Gibson Les Paul Standard The Allman Brother Dickey Betts / Dan Toler

What is the most important vintage Les Paul of all time? Some might say it’s the Burst Clapton used to record the album *John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers*, while others might point to the ’59 Bigsby that Keith Richards used in his early days. But there’s also a strong case for the legendary Toler Burst. Originally, this guitar was a 1958 gold top Les Paul (one of the last before sunburst became the standard finish), with a black back (instead of the usual natural mahogany). Dickey Betts bought it in the mid-60s, before joining the Allman Brothers Band.

This is one of the Les Pauls he used most during his early years with the band, from 1969 to 1976. So it’s both an incredible relic and an instrument that helped invent a sound and define a genre. Just a few seconds on the neck pickup of this Les Paul through a cranked Marshall are enough to convince you: it’s by far the most vocal, lyrical, and warm-sounding neck pickup ever played on a vintage Les Paul. The tone is massive yet retains clarity, with sustain that lasts for days. You can clearly hear this sound on the early Allman Brothers records, where it bridges blues, jazz, and rock with a voice that resembles a saxophone.

While it’s impossible to say with 100% certainty, it’s very likely that this is the Les Paul Dickey used on the 1971 album *At Fillmore East*, undoubtedly one of the greatest live albums of all time. During his ownership, Dickey changed two knobs, replaced the original tuners with Grovers, broke and repaired the headstock, had it refretted, and most significantly, sent it to Gibson for a refinish in the mid-70s. That explains the two-tone sunburst typical of the seventies seen here, and also why the seam between the two maple top pieces isn’t centered (which was common on gold tops since the top wasn’t meant to be seen!).

In 1977, Betts formed his band Great Southern with guitarist Dan Toler, to whom he eventually gave this guitar. It then became known as the Toler Burst. Toler later joined the Allman Brothers alongside Dickey, and the Burst was his main instrument at the time. In 1983, a young Joe Bonamassa saw Toler playing it at the very first concert he ever attended.

Toler later sold it to an American DJ, who in turn sold it to a German collector—who finally agreed to sell it to Matt. Just a few hours after arriving in France, the Toler Burst was finally reunited with Joe Bonamassa, who played it during a memorable concert in Clermont-Ferrand. History has a beautiful way of echoing.