In 1958, Gibson updated the Les Paul and the result was the the Standard. Main changes were the colour of the top which was now sunburst and that humbuckers / PAF pickups were fitted. For the 1968 it would have most likely been assumed it would be a humbuckered sunburst guitar. Somehow, Gibson decided to rewind the clock to the Standard of late 1955 - early 1957 by going back to a Goldtop finish with P-90 pickups.
This 1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard, is a gold top version but with modified pickups. The guitar belonged to Tony Montana (real name Anthony Cardenas).
Tony played in numerous Hollywood bands throughout the early 80’s, eventually joining Great White in early ‘87 to support “Once Bitten…” , the band’s first platinum seller. Tony’s writing and recording contributions can be heard on both following releases: “…Twice Shy”and “Hooked” which spawned the video and radio hits “Once Bitten…. Twice Shy”, “Call it Rock and Roll”, and the bass heavy “Mista Bone.” Tony and Great White parted ways in 1992 after a fruitful run of 4 million plus album sales and several world tours. He continued with his guitar playing roots and released a solo album “Tombstone Shuffle” in Europe and Asia in 2001.
Tony is also the creator of Platinum Master’s Monster Circus – a collaboration of some of the greatest “monster” musician friends he’s known, and a high production value show with a circus sideshow feel.
Recently he went on tour with Slash as bass player.
This guitar was used with Great White and other members of the group used it too. It has also been used for Tony's solo album “Tombstone Shuffle” and live on the Platinum Master’s Monster Circus Vegas shows.
