Gibson Custom Shop Class 5 Les Paul Cranberry

This is a seriously cool 2001 Gibson Custom Shop Class 5 Les Paul in Cranberry Flame—a high-end early Custom Shop build with one of the most dramatic flame tops you will find from this era. The Class 5 was Gibson’s upscale, player-focused Les Paul Standard platform, built around premium woods, vintage-style hardware, and a slimmer, faster neck feel than many traditional Les Pauls.

The Cranberry Flame finish is the first thing that grabs you. It has a deep wine-red center with dark outer edges, and the flame is absolutely aggressive from edge to edge. The figuring has strong horizontal movement across the entire top, with tons of contrast under the gloss finish. It is a very rich-looking guitar in person—more refined than a bright cherry burst, but still bold enough that it stands out immediately.

This Class 5 features the classic mahogany body and highly figured maple top combination, cream binding, rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays, a fast 60s-style neck profile, and 22 frets over the traditional 24.75-inch Les Paul scale length. It has the vintage-style ABR-1 bridge and stopbar tailpiece setup, which gives it that direct, resonant response and traditional Les Paul feel under the hands.

The stock BurstBucker pickup set is still in place, with the pickup covers removed for a more open, aggressive look. These pickups have a great balance of clarity and output. Clean tones are surprisingly deep and bright at the same time, while gain has plenty of bite, punch, and harmonic detail without getting muddy. This one has a really smooth and buttery neck feel, and the frets are in very good shape with plenty of life left. It has just been fitted with fresh .010 strings and the fretboard has been conditioned.

This particular Class 5 is in very good condition for a 25-year-old Custom Shop Les Paul. It has general honest play wear throughout, including some visible pick wear near the high E string area on the top, lighter dings and marks here and there, and light wall-hanger marks on the headstock. There is also a small worn area on the back of the neck, but it remains smooth and cannot be felt while playing. The guitar has no breaks or cracks, and it passed a blacklight inspection. Overall, the body still presents extremely well and the flame top absolutely pops.

It plays and sounds amazing, has spot-on intonation, and weighs in at 9.26 pounds on my scale. The original Gibson hardshell case is included.

What stood out to me

• 2001 Gibson Custom Shop Class 5 Les Paul
• Rare Cranberry Flame finish
• Extremely figured flame maple top
• Premium early Custom Shop build
• Mahogany body with figured maple cap
• Fast 60s-style neck profile
• Rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays
• Traditional 24.75-inch Les Paul scale length
• 22 frets
• Vintage-style ABR-1 bridge and stopbar tailpiece
• Original BurstBucker pickups
• Pickup covers removed for a more aggressive open-coil look
• Bright, deep clean tones with strong punch under gain
• Fresh .010 strings installed
• Fretboard recently conditioned
• Very good fret condition with plenty of life left
• Spot-on intonation
• 9.26 pounds on my scale
• Original Gibson hardshell case included
• No breaks or cracks
• Passed blacklight inspection
• Honest player wear, including pick wear, light dings, and light hanger marks

Like all my guitars, this one’s been cared for and dialed in—no guesswork, no surprises, just a great instrument that’s ready to play. I personally inspect and test every guitar before it ships, making sure it’s in the exact condition I’d want to receive myself. These guitars come from me, not a shop—each one gets the kind of attention and care only a real guitar lover gives. Ships fast and insured.

⏳ Quick note: These guitars don’t usually sit. Most are purchased within 3–7 days, and I regularly hear from watchers after the listing has already sold. If this one’s on your radar, now’s the window!