This is the story of a unique 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard nicknamed the “Orphanage Burst.” Owned by Irish guitarist Joe Stanton since 1969, the guitar has a unique history intertwined with the Dublin music scene.
A Tale of Two Bars and Two Les Pauls
The story begins on Capel Street in Dublin, where two music venues stand at opposite ends of the street: Slattery’s Pub and The Earl Grattan.
On a quiet night, a man walked down the street, hearing the same song played on two Gibson Les Pauls.
Gary Moore played one at Slattery’s and the other at The Earl Grattan by Joe Stanton’s father. This unique coincidence sparked the journey of the Orphanage Burst.
A Lefty and His Les Paul
Years later, Paul Barry from the Decent Cigar Emporium in Dublin contacted Gibson President and CEO Cesar Gueikian about an exceptional guitar owned by Joe Stanton’s family.
The 1959 Les Paul Standard had a highly flamed maple top and unique wear patterns due to Joe’s left-handedness. The details on the top, back, headstock, fingerboard, and binding all told the story of a well-loved and heavily played instrument.
Joe Stanton: The Bluesman
Joe Stanton was known as the “left-handed wizard” and a true bluesman. He played his Les Paul loud and passionately, leaving his mark on every note. Despite being a left-handed player using a right-handed guitar, Joe made it work, adding to the guitar’s unique character.
Orphanage: The Band
The Orphanage Burst’s name comes from Joe Stanton’s first band, Orphanage. Orphanage featured Phil Lynott (later of Thin Lizzy) and Brian Downey on drums. The band was short-lived, but its legacy lives on through the guitar.
A Legacy Lives On
After Joe Stanton passed away, Cesar acquired the guitar. Recognizing its significance, he returned it to its birthplace—Gibson Guitars. The guitar was carefully restored and scanned to preserve its every detail. Ultimately, the “Orphanage Burst” was named to honor Joe Stanton and his band.
More Than Just a Guitar
This story is about more than just a rare and valuable guitar. It’s about the history of music in Dublin, a musician’s dedication, and an instrument’s power to tell a story. The Orphanage Burst is now a part of Gibson’s legacy, ensuring that Joe Stanton’s music and spirit will continue to inspire future generations.
Not everyone is as lucky as Joe, so thankfully, Gibson makes some incredible recreations of these Holy Grail guitars.
Modern Gibson Custom Shop 1959 Les Paul Standards
Below are links to some great Gibson Custom Shop 59 Les Paul Standard models from Thomann. They are far more affordable and even have some heavily aged models if you prefer that well-worn look.
- Gibson Les Paul 59 Dirty Lemon VOS
- Gibson Les Paul 59 Lemonburst UHA
- Gibson Les Paul 59 Kindred Burst UHA
- Gibson Les Paul 59 Washed Cherry VOS
- Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT TS #3
- Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT DIT #1
- Gibson Les Paul 59 DL Light Aged
- Gibson Les Paul 59 FB ULA
- Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT TB #1
- Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT TS #2
- Gibson Les Paul 59 HPT DIT #2
- Gibson Les Paul 59 GPB Heavy Aged
- Gibson Les Paul 59 SITF Heavy Aged
- Gibson Les Paul 59 STB ULA
More Information
This article contains affiliate links to Thomann that help finance the running costs of GuitarBomb. If you buy something through these links, we will receive a small commission. Don’t worry as you pay the same price, and it costs you no extra to use these affiliate links for your purchases.
