Every once in a while, a guitar appears that feels less like an instrument — and more like a relic recovered from deep space. The Gibson Custom Shop Greatest Hits II Murphy Lab 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Beauty of the Burst #78 is exactly that kind of discovery. Painstakingly recreated from the legendary Burst documented on page 78 of Yasuhiko Iwanade's iconic Beauty of the Burst — the definitive reference on the most revered Les Pauls ever built — this instrument represents the most historically specific and documented recreation in the Interstellar Guitars fleet. The Interstellar Tone Traveler has encountered extraordinary '59 reissues across this collection, but none tied to a specific, named, catalogued original with this degree of scholarly and tonal reverence. The slightly faded Cherry Sunburst Murphy Lab Light Aged nitrocellulose finish glows with the exact character of the documented original — and beneath it, the hand-selected AAA figured maple top reveals wide, dramatic grain patterns that look like cosmic waves frozen in time, chosen by Gibson's Made to Measure specialists specifically for this recreation. A 1-piece lightweight mahogany body beneath creates the perfect resonance chamber for that unmistakable 1959 Les Paul voice — alive and resonant before you've even plugged in.

Then comes the real magic. Double-Aged White Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups — their covers authentically aged to period-correct patina — launch pure vintage PAF tone into orbit: warm, complex lows, vocal mids, and shimmering highs that bloom with sustain that feels nearly infinite. In a stunning nod to historical accuracy, the authentic profile nickel silver covers ship stored in the case rather than installed on the guitar — exactly as many original '59 Bursts were found and played by the legends who owned them. CTS 500K audio taper potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil capacitors, and 3-way Switchcraft toggle complete a circuit of obsessive period fidelity. The Carmelita V1 neck carve measuring .860" to .975" feels instantly familiar — substantial yet effortlessly comfortable — paired with Indian rosewood fingerboard, aged cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays, cream Royalite binding, and historic medium-jumbo frets across its full 24.75" scale. Gold Butyrate Top Hat knobs, a no-wire ABR-1 with nickel-plated brass saddles, Kluson Single Line Single Ring tuners, and lightweight aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece complete every period-correct detail at just 8 lbs 2 oz. It arrives in the iconic Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch case with Certificate of Authenticity, Historic Reissue hang tags, and Gibson Custom Switchplate Medallion. For collectors, tone chasers, and explorers of the sonic cosmos — this is a rare chance to own a faithful recreation of one of the most legendary Bursts ever documented. Prepare for liftoff.

Model: 1959 Les Paul Greatest Hits II BOTB 78
Body Construction: Solid
Body: 1-Piece Lightweight Mahogany
Body Top: Hand Selected 2-Piece Figured Maple AAA, Hide Glue Fit 
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Light Aged
Body Binding: Single-Ply Royalite
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Nut: Nylon, 1.69"" 
Neck Profile: Carmelita V1 Carve (.860" - .975")
Neck Joint: Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit 
Frets: Historic Medium-Jumbo 22 
Truss Rod: Authentic 1950s No-Tube
Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Binding: Cream, Single Ply Royalite
Scale Length: 24.75"
Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Double-Aged White) 
Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Double-Aged White) 
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
Pickup Selector: 3-Way Switchcraft
Outpuck Jack: 1/4" Switchcraft
Bridge: No-Wire ABR-1 (Nickel-Plated Brass Saddles)
Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Hardware Color: Nickel
Pickup Covers:  Authentic Profile Nickel Silver Included in Case 
Strap Buttons: Aluminum
Switchwasher: Replica Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Pickguard: Laminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Truss Rod Cover: Authentic Stepped 2-Ply 
Switch Tip: Amber Catalin 
Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Tuning Machines: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring 
Mounting Rings:  M69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate 
Control Covers: Black Royalite 
Control Knobs: Gold Butyrate Top Hats
Case: Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch Case
Weight: 8lbs 2oz. 
String Gauge: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Accessories: COA, Historic Reissue Hang Tags, Gibson Custom Switchplate Medallion 9w/Historic Black Plastic Cover in Case) 
Case: Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch