In the world of rock and heavy metal, few guitars are as iconic as Zakk Wylde’s Gibson Les Paul Custom. Known for its striking bullseye graphic and powerful tone, this guitar has become synonymous with Wylde’s blistering riffs and wild solos. Let’s take a closer look at the history of this legendary instrument and the man who wields it with such mastery
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History Of The Les Paul
Before we discuss the Zakk Wylde Gibson Les Paul Custom, let’s examine some of Les Paul’s history.
The Gibson Les Paul was the first solid-body electric Guitar introduced in 1952 and sold by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1954.
Gibson Co. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org
The original research and design were created by John Hus, the company’s management at the time, with input from the man whose name would be iconic to the instrument: Les Paul.
Joint Venture
This collaboration between Gibson and legendary guitarist Les Paul started in 1947.
The co-creating artist continued to use the iconic instrument until he died in 2009 at 94.
Gibson Les Paul Traditional Model – Image courtesy of Wikimedia and Creative Commons
Guitar Specs
This Gibson Solid Body Les Paul would offer…
- A Solid Mahogany body
- Carved Maple top
- Single Cutaway
- Maple set-in neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- Two pickups with independent volume and tone controls and
- Stoptail Bridge
The company offered a Gold Finish from 1952 to 1958 and added sunburst finishes from 1958 to 1968.
It also offered 2 P-90 Pickups (a single-coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946 before adding humbuckers in 1957).
Even though this Guitar is now legendary, it was initially a commercial failure from 1952 to 1960 and was replaced with the heavier “Gibson SG” from 1961 to 1963.
From its reintroduction in 1968 to the present day, this instrument has been the ” go-to” Guitar with the likes of…
- Jeff Beck (1954 model)
- Jimmy Page (1959 model)
- Randy Rhoads (1974 model)
First Signature Models
Gibson has made many models and variations of the Les Paul Line, including “Signature Models.”
For example…
In January 2012, Gibson released a Signature Les Paul model inspired by the rock group KISS’s famed guitarist, Ace Frehley.
This Les Paul was designed for him and played for the first time on stage in Nippon Budokan, Japan, in 1977.
Most recently, you had the Slash/Gibson Joint Venture in 2017.
Along with the Fender Stratocaster/Telecaster, the Gibson Les Paul is one of popular music’s most sought-after and widely used guitars.
The ’80s were a changing point in the rock genre, and the evolution of the rock scene would start to put the instruments to the test.
Guitarists began pushing the limits of the music by playing faster, heavier, and more aggressively, and they were genuinely the center of the group’s sound and image.
One such artist/guitarist to personify that statement is…
Zakk Wylde
Zakk Performing in 2010 – Image author chickswithguns – license under Wikimedia and Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
Zakk Wylde is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist best known for his lead guitar work for Ozzy Osbourne and the heavy metal band Black Label Society, which he founded and contributes as lead singer/pianist as well as guitarist.
Some of his solo projects included Pride & Glory, a self-titled album (1994).
Other solo works include Book of Shadows, released in 1996/1999 and Book of Shadows 2 (2016).
Zakk Wylde has carved a path as one of rock’s most fiery players on stage today.
His playing style is best described as fierce, so it stands to reason that you need a guitar that can keep up.
Enter Gibson Custom Shop
The Gibson Company was excited to work with the artist to create an instrument that features his trademark bullseye graphics, EMG Humbucking pickups, and raw, unfinished necks, all designed to please most shredders.
The “Grail”
The 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom & Zakk
How it happened…
It’s not unlikely for guitarists to trade Axes with each other.
Zakk’s friend Scott Quinn offered to trade him the 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom if Zakk could find him a Gibson Black Double-neck SG.
The new Ozzy guitarist managed to talk to Gibson and get his friend the instrument he desired.
The guitar Zakk so affectionately calls “The Grail” changed hands just in time for him to start his new career with Ozzy in 1987.
The 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom was equipped with standard humbuckers but was soon replaced with EMG 81/85 after exposure to these pickups through one of Zakk’s guitar students.
