1957 Gibson Les Paul Special: Last Single-Cutaway Dual P-90 Workhorse

The 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special was the last single-cutaway year of this dual P-90 workhorse, prized for its raw P-90 tone and light mahogany build. Originality, the single-cutaway body, and original P-90s drive value. Edgewater Guitars buys vintage Gibson Les Pauls nationwide with free expert appraisals and same-day cash offers. Call or text (440) 219-3607.

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:

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

Value by Feature

How 1957 Special Compares

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

1. Body: Slab mahogany, SINGLE CUTAWAY (last year before DC)

2. Finish: TV Yellow or cherry — nitrocellulose

3. Pickups: TWO P-90 single-coils (bridge and neck)

4. Bridge: Wraparound OR Tune-o-matic (transitional — both authentic)

5. Fingerboard: Rosewood with dot inlays, BOUND neck

6. Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way toggle

7. Headstock: “Les Paul Special” designation

8. Neck: Mahogany, set neck

9. Scale Length: 24 3/4”

10. Nut Width: ~1 11/16”

11. Weight: ~6.5-7.5 lbs

Special vs Junior Quick Test

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

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

1. Humbucker conversion: Both P-90s replaced. 30-50% reduction. Enlarged routes.

2. Refinishing: 40-60% reduction. TV Yellow refinishes detectable.

3. Headstock repair: 35-55% reduction.

4. One P-90 replaced: Mismatched set. 15-25% reduction.

5. Wraparound to TOM conversion: 10-15% reduction (added holes).

6. 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

• Gibson Les Paul Junior Guide

• Gibson SG Junior Guide

• 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop

• Gibson PAF Pickups Guide

• Gibson Serial Number Lookup

• Sell Your Guitar to Edgewater

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: get a free estimate | (440) 219-3607.

Another recent example (August 2026): Edgewater bought a second 1957 Les Paul Special from the wife of its original owner in the Phoenix area. One family, one dry climate, nearly seventy years: it came to us all original and close to mint, one of the cleanest examples of the model we have handled. Guitars like these two are why we always ask where an instrument has lived, because storage and climate history are worth real money on a P-90 Special.

Sell your 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special

Edgewater Guitars buys vintage Gibson Les Pauls and other vintage Gibsons nationwide. We give free, honest appraisals and fair same-day cash offers, with local pickup or insured nationwide shipping. Call or text (440) 219-3607 or request a free estimate.

How much is a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special worth?

As a real reference point, Edgewater recently paid $17,000 for a clean, all-original 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special. Condition, originality, and finish move that figure up or down, so the most accurate number for your specific guitar is a free appraisal. Send a few photos and the serial number and we will give you an honest assessment.

Where can I sell a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special?

Edgewater Guitars buys them directly, nationwide, with same-day cash offers and no obligation. You can also date yours with our Gibson serial number lookup.

See also: Vintage Gibson Les Paul Special Value Guide (1955-1958)