The Yardburst – Gibson Les Paul 1959 ex-Jeff Beck
The Yardburst – Gibson Les Paul 1959 ex-Jeff Beck
Some guitars are not just instruments, but true fragments of history. The 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, known as the «Yardburst», is unquestionably one of them. The first Les Paul owned by Jeff Beck, it accompanied him from his early days with the Yardbirds, a formative period of the British Blues Invasion that would reshape the face of rock.
Acquired in a London shop in 1966, it quickly became inseparable from Beck’s playing, producing inimitable tones thanks to his vibrato genius and unique sense of experimentation. But the story of the Yardburst doesn’t end there: during a U.S. tour with the Yardbirds, Jimmy Page took it for two weeks, before it ended up in the hands of Jimi Hendrix for a New York jam session in 1968. Three absolute legends, one single guitar.
After these touring years, Jeff Beck chose to keep it carefully in his studio in northern England. Marked by the road, modified several times but always true to its original character, the Yardburst remained his favorite instrument, at the heart of his musical intimacy.
Today, thanks to Matt’s Guitar Shop, this centerpiece of rock history is back on stages and in studios. Whether in its remarkable appearance in the hands of Craig Ross alongside Lenny Kravitz in Paris, or its magical resonance at the legendary Red Rocks amphitheater with Marcus King and Kaleo, the Yardburst continues its journey, full of grace and power.
More than just a 1959 «Burst» – already rare and highly coveted – it embodies the living memory of an era where everything was being invented, an instrument that has shaped and continues to inspire generations of musicians.
The Yardburst is not just a guitar: it is a symbol of Jeff Beck’s creative genius and the legacy of British rock, a timeless work that continues to write its story with every chord.
Some articles about the Yardburst:
Jeff Beck
In the heart of the 1960s, when the electric guitar was becoming the ultimate weapon of young British musicians, one name emerged as that of a true visionary: Jeff Beck. After a remarkable stint with the Yardbirds — where he succeeded Eric Clapton before crossing paths with Jimmy Page — Jeff Beck quickly carved out his own path. A winding, daring path where virtuosity never existed for its own sake, but to express a raw, visceral, almost mystical emotion. Jeff Beck never sought ease or compromise. Where many would have chained together hits, he chose instead to experiment, bend sounds, and push the limits of the guitar. From the incandescent blues rock of Truth to the avant-garde fusion of Blow by Blow and Wired, he relentlessly explored new sonic territories, blending the power of rock with the finesse of jazz, the freedom of funk with the precision of studio craftsmanship.
A virtuoso beyond category, Jeff Beck didn’t need words to move people. A single note, shaped by the unmistakable vibrato of his Stratocaster, was enough to tell an entire story. Where others made their amps scream, he made his guitar sing. With light fingers and precise touch, he handled sound like a painter handles light, always searching for subtle, unexpected nuances.
In the studio as on stage, Jeff Beck was a passionate solitary figure. No nostalgia, no posing — just an endless love for the instrument and an unbroken curiosity until the very end. From his beginnings in London clubs to his final tours alongside musicians of all generations, he remained one of the last true sonic adventurers, constantly pushing boundaries that many would have considered already reached.
Jeff Beck was not just a guitarist. He was a school unto himself, a free electron who refused to belong to any genre. He inspired entire generations — from Clapton to Slash, from Satriani to John Mayer — without ever repeating himself. One thing is certain: in the history of the guitar, he will forever remain the man who made the strings speak like no one else, a truth embodied in every instrument from his collection.
Additional information
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| Artiste associé | Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Kaleo, Lenny Kravitz, Marcus King |
