GIBSON USA Custom Shop Collector's Choice #5 "Donna" – Tom Wittrock '59 Les Paul Standard Reissue – Sunburst + Rosewood (2015)
 
Specifications:
Model: Gibson Custom Shop Collector’s Choice #5 "Donna" – Tom Wittrock '59 Les Paul Standard Reissue
Year: 2015
Finish: Sunburst (Vintage Nitrocellulose Lacquer, VOS Treated)
Top: Hand-Selected Figured Maple
Body: One-Piece Lightweight Mahogany (Non-Weight Relieved)
Neck: One-Piece Mahogany ('59 Rounded Profile)
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood with Aged Trapezoid Inlays
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75”
Nut Width: 1.687” (Nylon Nut)
Pickups:
Neck: Gibson Custom Bucker (Unpotted, PAF-Inspired)
Bridge: Gibson Custom Bucker (Unpotted, PAF-Inspired)
Electronics:
Hand-Wired with CTS 500K Pots & Bumblebee Capacitors
2 x Volume, 2 x Tone
3-Way Toggle Switch
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic with Lightweight Aluminum Stopbar Tailpiece
Tuners: Kluson Deluxe Single Line, Double Ring (Aged Nickel)
Hardware: Aged Nickel (VOS Treated)
Weight: [To be confirmed]
Case: Original Gibson Custom Shop Lifton-Style Hardshell Case
Included Accessories: COA, Case Candy, and Collector’s Choice Documentation
 
Personal Thoughts:
The Gibson Custom Shop Collector's Choice #5 "Donna" is an absolute masterpiece, faithfully recreating one of the most legendary '59 Bursts of all time—Tom Wittrock's personal '59 Les Paul Standard. If you’re after one of the finest and most accurate vintage recreations Gibson has ever done, this is as close as you’ll get without spending six figures on an original.
 
First, let’s talk about that top—this one has a stunning, well-matched figured maple top, with deep, vintage-accurate flame that looks just right under the Sunburst finish. The VOS treatment gives it the perfect level of soft aging, without over-the-top relic wear, making it feel like a well-loved but well-preserved late-'50s Burst.
 
The one-piece mahogany body is solid, no weight relief, just like the originals, giving it that full, rich, and resonant tone that made the '59s legendary. The '59 Rounded Neck profile is substantial but comfortable, exactly what you’d want from a proper vintage Les Paul. The rosewood fingerboard is dark, smooth, and incredibly resonant, completing the vintage-correct feel.
 
Tonally, this Les Paul is an absolute monster. The Custom Buckers capture everything that makes vintage PAFs so sought after—they’re clear, articulate, and dynamic, with rich harmonic overtones and a naturally airy feel. The neck pickup is warm and smooth, perfect for bluesy leads and creamy chord work, while the bridge pickup has that signature PAF bite, cutting through the mix with authority and punch. Roll back the volume, and it cleans up beautifully, making this an exceptionally touch-sensitive instrument.
 
The hand-wired electronics with Bumblebee capacitors ensure perfect roll-off dynamics, letting you dial in everything from warm, vintage jazz tones to snarling rock leads. The ABR-1 bridge and lightweight aluminum tailpiece add to the incredible sustain and resonance, while the aged Kluson Deluxe tuners keep everything rock solid in the tuning department.
 
This guitar isn’t just a collector’s piece—it’s a world-class player’s guitar.
 
Condition Report:
This Collector’s Choice #5 "Donna" Les Paul Standard Reissue is in mint condition, with no additional wear beyond the factory VOS treatment. The Sunburst finish is flawless, with beautiful lacquer aging and subtle checking that perfectly replicates an original '59 Burst.
 
The frets are in pristine shape, with no signs of wear, and the rosewood fingerboard is perfect, ensuring smooth, effortless playability. The aged nickel hardware looks fantastic, and all electronics function perfectly, with smooth volume and tone controls, a crisp 3-way toggle switch, and zero static or noise.
 
This guitar comes complete with its original Gibson Custom Shop Lifton-style case, COA, and all Collector’s Choice documentation, making it an exceptional addition to any collection. If you’re looking for one of the finest vintage-inspired Les Pauls Gibson has ever built, the Tom Wittrock "Donna" Burst is an absolute grail piece.