The Adam Jones 1979V2 Les Paul Custom is now discontinued and is one of the hottest collectors items on the guitar market. Here’s everything you need to know…
TL;DR – Adam Jones Gibson Les Paul Custom
- Limited Edition: Only 79 units 🏷️, each signed by Adam Jones ✍️.
- Price: Models now going for $15K+ on collector sites.
- Unique Design: Custom artwork by Mackie Osborne 🎨, aged Antique Silverburst finish by Murphy Lab 🕰️.
- Premium Hardware: Lightly aged chrome, Tune-O-Matic bridge, Schaller M6 tuners 🛠️.
- Electronics: Custombucker and Seymour Duncan DDJ pickups, versatile controls 🎛️.
- Neck & Fingerboard: Medium C profile, ebony with mother-of-pearl inlays 🖐️🎹.
- Collector’s Dream: Comes with a headstock mirror, certificate of authenticity, and a hardshell case 🏆📜.
- Craftsmanship: Made in Gibson Custom Shop, Nashville, Tennessee, USA 🇺🇸.
Best alternative? Jones now has an Epiphone model – it’s way cheaper at $1299 and packs in all the core spec you’ll need to dial-in Jones’ trademark sound.
If you want to get your hands on Adam Jones’ Gibson Les Paul Custom, you’re going to need seriously deep pockets. The now discontinued model – there were only 79 units made – is retailing for $15,000+ on sites like Reverb.
That’s a huge amount of money, even for a Gibson, but because of the limited nature of this particular model, and its unique properties, the Adam Jones 1979V2 Les Paul Custom is now one of the most in-demand collector’s Les Pauls on the market.
But what exactly is so good about this particular model? Why is it so sought after? Here’s literally everything you need to know about Adam Jones’ hella expensive Les Paul Custom signature model.
Adam Jones 1979V2 Les Paul Custom Overview
Jones has played the same Les Paul Custom model since day one. The Silverburst 1979 Gibson, according to Jones, has a special tone that he simply cannot get from another guitar.
The decision to do a signature model with Gibson took all of this into account, and the 1979 Les Paul Custom is as close to Jones’ OG model as humanly possible.
Crafted with precision by the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, the guitar – all 79 of them – are designed to be as close to Jones’ specific model as possible. Even down to the type of paint used.
Its Antique Silverburst finish, aged to perfection by the Murphy Lab, mirrors the wear and character of Jones’ own instrument, making each of the 79 pieces a work of art.
Unique Features
- Custom Artwork: Designed by Mackie Osborne, the artwork on the rear of the headstock adds a personal touch from Adam Jones’ creative vision.
- Aged Finish: The Murphy Lab’s expert aging process gives this guitar an authentic, played-in look that reflects decades of rock history.
- Signature Touch: Each guitar is personally signed by Adam Jones, enhancing its collectible value.
Hardware Specifications
- Finish: Lightly aged chrome hardware complements the guitar’s vintage aesthetic.
- Bridge and Tailpiece: The classic Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece ensure stable tuning and sustain.
- Tuning Machines: Schaller M6 tuners with large buttons offer precision tuning.
- Controls: A unique configuration with DiMarzio and CTS pots and Orange Drop capacitors provides versatile tonal options.
Electronics
Pickups: A reverse-mounted Custombucker at the neck and a custom-wound Seymour Duncan DDJ at the bridge deliver a wide range of tones, from warm and nuanced to aggressively overdriven.
Controls: The guitar features a traditional Les Paul setup with two volumes and two tones, allowing for detailed sound shaping.
Neck and Fingerboard
- Profile: The Medium C neck profile offers comfortable playability for a wide range of styles.
- Fingerboard: Ebony fingerboard with a 12″ radius and mother-of-pearl block inlays provides a smooth playing experience and classic aesthetics.
- Frets: High-quality nickel-silver alloy frets ensure durability and precise intonation.
The Cheaper Epiphone Model – AKA The One To Get
If you were born after the year 1980, you missed out on all the boomer money. The stock market, the housing market – everything. Unless you’re a doctor, a dentist or a tech mogul, dropping $15K on a Gibson just ain’t gonna happen.
But what if you could get much of the same style and tone for like $1299? That’d be cool, right? Well, that’s exactly what the Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection is all about.
- Limited edition, Jones’ signature pickups, custom neck for speed, way cheaper than Gibson model
- Pricier than Epiphone Prophecy with lesser hardware
And you know what? It ain’t all the different from the $15K model. Sure, it’s an Epiphone and some of the electronics and hardware aren’t quite as high spec but where it counts – wood type, pickups, neck, and custom artwork jobs – it is damn close to the OG $15K model.
And for mere mortals like us, the Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection is the closest we’ll ever get to owning Jones’ signature model. Me? I’d probably go with an Epiphone Prophecy over Jones’ model (you get more bang for your buck, specs-wise) but that’s just me.
The Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul is a killer guitar that packs in all the stuff you’ll need to dial-in that iconic Tool guitar tone.
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