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Custom 69 Almost Inbound

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
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So now that I am past that paranoid/coy stage here are more pics. I bought it and it is being shipped- barring Venmo fixes on the sellers side. Everythign appears to check out- and he is sending all the parts- PG, nylon-saddle bridge, TP posts, PUP covers, etc.
It is likely goign to need a good deal of TLC and new frets- I am goign to look at what other folks have done here (@goigolf).
A bit of a dream guitar here- when Musicians Friend would show up these were always the ones that made me drool.
Here's my big question- pre T tops w orange wire- or something else?
 

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Grog

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Congrats & Enjoy!! A ‘69 Custom was always on my bucket list, but I settled for a ‘74.
 

corpse

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Other than the back brace I would not call that settling.
 

jb_abides

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Congrats & Enjoy!! A ‘69 Custom was always on my bucket list, but I settled for a ‘74.

We are kinda in the same boat...

The only lefty late-Sixties Custom I've come across was essentially an overpriced husk so ... passed.

I've got a very good 74 Anniversary with the inlay in White, with witch hats. Will need a re-fret eventually but it has 'settled' me too.
 

Bruce R

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Mar 2, 2007
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Did the dot over the "i" in the Gibson headstock logo spill into 1969? I thought only the '68s had them?

That is going to be a fantastic guitar for you. Congratulations!
 

corpse

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That’s how I understand it.
Interested in seeing the back of those PUP’s.
I also liked the tone impact of the nylon saddles. They may go back on.
 

S. Weiger

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Nov 25, 2002
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1,927
Congrats with a wonderful axe.
Those '68 - early '69 LPC's are essentially Bursts dressed in black, save for pat.no. sticker pickups -which sound incredible good -and ebony fretboard.
My understanding is that T-top Humbuckers came late 1965, but for some reason the 1968 LPC is without the "T". At least the ones I've seen / read about. Not sure about 1969 and later.
The pickups you posted pics of, are they the originals?
 

corpse

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I don’t know yet about the pups but sadly the whole deal has gotten very hinkey.
What interests me is the color of the visible wire.
 

S. Weiger

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I don’t know yet about the pups but sadly the whole deal has gotten very hinkey.
What interests me is the color of the visible wire.
Here's your (alas, crappy-ish) pic with a bit enhancement. Wire & pickups looks ok to me, though o.c. you'll have to see the whole thing from all angles to be absolutely sure.
The pickups soldering looks untouched -though I can't see the whole of the bridge p.u. soldering.
Hope the deal gets un-hinkey and everything will be ok.

69HB.jpg
 

Bruce R

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Don't let whatever pickups are in the guitar now get in the way of enjoying this guitar. My story;

When I first got my '69 (in '81) I played it for a while, couldn't stand the sound of the original T-Top pickups, and got on the phone to Seymour and asked him what I should put in. (Yeah, in those days we could do that!). In my case he recommended a JB in the bridge and leave the neck as-is. I kept it like that for 30 years. With the guitar semi-retired, on a whim I put the original back in but instantly found out why I switched in the first place. I then tried a couple of others, but eventually the JB found it's way back in. I also tried a another neck pickup but the original is back in it now. FYI, the original neck is actually a bit hotter (7.92) than the bridge (7.48). Perhaps the difference is what influenced me to change in the first. Admittedly the guitar is very bright to begin with.

Long story short, yours sounds like a killer guitar, so make it your own and have fun!
 
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Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
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Just lovely! Congrats, HNGD
jam.gif
and play her in good health!
 

corpse

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Last night I waved the white flag on this seller. I believe he has this guitar but he asked for more money after not being able to access Venmo and not being willing to speak with Venmo to resolve the dilemma.
Heavy sigh. Plus I was getting wiers texts from his phone. My #60 is in a few weeks and I was excited to get this.
 

jb_abides

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Apr 6, 2005
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Last night I waved the white flag on this seller. I believe he has this guitar but he asked for more money after not being able to access Venmo and not being willing to speak with Venmo to resolve the dilemma.
Heavy sigh. Plus I was getting wiers texts from his phone. My #60 is in a few weeks and I was excited to get this.

Sorry about that, you were obviously excited about the prospect.

Then again, sounds like "meant to be" karma in your favor, consider it a blessing going forward.

The right one will come your way. Keep a look out!
 

S. Weiger

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Nov 25, 2002
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Last night I waved the white flag on this seller. I believe he has this guitar but he asked for more money after not being able to access Venmo and not being willing to speak with Venmo to resolve the dilemma.
Heavy sigh. Plus I was getting wiers texts from his phone. My #60 is in a few weeks and I was excited to get this.
What a bummer! I know how it feels when exited about a deal and then it goes askew.
But as jb says you'll get the right one, and hopefully soon. 🤟
 

corpse

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The 59 year old corpse gets that- but telling the 13 year old corpse is tougher!
 
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