1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Yellow Special Original Vintage Guitar | Dual P-90 Pickups, Player-Grade

1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Special Original Vintage Guitar Player-Grade

Here is a really cool player-grade 1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Special in classic TV Yellow—one of the most iconic and unmistakable finishes in the entire vintage Gibson lineup.

This is exactly the kind of guitar that defines “working player” vintage Gibson tone. It clearly lived a full, well-used life, and you can tell it was owned and played heavily by someone who truly bonded with it over the years.

Under the wear, this is a rock-solid, great-playing instrument. The original P-90 pickups absolutely roar, delivering that raw, punchy, mid-forward tone that made TV Specials legendary for rock, blues, and early rock ’n’ roll.

This guitar is not without its history. It has had some old-school structural repairs, most notably around the neck heel area (including filled screws drilled through the board) and a headstock repair. These repairs are not cosmetic perfection pieces, but they are stable, solid, and have clearly held up over time, allowing the guitar to remain fully functional and very playable.

It is fairly original overall, with a few notable changes. The tuners have been swapped to 60s-era Grover Patent Pending units mounted upside down (Ace Frehley style), and the bridge is a later replacement that fits the guitar well visually and functionally. Everything else remains largely original, including the untouched electronics, pickguard, knobs, back plates, and even the original jack plate, which is a particularly nice detail to still see intact.

The frets are original and quite low, but despite this, the guitar still plays surprisingly well with no major choking or dead spots, making it a very usable vintage instrument as-is.

Cosmetically, this is very much a played and worn 1950s Gibson, showing dings, scratches, finish wear, and visible repair history throughout. That said, it has undeniable character and a real-world vintage vibe that many players actually prefer over cleaner examples.

It comes housed in a newer hard shell case.

The Details

• Condition: Player Grade / Good

• Originality: Mostly original with tuners and bridge changed; old structural repairs

• Finish: TV Yellow

• Notes: Neck heel repair (reinforced with screws), headstock repair, original P-90 electronics, original jack plate

Playability & Sound

This one is all about feel and tone. Despite its cosmetic and structural history, it plays surprisingly well and delivers that unmistakable raw, snarling P-90 tone that makes late-'50s Specials so addictive. It’s loud, immediate, and full of attitude unplugged and plugged in.

Specifications

• Brand: Gibson

• Model: Les Paul TV Special

• Year: 1957

• Finish: TV Yellow

• Pickups: Original P-90s

• Nut Width: 1.69"

• Neck Depth: 0.89" (1st Fret)

• Neck Depth: 0.98" (12th Fret)

• Weight: 7.4 lbs

• Case: Newer Hard Shell Case

Why Buy From Kansas City Vintage Guitars?

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