A Tribute to Slash's Most Iconic Stage Guitar
If you've ever seen Slash live—whether tearing through "Sweet Child O' Mine" or laying down a blistering solo in front of thousands—you've probably seen Jessica. This Les Paul has been his main stage guitar since 1988, and it's logged more miles and gigs than most guitars will see in ten lifetimes. Now Gibson's made a production version that captures what makes that guitar special, right down to the unusual three-piece maple top and that warm Honey Burst finish with the red back.
This isn't just a celebrity signature model with a fancy truss rod cover. The specs here tell a story: non-weight-relieved mahogany body for maximum sustain and resonance, a chunky '50s Vintage neck profile that fills your hand, and a pair of Custom Burstbucker Alnico 2 pickups wound specifically for this guitar. It's built to deliver the barking midrange and clarity Slash is known for, whether you're chasing Appetite-era tones or something more modern.
If you love the feel of a traditional Les Paul and you're looking for a guitar that's ready to handle anything from classic rock to hard-hitting modern stuff, this is worth your attention. It's a solid-body workhorse with some genuinely distinctive touches—and yeah, it comes with Schaller strap locks already installed, because Slash knows what happens when you don't use them.
The Body: Built for Sustain and Resonance
The body on this guitar is non-weight-relieved mahogany, which means it's a solid slab of wood with no chambers or holes drilled to reduce weight. You'll feel the difference as soon as you pick it up—this is a substantial guitar. That extra mass translates directly into sustain and low-end resonance, giving notes more body and longer decay. It's the classic Les Paul formula, and it's why so many players still prefer the heft of a traditional build.
The top is where things get interesting. Instead of the typical two-piece bookmatched maple top you'd find on most Les Pauls, this one uses a three-piece plain maple top—a detail lifted straight from Slash's original Jessica. It's finished in gloss nitrocellulose lacquer in Honey Burst on the top and red on the back, recreating the refinish Slash had done on the original guitar. The finish isn't just for looks; nitro lacquer is thinner than polyurethane and lets the wood breathe and resonate more freely. Over time, it ages and wears in a way that poly never will.
One more unique detail: this guitar ships without a pickguard installed. A cream pickguard is included in the case if you want to add it, but leaving it off gives you an uninterrupted view of that three-piece top and keeps the aesthetics clean and simple.
Neck, Fretboard, and Playability
The neck is mahogany with a '50s Vintage profile, which is Gibson's way of saying it's a chunky, full C-shape that fills your hand. If you've played newer slim-taper necks and found them a little insubstantial, this will feel like coming home. The profile measures .889" at the first fret and .997" at the twelfth—substantial without being a baseball bat. It's a great match for players who like to really grip the neck, and it's particularly comfortable for bending and vibrato.
The fretboard is Indian rosewood with a 12-inch radius and 22 medium jumbo frets. The radius is flat enough for comfortable bending and fast playing up high, but still curved enough to feel natural for chording lower on the neck. Acrylic trapezoid inlays give it that classic Les Paul look. The nut is GraphTech, measuring 1.695 inches wide, and the scale length is the traditional Gibson 24.75 inches. The set neck joint is glued in, offering excellent sustain and stability.
Pickups and Electronics: Custom Burstbuckers Built for Slash
This guitar is loaded with a pair of Gibson Custom Burstbucker Alnico 2 humbuckers—both in the neck and bridge positions—with exposed double-black coils. These aren't your standard Burstbuckers; they're wound specifically for this model with Alnico 2 magnets, which offer a slightly softer, sweeter character than Alnico 5. You get plenty of output and midrange punch, but with more clarity and definition than hotter pickups. They're great for everything from classic rock to blues to harder-edged modern tones.
The electronics are hand-wired to Orange Drop capacitors, which are prized for preserving clarity and top-end detail when you roll back the tone controls. You get the traditional Les Paul control layout: two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a three-way toggle switch. The hardware is chrome, with gold top-hat knobs, an amber switch tip, and a cream switch washer. The bridge is an aluminum Nashville Tune-o-Matic with an aluminum stop bar tailpiece, and the tuners are Vintage Deluxe models with Keystone buttons.
Product Features:
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Body: Non-weight-relieved mahogany with 3-piece plain maple top for maximum sustain and resonance
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Finish: Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer in Honey Burst with red back
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Neck: Mahogany with '50s Vintage profile (.889" at 1st fret, .997" at 12th fret)
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Fretboard: Indian rosewood, 12-inch radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, acrylic trapezoid inlays
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Scale Length: 24.75 inches with 1.695-inch GraphTech nut
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Pickups: Gibson Custom Burstbucker Alnico 2 humbuckers (neck and bridge), hand-wired to Orange Drop capacitors
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Bridge: Aluminum Nashville Tune-o-Matic with aluminum stop bar tailpiece
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Hardware: Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons, chrome hardware, preinstalled Schaller strap locks
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Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way toggle switch
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Includes: Hardshell case, Slash signature truss rod cover, cream pickguard (not installed), Slash signature pick, Gibson .010-.046 strings
Brand: Gibson
Model: Slash "Jessica" Les Paul Standard
SKU: LPSSP300WHCH1
Condition: New
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