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1957 Gibson Les Paul Special: The Last Single-Cutaway P-90 Workhorse
1957 Gibson Les Paul Special: Last Single-Cutaway Dual P-90 Workhorse
Last Updated: May 2026
What Makes the 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special Significant?
The 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special is the final full year of single-cutaway production for Gibson's dual-P-90 workhorse — two P-90 single-coil pickups in a slab mahogany body with the classic Les Paul silhouette, before the radical double-cutaway redesign arrived in 1958. Positioned between the single-pickup Junior and the carved-top Standard/Custom, the Special delivered professional dual-pickup versatility at working-musician pricing — and 1957 represents the pinnacle of the single-cutaway Special with mature P-90 development, transitional bridge hardware, and peak Kalamazoo craftsmanship.
What makes 1957 particularly special:
Last Single-Cutaway Year: Final full year of classic Les Paul body shape on the Special before double-cutaway redesign (1958-1959). Last chance for the iconic SC silhouette with dual P-90s
Two P-90 Pickups: Dual P-90 single-coils at peak development — bridge and neck positions with three-way selector providing full tonal versatility. Approximately 7.5-8.5k ohms each, Alnico V
Pre-Humbucker Era: 1957 is the year PAF humbuckers debuted on Goldtop and Custom models — but the Special RETAINED P-90s. The Special's P-90 voice is a deliberate tonal choice, not a budget compromise
Bridge Transition: Some 1957 Specials have wraparound bridge, others have newly introduced Tune-o-matic — creating distinct configurations within the same year
Slab Mahogany Body: No carved maple cap — pure slab mahogany construction delivering warm, focused, midrange-rich tone
TV Yellow or Cherry: TV Yellow ("TV Model") commands 30-50% premiums — the distinctive limed mahogany finish ages to amber/gold
Bound Neck: Unlike the unbound Junior, the Special features neck binding — a step up in appointments
Dot Inlays: Simple dot markers in rosewood fingerboard
The 1957 Les Paul Hierarchy:
Model | Pickups | Body | Finish | Relative Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Junior | One P-90 | Slab mahogany | Sunburst/TV Yellow | Entry |
Special | Two P-90s | Slab mahogany | TV Yellow/Cherry | Working musician |
Goldtop | P-90 (early) / PAF (mid-year) | Carved maple + mahogany | Gold | Professional |
Custom | P-90/Alnico V (early) / PAF (mid-year) | Carved mahogany | Ebony | Premium |
In Edgewater's experience, 1957 LP Specials are among the most undervalued vintage Gibsons. Many shops price them as "not a Standard" without recognizing that the dual P-90 voice, last-year SC body, and TV Yellow finish create genuine collector demand. Single-cutaway TV Yellow Specials from 1957 are increasingly scarce.
Call (440) 219-3607 for free evaluation.
What Is a 1957 Les Paul Special Worth? (2026 Market Values)
Value by Finish and Condition
Condition | TV Yellow | Cherry | Modified |
|---|---|---|---|
Excellent | Premium tier | Upper-mid tier | Mid-tier |
Very Good | Upper-mid tier | Mid-tier | Lower-mid |
Good | Mid-tier | Lower-mid | Entry |
Value by Feature
Feature | Premium/Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
TV Yellow Finish | 30-50% premium | Over cherry — genuine rarity |
Original P-90 Pickups (Both) | 30-45% premium | Over replaced — dual P-90 essential |
Single Cutaway (1957) | 15-25% premium | Over double-cutaway (1958-1959) |
Tune-o-Matic Bridge | 5-10% premium | Over wraparound on Special |
All-Original Condition | 60-120% premium | Over modified |
Original Case | 5-15% premium | |
Humbucker Conversion | 30-50% reduction | Destroys dual P-90 identity |
Refinishing | 40-60% reduction | TV Yellow refinishes detectable |
Headstock Repair | 35-55% reduction | |
One P-90 Replaced | 15-25% reduction | Both should match |
How 1957 Special Compares
Model/Year | Key Difference | Relative Value |
|---|---|---|
1957 LP Junior | One P-90, unbound | 20-30% lower |
1957 LP Special | Two P-90s, bound, SC (last year) | Baseline |
1958-1959 LP Special DC | Two P-90s, double cutaway | 10-20% lower |
1957 LP Goldtop (P-90) | Carved maple top, gold finish | 40-70% higher |
1957 LP Goldtop (PAF) | Carved top, PAF humbuckers | 100-200% higher |
1957 LP Custom | Ebony, multi-ply, premium | 80-150% higher |
How to Identify a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special
Serial Numbers
Range for 1957: 7xxxx (five-digit ink stamped on headstock back)
Key Visual Identifiers
Body: Slab mahogany, SINGLE CUTAWAY (last year before DC)
Finish: TV Yellow or cherry — nitrocellulose
Pickups: TWO P-90 single-coils (bridge and neck)
Bridge: Wraparound OR Tune-o-matic (transitional — both authentic)
Fingerboard: Rosewood with dot inlays, BOUND neck
Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way toggle
Headstock: "Les Paul Special" designation
Neck: Mahogany, set neck
Scale Length: 24 3/4"
Nut Width: ~1 11/16"
Weight: ~6.5-7.5 lbs
Special vs Junior Quick Test
Feature | Special | Junior |
|---|---|---|
Pickups | TWO P-90s | ONE P-90 |
Neck Binding | Bound | Unbound |
Controls | 2V, 2T, selector | V, T only |
Price Tier | Higher | Lower |
Red Flags
Double cutaway on claimed 1957: SC only for 1957. DC = 1958-1959.
