UPDATE: Pricing announced! MAP price on the Aged Marc Bolan Les Paul will be $7,999.99 and the VOS will be $4,999.99.
British rock and roll legend Marc Bolan is being remembered in a series of tribute Les Pauls from Gibson Custom Shop. Bolan was instrumental in the glam rock movement of the ’70s and rose to fame with his band T Rex, but was tragically killed in a car crash just before his 30th birthday. Also sad was what happened after his death; “fans” raided his home, stealing anything of value including his vintage Les Paul. Edit: his Les Paul had already been stolen at this point. This Les Paul had lived a hard life, believed to have had 3 different necks, and refinished as well. The guitar has since disappeared forever, and only rumors and photos exist to suggest what it actually was, although it is widely believed to be a ’50s Les Paul Standard body with a ’70s Custom neck.
The Gibson tribute version was shown at NAMM 2011, in both VOS and Aged (pictured) trim. The 2-piece maple top is center seamed, and is kind of an “unburst” Gibson is calling Bolan Chablis. The Custom Bucker pickups have no covers, and sure enough that’s a ’70s neck, complete with volute. It’s a cool Frankenstein Les Paul that looks great in person, we can’t wait to see the production versions.
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please note,
1. Marc’s original had a brown/cherry neck-back,
2. also it had two holes at the front caused of a removed Bigsby vibrato…
This is a truly wonderful guitar because the greatest star of all time, Marc Bolan, played the original. I will somehow scrape togther the moeny to buy one,
As publisher of the marcbolan.com “Depth Charge!” website, I think it’s very exciting that Marc Bolan is receiving such a tribute. It’s ironic to me because I know how many people dread going to NAMM, but this certainly made this year’s event more than worth it. However, I’m cautious because I want to know exactly how the artisans arrived at their decision of exactly how to recreate a guitar which was stolen in 1977. I can understand calling it a “Frankenstein” Les Paul, which further begs the question of what sources were consulted as to its components. How sure can we, as fans and potential buyers, be certain that these are the same pickups, neck, etc. that gave Marc Bolan his unique sound when the original instrument is not available to copy? Meanwhile, the number one question people are asking me today is “How much?” This tribute to Marc Bolan is in itself fabulous, but the most fascinating part of the story seems yet to be told.
well, think I have to correct myself, seems that final ‘custom’ neck was in fact a black one.
apparently they got the Bigsby holes right, have a close look at the picture.
it wasn’t stolen from his home after his death however. it happened during his lifetime (’76 I believe). It was nicked from a van parked in front of the Watkins music store. Ever wondered why Bolan played a wine red Les Paul Standard in ’77?
You see Bigsby holes?
I only see extra knob holes….
Hmmmmm
Marc’s guitar wasn’t stolen from outside a shop. It was stolen at the end of his rehearsal sessions from outside the studio underneath the arches at Waterloo. Marc was rehearsing for the forthcoming T.Rex dates in France and also the up and coming Dandy Tour.
I was taken aback recently when I saw footage of a Gibson rep indicating that they had taken details from Marc’s actual original guitar for their Signature model. This is totally NOT true. Marc’s Estate do not have the guitar and no one (except the thief) knows it’s whereabouts.
Also, I will say that from the video footage I’ve seen, it seems that the guitar has been quite heavily lacquered, where Marc’s was practically matt.
All in all though, it’s still brilliant that Marc has finally been accepted in this honourary fashion by Gibson guitars, who in my opinion, still make the finest guitars ever!