humbuckers cover considerable tonal ground: the 490R is Gibson's Modern Classic humbucker, featuring Alnico II magnets and a similar response to a PAF, yet with more midrange emphasis. The 498T bridge pickup has Alnico V construction, yielding plenty of muscle and growl, well-suited for high gain scenarios. This Les Paul Studio is lightweight at 8lbs 6oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Slender ‘60s-style C, measuring .820” 1st fret, .990” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, pearloid flared trapezoid inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Gibson Deluxe double-line
-Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to ‘97
Body Specs:
-Wood: Maple, Mahogany
-Pickups: 490R/498T humbuckers
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Harness: Gibson-branded pots
-Hardware: Nashville bridge, stopbar
-Plastics: Black speed knobs, switch tip
The custom Tak Fireball finish is carefully applied and very skillfully executed, and there is no wear beyond a few faint finish scratches on the back. The smooth nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless.
The original hardshell case is included, along with the Gibson/Yamano hangtags.
This guitar dates to the so-called “good wood” era of Gibson production, and this Les Paul Studio was also ordered by Gibson’s Japanese distributor Yamano; Gibson’s USA-made guitars distributed via Yamano are often considered to be among their absolute best, featuring the highest quality woods picked for Gibson’s discerning Japanese audience (this Les Paul retains the rare Japan-specific “Premium Quality For Japan” hangtag).
Traditional tonewoods include a mahogany body with a carved maple top and a mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard. The 490R and 498T alnico magnet humbuckers cover considerable tonal ground: the 490R is Gibson's Modern Classic humbucker, featuring Alnico II magnets and a similar response to a PAF, yet with more midrange emphasis. The 498T bridge pickup has Alnico V construction, yielding plenty of muscle and growl, well-suited for high gain scenarios. This Les Paul Studio is lightweight at 8lbs 6oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Slender ‘60s-style C, measuring .820” 1st fret, .990” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, pearloid flared trapezoid inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Gibson Deluxe double-line
-Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to ‘97
Body Specs:
-Wood: Maple, Mahogany
-Pickups: 490R/498T humbuckers
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Harness: Gibson-branded pots
-Hardware: Nashville bridge, stopbar
-Plastics: Black speed knobs, switch tip
The custom Tak Fireball finish is carefully applied and very skillfully executed, and there is no wear beyond a few faint finish scratches on the back. The smooth nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless.
The original hardshell case is included, along with the Gibson/Yamano hangtags.