Humbuckers: Special has P-90s. Humbuckers = conversion.
Unbound neck: Special has BOUND neck. Unbound = Junior.
One pickup: Special has TWO. One = Junior.
"SG Special" designation: SG body not until 1961.
1957 Gibson Les Paul Special Specifications
Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
Body | Slab mahogany, single cutaway |
Finish | TV Yellow or cherry, nitrocellulose |
Neck | Mahogany, set neck, bound |
Fingerboard | Rosewood, dot inlays |
Scale Length | 24 3/4" |
Nut Width | ~1 11/16" |
Frets | 22 |
Pickups | Two P-90 single-coils (~7.5-8.5k ohms) |
Controls | Two volume, two tone, three-way toggle |
Bridge | Wraparound or Tune-o-matic (transitional) |
Hardware | Nickel/chrome |
Weight | ~6.5-7.5 lbs |
What Does a 1957 LP Special Sound Like?
Dual P-90 Versatility: Two P-90s with three-way selector create three distinct voices — aggressive bridge, warm neck, and blended middle position. More versatile than single-pickup Junior while maintaining the raw P-90 character.
Slab Mahogany Tone: Pure all-mahogany construction emphasizes warm midrange with natural compression. No maple cap means the mahogany voice is direct and unfiltered.
P-90 vs PAF Context: The 1957 Special retains P-90s while the Goldtop/Custom transitioned to PAF humbuckers. P-90s produce brighter, more cutting, more raw tone — single-coil aggression with hum-cancelling unavailable. The P-90 voice is why many players specifically seek Specials over humbucker-equipped models.
Common Issues
Humbucker conversion: Both P-90s replaced. 30-50% reduction. Enlarged routes.
Refinishing: 40-60% reduction. TV Yellow refinishes detectable.
Headstock repair: 35-55% reduction.
One P-90 replaced: Mismatched set. 15-25% reduction.
Wraparound to TOM conversion: 10-15% reduction (added holes).
Tuner replacement: 10-20% reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a 1957 Les Paul Special worth in 2026?
A: TV Yellow in excellent all-original condition commands premium tier — last single-cutaway year with dual P-90s. Cherry commands upper-mid tier. Both P-90s original essential. Single-cutaway commands 15-25% premiums over double-cutaway 1958-1959 equivalents.
Q: Why is 1957 the last single-cutaway Special?
A: Gibson redesigned the Special with a double-cutaway body starting in 1958-1959 for improved upper fret access. The 1957 is the final full production year with the classic Les Paul single-cutaway silhouette on the Special — making it the last chance for SC + dual P-90 combination.
Q: What is the difference between a Special and a Junior?
A: Special has TWO P-90 pickups, bound neck, and full 2V/2T/selector controls. Junior has ONE P-90, unbound neck, and V/T only. Special is one tier above Junior in Gibson's Les Paul hierarchy — more versatile but same slab mahogany construction.
Q: Does Edgewater buy Les Paul Specials?
A: Yes — free dual P-90 authentication, TV Yellow verification, bridge identification (wraparound vs TOM), complete evaluation. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia. Call (440) 219-3607.
Related Resources
Recently Purchased: 1957 LP Special Case Study
The Guitar: 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special in TV Yellow — last-year single-cutaway with dual P-90s. Original P-90 pickups (7.8k/8.2k, both matched), original TV Yellow nitrocellulose with 69-year aging to warm amber/cream with white primer visible at wear points, single cutaway slab mahogany body, Tune-o-matic bridge (transitional configuration), bound rosewood fingerboard with dots, original Kluson tuners. Serial number in 7xxxx range. No headstock repairs.
The Seller: Family in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Transaction: Edgewater verified both P-90s original and matched, confirmed TV Yellow finish through primer inspection, identified single cutaway (last year for Special), verified Tune-o-matic as authentic transitional configuration.
The Outcome: "Two shops priced it as 'a beat-up old Gibson with single-coil pickups.' Edgewater explained it's a 1957 LP Special — the last single-cutaway year with dual P-90s in TV Yellow. They showed us the white primer at the wear points proving original TV Yellow. Their offer was nearly four times the shops' quotes."
Edgewater Guitars: OH, MI, PA, IN, WV. Contact us: [link] | (440) 219-3607.
