Ex-Black Beauty from Big Friswa: A Guitar with a History
 
Big Friswa, a renowned Belgian guitarist from the 1960s and 70s, was a key figure in the era’s raw, unfiltered rock scene. He played with multiple bands, performing at legendary venues and leaving an enduring mark on the music world.
 
Bands Big Friswa Played In:
Les Partisans (1963-1965): Rock covers.
Jenghiz Khan (1970-1972): With Pierre Rapsat.
Wallace Collection: Played as a musician towards the band’s final years.
Two Man Sound (1970-1971): With Lou Deprijck (composer of "Ça plane pour moi").
Solo career (1972-1980).
 
After Big Friswa’s passing in early 1988, his cherished guitar was inherited by his niece. She later sold it to the previous owner, adding another chapter to its rich and storied legacy.
 
This guitar is far from a standard 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom. Big Friswa personally customized it, making it a visually striking and deeply personal instrument.
 
He stripped away the original black finish and meticulously designed hundreds of small flame-like patterns across the top and sides, leaving the back in its natural wood color. Traces of the original black paint remain in the control cavity and around the pickups, serving as a reminder of its past life as a classic Black Beauty.
 
Adding to its uniqueness, Friswa signed both the truss rod cover and the back of the neck with his distinctive "F" signature, standing for FRISWA.
 
Despite its visual modifications, the guitar retains all the core features of a 1969 Les Paul Custom:
 
Specifications & Features:
Body: One-piece mahogany back with a one-piece maple top.
Neck: Three-piece mahogany construction with no volute.
Tenon: Medium transition neck tenon.
Pickups: Original Gibson T-Top pickups.
Hardware: Mostly original, with the exception of the bridge, tailpiece, and control knobs, which were replaced with silver parts from a 1968 Gibson model instead of the standard gold - likely swapped from another one of Friswa’s Les Pauls. The original pickup rings were painted metallic grey.
Electronics: Original CTS pots from 1969 (dated 1376929, week 29 of 1969) with untouched solder joints.
Tuners: Original Waffleback tuners.
Frets: Original Fretless Wonder frets, known for their low, smooth feel—still in excellent playing condition.
Serial Number: 851360.
 
This guitar has just been professionally set up and plays exceptionally well, delivering the warm, rich tone that vintage Les Paul Customs are known for.
 
The guitar comes with a black Gibson case, likely from the 1970s, and a rare original EP vinyl featuring Big Friswa—on which this very guitar is pictured. This is not just an instrument; it’s a piece of rock history.
 
For collectors, musicians, and vintage guitar enthusiasts, this one-of-a-kind 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom is a true gem. Whether displayed as a collector’s piece or played to relive the golden age of rock, it stands as a testament to the legacy of Big Friswa.
 
Additional Specs:
Pickups: Original T-Top (patent number stickers).
Pickup Output: 
Pots: Original CTS (dated 1376929, week 29 of 1969) with original soldering.
Serial Number: 851360.
Weight: 4.5kgs
Tuners: Original Kluson Waffleback tuners.
Case: 1970s Gibson case.