"They don't make them like they used to."
Yes they do. I know for a fact.
Let me show you two guitars I obtained for a couple of people,
the first for Mick Taylor
(the former ~real good~ guitarist for The Rolling Stones)
and the second one which has a Bigsby for a friend of mine.
Both these guitars are from the custom shop.
They are 1959 replica's, made to exact '59 specs,
called Les Paul Historics.
I can tell you for sure based on Taylor's playing
that the replica and the real 1959 are identical enough.
Even Taylor thinks so.
Daniel Shafner
New London, CT