I'm certain you will see a whole load of keen Les Paul guitar owners around who having purchased their dream guitar, would really love to make it that bit more in common with the holy grail of all Les Paul model guitars, the 1959 Sunburst Standard.
In my case I am the satisfied owner of a Gibson 59' VOS Les Paul, Gibson's own effort at reproducing the mystery of 1959, and an exceptionally lovely electric guitar it is. However, you will notice plenty of improvements that can be made to make it that little more real. Heaven only knows why Gibson are not able to upgrade these little factors here and there themselves, however it's down to aftermarket products to get nearer to the original.
So whether you've a budget priced copy or a more expensive Gibson product, what are those little improvements that can make a world of difference?
One really important area is the plastic parts. The colour is repeatedly the incorrect shade and in the example of the guitar pickup surrounds (rings), the incorrect colour and the incorrect height. The height of the rings on a lot of Les Pauls isn't in keeping with a 59 M69 ring which is taller. The colour on an original is also a lighter 'bone' shade than the heavy creams offered by many electric guitar aftermarket parts shops. They are cheap but not genuine looking. A few reproduction suppliers provide tremendously accurate replacement guitar pickup rings but at incredibly expensive prices. Having said that, there are also a few more competitive alternatives.
Other plastic parts that will be in need of improvement are the, pick guard, the selector switch surround with vintage correct font, the jack plate cover, knobs and the truss rod cover. All of these parts might be sourced online and you will find many organisations offering improvements over the stock versions. It is also possible to order these plastic parts already aged which will certainly add to the look, assuming you're happy with an aged look.
Further improvements may be be made in the guitar pickups department. Whilst on my VOS the Gibson Burstbuckers are relatively good, a number of more budget models can definitely benefit from new Les Paul pickups. Some guitar pickup suppliers will provide a Vintage specification close to the 59 PAF's, even with aged nickel covers. Position these with some fantastic rings and you will be away.
Some genuine Kluson tuners can finish off the original look and feel. It's even possible to purchase these with shrunken plastic tips, exactly like lots of the old originals.
The amazing aspect about all this is that it can be done in stages which is a good deal better for the wallet!
Jim Ward is a keen guitar player and loves to write about various aspects of the electric guitar. For an excellent guitar blog and high quality replacement pickups for a Les Paul or other style guitar he recommends visting: http://www.tubguitarpickups.co.uk/