Gibson - Slash "Jessica" Les Paul Standard Honey Burst/Red Back

Guns N' Roses became an iconic band in the 80s, and lead guitarist Slash had a lot to do with it. Thanks to his heady rhythms, striking melodic solos and ultra-cool attitude, Saul Hudson (real name) left his mark on whole generations of would-be guitar heroes.

The man in the top hat has entered the pantheon of guitar legends, and even had the privilege of becoming the very first official ambassador for Gibson and, above all, Les Paul. The two are inseparable, and many of the most legendary guitars have passed through his hands: Les Paul Standard, GoldTop, to name but a few.

With a career of impressive longevity and unwavering devotion to the brand, Gibson has honoured its proudest representative with several signature models, including the one we're interested in today.

This Les Paul Standard model is a recreation of Slash's weapon of choice since 1988, which he affectionately renamed 'Jessica', and which followed him throughout his years of service with the Guns and Velvet Revolver.

A fan of the guitar 'as it was in the old days', Slash asked for a solid mahogany body (meaning without lightening cavities) with a 3-piece rough apple maple top. The sound is full, solid and as rock 'n' roll as you could wish for.

In terms of finish, this beauty comes in a simple but terribly effective Honey Burst colour that leaves no one indifferent. The body, meanwhile, is finished in a gloss varnish that brings out the red hue of the mahogany.

The neck is a Les Paul fan's standard, a glued mahogany model topped by an Indian rosewood fingerboard to preserve the roundness of the attack.

But the electronics are not to be outdone, either, as the beauty is equipped with two Custom Burstbuckers dedicated to the guitarist's models. Featuring Alnico II magnets and a medium output level, the sound is warm and punchy, with superb harmonics but no drooling bass. The electronics are 100% hand-installed using quality components and Orange Drop capacitors, renowned by all guitarists.

This 'Jessica' comes in a Gibson hard case, in which you'll also find a leather strap, a bag of guitar hero picks, a multifunction tool and a blank headstock (to cover access to the trusrod).