One-of-a-Kind Custom Shop Les Paul in Purple Widow
Some guitars stop you mid-step. The Gibson M2M Les Paul Custom in Purple Widow is exactly that kind of guitar. Made-to-Measure by Gibson's Custom Shop, this is not a production run finish you'll see at every shop — the Purple Widow is a limited, specially commissioned color combining a translucent deep purple burst over a hand-selected carved flame maple top, with color-matched purple binding running the body and neck. The result is a Les Paul Custom that looks as intentional and dramatic as it sounds.
Under that finish lives everything that makes the Les Paul Custom one of the most coveted instruments in the world: a solid mahogany body paired with a carved figured maple top, a set mahogany neck, and an ebony fingerboard. These aren't just pretty words — the combination of mahogany warmth and maple's natural brightness and note articulation is a pairing Gibson has refined for decades.
Whether you're drawn to it as a player, a collector, or both, this is a guitar that rewards close attention. Everything about it is deliberate, from the matched headstock to the gold hardware to the way it resonates in your hands before you even plug in.
A Finish That Earns Its Name
The "Purple Widow" colorway is part of Gibson Custom's Widow series — a run of Made-to-Measure instruments offered in distinctive burst finishes that highlight the figuring of the hand-selected maple tops. On this guitar, the translucent deep purple finish deepens toward the edges, and the color-matched binding on both the body and neck ties the whole look together in a way that feels cohesive rather than flashy.
The nitrocellulose lacquer finish over the flame maple top allows the grain to breathe and show through naturally. Nitro finishes are thinner than modern poly coatings, and many players appreciate how they age and develop character over time. The gold hardware — Grover tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge, and stop bar tailpiece — provides a warm, rich contrast to the purple finish.
Solid Foundation, Custom Shop Execution
The body is solid mahogany with a carved figured maple top — a combination that delivers the density needed for sustain alongside the note clarity and attack maple brings. The set mahogany neck uses a rounded profile that feels familiar in hand, and the ebony fingerboard is smooth and fast, with 22 frets and pearl Custom block inlays throughout. Scale length is 24.75", the standard Les Paul measurement that contributes to the full, resonant tone the model is known for.
The nut width is 1.687" (1-11/16"), giving you a comfortable feel whether you're playing open chords or working the upper registers. Grover tuners provide reliable, accurate tuning stability — a practical upgrade over older tulip-style keys that's been a staple on Custom Shop instruments.
490R and 498T: The Classic Custom Pickup Pairing
At the controls, you'll find a 490R in the neck position and a 498T at the bridge. The 490R is voiced with Alnico II magnets to deliver PAF-inspired warmth with a slightly pronounced upper-midrange — clean tones are full and chimey, and it responds well when you back the volume off. The 498T at the bridge uses Alnico V magnets for a hotter, more aggressive output: tighter low end, more presence, and the push you want when you're digging in. Together, they cover a wide range of sounds, from clean rhythm work to high-gain leads.
Controls are the standard Les Paul layout: two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a 3-way toggle switch. Simple, proven, and effective. Each pickup can be dialed in independently, and the interaction between them in the middle position gives you another tonal option that many players return to often.
Product Features:
- Body: Solid mahogany with carved hand-selected figured flame maple top
- Neck: Mahogany, set neck construction with rounded profile
- Fingerboard: Ebony with pearl Custom block inlays, 22 frets
- Scale length: 24.75" | Nut width: 1.687"
- Pickups: 490R (neck) and 498T (bridge) Alnico humbuckers
- Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way toggle switch
- Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with stop bar tailpiece
- Tuners: Grover
- Hardware finish: Gold
- Finish: Purple Widow — translucent deep purple burst with color-matched purple binding on body and neck, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Gibson Custom Shop Made-to-Measure (M2M) instrument — limited availability finish
Brand: Gibson
Model: M2M Les Paul Custom Purple Widow
SKU: LPCM2M000003539
Condition: New
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