Check Out the Zakk Wylde Signature Gibson Les Paul Video
The “Bullseye” Design
A Mistake Gone…Right!
After joining Ozzy at the age of 20 and replacing the iconic Randy Rhoads, Zakk shared many similarities with the late famed guitarist.
- Long blond hair &
- A cream-coloured Les Paul
Zakk’s signature “Bulls Eye” design came out as a way to distinguish himself from Randy and give himself a trademark, as more guitarists were also doing at the time.
The original guitar idea and design Zakk wanted was a spiral from the Hitchcock movie “Vertigo“; unfortunately, when the guitar was returned, the paint job was incorrect and not with the design Zakk had envisioned in his mind.
Instead of a spiral vertigo motif, it returned with a “bull’s eye.”
They were ready to do some initial photoshoots, and Zakk realized it was too late to correct the mistake, so it became Zakk’s trademark, saying…
“I asked for the Hitchcock vertigo design, but it came back with the bull’s eye on it.
I had to do the photoshoot the next day, so I was like, “F*** it.”
Over the years, the design has had many variations, including a mirror finish, an orange buzz saw, and cameo graphics, but Zakk is still associated with the cream Les Paul with the black Bulls Eye today.
Les Paul w/Bulls Eye Design-Image courtesy of themusiczoo.com
The Guitar
Zakk Wylde Signature Guitar
The Gibson Custom Shop features their Zakk Wylde Signature Les Paul Custom in tribute to this premier heavy metal guitarist and constructed under the artist’s close guidance.
Image courtesy of legacy.gibson.com
It has the same specs as his original “Grail,” starting with the carved Maple top, solid Mahogany back, multi-ply back/white binding, iconic ” Bulls-eye” graphic finish, and more.
(Read on)
Les Paul Tech Specs
Body
- The Top Material is – carved Maple with a Solid Mahogany body
Carved Maple Top, w/Solid Mahogany Body-Image courtesy of musiciansfriend.com
- Finish – Gloss with Black and White Bullseye
- Country of Manufacturing – United States
- Production run – 1999 – 2016
Neck
The neck is a 3-piece Maple with a Set-in construction and a classic “C” Profile with a thickness of .85″ on the 1st fret to .98″ on the 12th.
The neck is raw and unfinished, giving it a smooth, worn-in feel with a 22-fret Ebony Fingerboard and Block Pearl Inlays. (See image)
3-Piece Maple Neck w/”C” Profile & Block Pearl Inlays -Image courtesy of legacy.gibson.com
- Fingerboard Radius – 12.00″
- Nut Width – 1-11/16″
- Scale Length – 24.75″
Hardware & Electronics
The Guitar’s hardware is finished in Gold, including its Nashville Tune-o-Matic (TOM) bridge and Stop-Bar Tailpiece.
- Controls – 2-volume, 2-tone, 3-way selector switch
3-way Toggle Selector Switch and Independent Volume/Tone Controls.-Image courtesy of themusiczoo.com
Powerful EMG 81/85 Humbucking Pickups
The pickups are the same as those in Wylde’s original Guitar: an EMG85 Active Humbuckers in the neck position and EMG81 Active Humbuckers in the Bridge, resulting in a thick, heavy tone.
EMG Neck pickup -Image courtesy of themusiczoo.com
The EMG85 Neck – provides a natural warmer/beefier, low-end, fatter top sound.
The EMG81 Bridge – works at high volume with overdrive and master volume on the amps.
It gives a sharp attack and incredible sustain, which is great for soloing and cleaning up surprisingly well when you back off on the volume with Zakk saying…
“I thought, ‘Wow, that’s what that amp was supposed to sound like!’ I could hear all the highs, lows, mids. And the clarity — I could hear everything.”
Together, they are the perfect combination, giving you an authentic monster tone!
