Gibson Custom Shop recently released the new Dave Amato Les Paul Axcess Standard. This comes fresh off the heals of the Lee Roy Parnell signature Les Paul released last week. There must definitely be something in the water over at the Gibson Custom Shop. According to Gibson the Dave Amato Les Paul Axcess Standard is the ultimate mash-up of vintage Gibson aesthetics and modern player features. It is available worldwide at Authorized Gibson Dealers.
Amato is currently on tour with REO Speedwagon and has played Les Paul guitars on stage for the last four decades. Lately he has been forced to choose between his two favorites – a ’59 Reissue and a Les Paul Axcess. So began a collaboration between Amato and the experts at Gibson Custom Shop to develop Dave’s “perfect” Les Paul. Amato requested a figured top with a “Boston Sunset Fade” finish (inspired by his home town), a unique White Ebony fingerboard, an extra-chunky neck profile, a Floyd Rose tremolo and two ’57 Classic Plus humbuckers. Amato also wanted the latest Axcess construction elements including a swept neck heel, revised back contours and an Apex headstock carve which naturally strengthens the neck. It is now Amato’s main guitar on tour and in the studio.
“When I start playing my new Les Paul on stage, I’m smiling, the guitar is conducting my energy to the crowd,” says Amato. “The playability is incredible. With the Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, you can do dive bombs and it stays in perfect tune, playing it live with its ’57 Classic Plus pick-ups through my amps sounds amazing and they have a clear tone and can get really beefy at the same time.”
Watch Dave talk about his new Les Paul Axcess in the video below.
