'56 LP vs '68 LP

[Progear]

This is an anecdotal claim at best. Until someone pays for a DNA test on 50's wood vs. 1968/69 mahogany, we don't know the correct answer. I do know that the best ears in the business prefer 50's guitars. Joe Bonamassa got rid of his 1968 LP Goldtop, afaik. As much as I would like my humbucker'd 1968 LP to be the penultimate guitar in my collection, I have to honestly admit that it isn't, and never will be numero uno.

do you have any pics of your not número uno HBuckered '68 ?:2cool

 

[Jumping@Shadows]

I've had about a dozen '68/'69 Les Paul's with more GT's than LPC's and been able to directly compare them side by side with '50s LPs, and the wood is the same, and anyone arguing it isn't is being churlish- it has the same colour, grain, cut, weight, size of growth rings, mills the same as '50s and also sounds the same and as Moonweasel suggests, Gibson didn't change what materials they used and had been using since their inception of the solid body guitar, barring African Mahogany and Spanish Cedar.
I have a clean '56 GT here now, and just shipped an early '69 with all
'68 features, and yes, there are numerous subtle and not so subtle differences, but a '68 is every bit as 'good' as any '50s, and why wouldn't they be? IMO there is no Gibson guitar closer to the late '50s ideal than a '68 LP, and I've had piles of both
The high neck angle and lesser refinement in headstock shape, as well as the IRW fretboards (although the '69 I shipped had BRW..), and less than great stock pickups make '50s aesthetically and sonically more appealing, but I would take a beat '68/early '69 over any modern production LP.

 

[Wilko]

Werd. :salude

 

[Jumping@Shadows]

Gracias Wilko- and there's a man who has played his previous buckered '68s against one of the most desirable '59 Les Paul's in the world, and left with a spring in his step :dude:
It puzzles me that folks will spend so much on an RI due to 'vintage accuracy', but overlook a '68 when the fundamental similarities to a '50s is so much closer- a '68 LPC is an old Honduran Mahogany, factory humbucker, centre seam maple capped, long tenon and hide glue constructed Les Paul built 7-8 years after the holy grail 'bursts, available for a decimal point of the value- for the shrewd tone hound after a 'burst or P90 GT fix at short money, seek out a beater LSLP

 

[Progrocker111]

It puzzles me that folks will spend so much on an RI due to 'vintage accuracy', but overlook a '68 when the fundamental similarities to a '50s is so much closer- a '68 LPC is an old Honduran Mahogany, factory humbucker, centre seam maple capped, long tenon and hide glue constructed Les Paul built 7-8 years after the holy grail 'bursts, available for a decimal point of the value- for the shrewd tone hound after a 'burst or P90 GT fix at short money, seek out a beater LSLP

+1

And these guitars were often made by the same people who made 50s guitars. I would always take 68/early 69 Les Pauls over all current Historics or newer Gibsons.

 

[Progear]

Gracias Wilko- and there's a man who has played his previous buckered '68s against one of the most desirable '59 Les Paul's in the world, and left with a spring in his step :dude:
It puzzles me that folks will spend so much on an RI due to 'vintage accuracy', but overlook a '68 when the fundamental similarities to a '50s is so much closer- a '68 LPC is an old Honduran Mahogany, factory humbucker, centre seam maple capped, long tenon and hide glue constructed Les Paul built 7-8 years after the holy grail 'bursts, available for a decimal point of the value- for the shrewd tone hound after a 'burst or P90 GT fix at short money, seek out a beater LSLP

We hear you loud and clear.. Your insight is always welcomed and valued... :2cool
Thanks

 

[MIKE LEAF]

the fundamental similarities to a '50s is so much closer- a '68 LPC is an old Honduran Mahogany, factory humbucker, centre seam maple capped, long tenon and hide glue constructed Les Paul built 7-8 years after the holy grail 'bursts

The 50´s LPC were not maple capped? The 68 would also have 2 humbucking pickups instead of 3.
I´m not arguing your point at all, but looking at them construction wise there are several differences already in 68 and keeps adding on from 69.

When you say 'much closer', is that the sound you are refering to?

 

[jimmi]

Gracias Wilko- and there's a man who has played his previous buckered '68s against one of the most desirable '59 Les Paul's in the world, and left with a spring in his step :dude:
It puzzles me that folks will spend so much on an RI due to 'vintage accuracy', but overlook a '68 when the fundamental similarities to a '50s is so much closer- a '68 LPC is an old Honduran Mahogany, factory humbucker, centre seam maple capped, long tenon and hide glue constructed Les Paul built 7-8 years after the holy grail 'bursts, available for a decimal point of the value- for the shrewd tone hound after a 'burst or P90 GT fix at short money, seek out a beater LSLP

The only issue that I see with this post is that a 68 LPC is fetching ~15k US now. You can find an issued 50s custom for that price.

 

[Reno_1ted]

The 50´s LPC were not maple capped? The 68 would also have 2 humbucking pickups instead of 3.
I´m not arguing your point at all, but looking at them construction wise there are several differences already in 68 and keeps adding on from 69.

When you say 'much closer', is that the sound you are refering to?

I think he means comparing the 68 LPC with a Late 50s buckered standard, not an uncapped custom. Taken in that context its a very valid/good point. :salude


I have the pleasure to own an early 69 Goldtop which has all the 68 features apart from a missing dot on the i. It also has a set of '56 P90 pickups in it. I have never played a proper '56, so I cannot give a comparison. What I do know is that it sounds and play unbelievable. I am currently hunting down another 68 spec LSLP with HBs (custom or conversion). Incredible guitars.

 

[Marcel M]

The 50´s LPC were not maple capped? The 68 would also have 2 humbucking pickups instead of 3.

No they were not maple capped in the 50s. Did they ever make 2 pickup LPCs in the 50s? Or only 3?

 

[Reno_1ted]

No they were not maple capped in the 50s. Did they ever make 2 pickup LPCs in the 50s? Or only 3?

I believe they did make a few 2 bucker versions, not very common compared to the 3. At least, I have seen people post pictures of such and that is what they were stated as.

 

[Jumping@Shadows]

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[Wilko]

WHile the standard models are great next to standard models and considered a step "down" from 50s, for many the changes to the LPC make one step "up" from the 50s models.

the maple cap and two pickups were prefered.

 

[Progear]

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original 1968 with Humbuckers ?

 

[bern1]

Best shaped necks out of all Les Pauls I have played were on 56's. :ganz

I must concur!

 

[bern1]

I believe the 17 degree headstock makes quite a difference actually.

Of course, we all love "our guitar", whichever one that might be....

 

[Reno_1ted]

I believe the 17 degree headstock makes quite a difference actually.

Of course, we all love "our guitar", whichever one that might be....

Can you expand on how?