While Les Paul remains deeply influential as a guitar player, perhaps his greatest legacy will be his contribution to the evolution of electric guitars. By 1951, Les Paul was a respected guitar player, and he was known as a bit of an innovator, too. He had experimented with the solid body electric guitar concept for years, so Gibson president Ted McCarty approached him that year to discuss a collaboration. The result was the Gibson Les Paul Model, which remains one of the most influential and forward-thinking electric designs ever conceived. Since the 1950s, it has been the flagship of Gibson's electric lineup.
The Les Paul Traditional Pro Exclusive was a short run available only at Guitar Center. Based on the streamlined classic specs of the regular Traditional model, the Traditional Pro has open-coil humbuckers and a satin finish on the back and neck. It's still a gloss finish on the A-grade Maple top, and this 2010 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro sports the gorgeous Vintage Sunburst finish.
The Traditional Pro is an interesting combination of some of the more-revered specs from original vintage Les Paul Standards. For pickups, it sports Gibson's acclaimed '57 Classic humbuckers, which are a faithful recreation of the original PAF sound. For playability, the Traditional Pro features Gibson's '60s "Slim Taper" neck profile, which has remained a favorite choice for many years because of its smooth, comfortable feel and easy access up the neck.
While the Traditional Pro model pays homage to iconic vintage Gibsons, it does have modern features, too. Coil-tapping on both pickups allows you to split the coil and access a single-coil sound. This dramatically adds to the versatility and usability of the guitar. Beyond that, this model was constructed using PLEK technology and all of the modern-day precision that wasn't available in the old days.
This 2010 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro is in excellent condition. It has no history of repair, but it does show some minor play wear and signs of use. Most severe is some wear to the bridge humbucker from where the strings have rubbed against it, and there are also some dings and marks on the thin satin back finish (see photos). No repairs, no issues—just a fantastic Les Paul with a lot to offer.