To whom it may concern:

When I was informed about Les Paul’s White Custom Gibson Les Paul - Serial #00332400, I knew exactly which guitar it was. It’s the very one Les chose to feature on the cover of his autobiography Les Paul: In His Own Words, and appears in numerous iconic promotional photos from that time. Once I saw it in person, I had no doubt. The telltale signs were all there: the custom re-fret, the very specific patterns of the mother of pearl inlays, the notes on the case referencing Jimmy Archey from Gibson, and the “G180” sticker on the back of the headstock.
 

This wasn’t just another guitar in Les’ vast collection - it was the most personally meaningful instruments of his later life. A gift from Gibson in 2002 to celebrate 50 years of collaboration, it meant a great deal to him. Unlike most guitars he modified in pursuit of better sound, he never altered this one. That alone says everything.
 

Les kept this guitar close, played it often, and respected it deeply. Choosing it for the cover of his only autobiography was no accident, it was a symbolic gesture. His trophy, as he called it. A quiet message to the world: “We did it. It worked. And it changed everything. They’re not laughing now.” he said.
 

He often played this guitar (his #G180) at home, especially on Mondays when I’d pick him up and we’d drive into New York City for his Iridium shows. He even used this guitar as a reference point to experiment with pickup tones - always working to fix what he saw as the muddy low-end of traditional humbuckers. Despite his relentless tinkering nature, he never considered modifying this one. It simply meant too much to him.
 

You’ve got something truly special. I’ve seen and personally worked on more of Les’ guitars than anyone, and I can say without hesitation: I worked side by side with Les for over 45 years, and this was one of the few guitars in his lifetime that he truly cherished. The documentation confirms it. The photos tell the story. And anyone who really knew Les understands its meaning… its meaning to Les personally, but also its meaning to the musical world as we know it!
 

It’s a piece of our shared musical culture… and I pray that it ends up in the hands of someone who respects its importance to Les’ legacy and its impact on history.
 

Warm regards,

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Tom Doyle