To Get A Set Of EMG Zakk Wylde Humbucking Active Pickup Set, Black, Tap On the Image Here- courtesy of Amazon
Special Features
Zakk Wylde Logo
All of the Signature Guitars come with an Engraved Gold Truss-Rod Cover and the Zakk Wylde Logo on the back of the headstock to not mistake the inspiration with Kidney Bean Grover Tuners. (See Image)
Zakk Wylde logo on the headstock (Back) -Image courtesy of themusiczoo.com)
Multi-Ply Binding & Case
The guitar is finished with a Multi-ply binding on the body, top, back, neck, and peghead. It also comes with a Gibson Custom Hardshell Case and a Certificate Of Authenticity.
Binding – Image courtesy of legacy.gibson.com
VLOG
Final Thoughts
First, remember that based on the distinctive graphics, you would probably want to be an admirer of Zakk Wylde.
Also, it does come with a hefty price point: it is a Gibson Custom Shop instrument.
With this amount of money, you can most likely purchase many great instruments that are not limited in their appeal.
If Zakk Wylde’s Guitar is your jam, then…
You can get a far cheaper model if you go with the Epiphone version.
But like I have always believed, a guitarist’s sound comes from his fingers and technique and is always so individual.
Should You Add This Guitar To Your Collection?
If you are a collector of metal guitars, this instrument, despite its expense and very identifiable look, is still a custom Les Paul and is not a one-trick pony.
It has some of the best mechanics and no lack of quality.
This weighty instrument produces thick, creamy tones, and the unglossed neck provides more comfort for fast playing.
I have a Washburn with the same EMG Pickup configuration and can tell you that these humbuckers are versatile and can fill a room.
I have never been a fan of the large frets, but you get used to playing with them after a while.
About the weight: it is cumbersome, 10-12 pounds; this in itself is not for everyone; standing and playing for hours will make you see how much the weight of this type of Guitar can create issues.
This guitar weight is why you usually see wider guitar straps associated with this instrument, providing extra support.
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Did You Like This Article?
Check out my review of the Marty Friedman Jackson Kelly
Also…
Leave me your comments in the section below, and let me know if you would like me to review a favourite guitar.
As always, stay the course and keep playing.
Blog Banner Image of Zakk Wylde courtesy of Wikimedia, Author Staff Sgt. Sara Keller and released into the public domain.
Blog Banner Guitar images courtesy of guitarcenter.com
Image of EMG Pickups Courtesy of Amazon
Image of Zakk Wylde CTA Courtesy of Amazon
Final thoughts AI-generated images courtesy of Co-pilot
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The Zakk Wylde Gibson Les Paul Custom
$ 9279.78
Pros
- An oiled, raw and left unfinished Gibson's classic rounded "C" profile.
- Multi-ply back and white binding
- Block Pearl Inlays
- Powerful EMG 81/85 Humbucking Pickups
- Certificate of Authenticity
Cons
- Heavy
- Limited Finishes
- Expensive
- Not For Everyone
Starting A Journey At 7 Years Of Age, The Love For The Guitar Only Became Stronger Going Into My Teens. This Leading To An Exciting Time Of Teaching, Performing, And Recording. Join Me Now As We Can Bring The Love Of This Instrument To Other Musicians Globally.
It was really nice learning about the history of Les Paul and also reading on the guitar, your articles are indeed nice and I’ll like to purchase one of these guitars. Is there a way I can get to subscribe so that I can get your updates immediately you make a post because I would live to read a whole lot more articles from you. Thanks
Hello Collins
Thank you so much for leaving me a comment on the latest blog.
It’s an individual type of guitar indeed for the admirer of the artist.
I appreciate the positive feedback, and to answer your question on subscription, this is relatively a new site. I will pass on the link to the site, and if you could check it weekly, it will continue to be built out over the new number of months/years.
I will add on a subscribe button for sure in the future.
Thanks again.
https://gstringuitars.com/
The fretboard is in ebony, not richlite. At least the three I own.
Hello Hesut
Thank you for the visit to the site and your input on the guitar.
Despite seeing both Richlite and Ebony used to describe what they used as a fretboard on this guitar we like to hear your feedback solely on what is being used on your signature guitars.
When I played one, it also had a Ebony Fretboard, but was seeing both materials listed
Again thank you for the comments’ and do not hesitate to leave your input on some of our other articles like the Slash Gibson Firebird