Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

[PFDarkside]

All Les Paul Customs are made in the Custom Shop, right? Has this always been he case? What’s the difference between the regular Les Paul Customs and the ‘57 and ‘68 reissues?

I’ve been seeing a lot of late 70’s/early 80’s Customs on the market lately, was there a peak of production at this time making a lot more available or is it just the 40 year mark and people think it’s time to move “Vintage” gear?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Great thread idea....

All Les Paul Customs are made in the Custom Shop, right? Has this always been he case?

I suspect not always. But I don't know this to be true.

What’s the difference between the regular Les Paul Customs and the ‘57 and ‘68 reissues?

I would assume that
a) Whatever the real differences were. Caps, pups, tenon, knobs, frets, etc
b) Probably some non-reproduction things also, because Gibson is retarded like that.

I’ve been seeing a lot of late 70’s/early 80’s Customs on the market lately, was there a peak of production at this time making a lot more available or is it just the 40 year mark and people think it’s time to move “Vintage” gear?

Probably Vintage Market motion...whatever.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

All Les Paul Customs are made in the Custom Shop, right? Has this always been he case?

The LP Custom has been made in the Gibson Custom Shop since 2002. Prior to that they were made in the Gibson USA factory.

What’s the difference between the regular Les Paul Customs and the ‘57 and ‘68 reissues?

The '57 RI LPC has an all-mahogany body with no maple cap, R7 baseball bat neck, ABR bridge, and current ones have A3 Custombuckers. I don't know when the Custombuckers started, and they may have had Burstbuckers prior to that. '57 Classics were used prior to 2002.

The '68 RI also has an ABR bridge, but adds a maple cap. All of the 68RIs I've ever seen had the baseball bat neck, but I've heard of examples with a slim taper neck. I'm pretty sure this model was introduced in 2003 or 2004 with '57 Classics, while current models have 68 Custom Humbuckers. I'm not sure when the transition was.

Regular Les Paul Customs have a Nashville bridge, 50s rounded neck, and 490R/498T pickups.

I’ve been seeing a lot of late 70’s/early 80’s Customs on the market lately, was there a peak of production at this time making a lot more available or is it just the 40 year mark and people think it’s time to move “Vintage” gear?

I'm with Aceman on this one, but that's a hunch. I honestly have no idea.

 

[chadd]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

I’ve been seeing a lot of late 70’s/early 80’s Customs on the market lately, was there a peak of production at this time making a lot more available or is it just the 40 year mark and people think it’s time to move “Vintage” gear?

Prices for those models have gone up, a lot of people are trying to cash in. I did the same when my 70s Deluxes started going for more than a new Les Paul. Being completely dispassionate about it, the new stuff was better than my old Gibsons. So, the old stuff went and I bought new stuff.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

I don't know about now, but it has not always been the case. "Custom" is the model name, not indicative of the "Custom" in "Custom Shop." There have been plenty of LP Customs that were indeed made in the Custom Shop, however (like my dream Gibson: the '54 LP Custom reissue, and like the 3-pickup Black Beauty I had and sold).

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

All Les Paul Customs are made in the Custom Shop, right? Has this always been he case? What’s the difference between the regular Les Paul Customs and the ‘57 and ‘68 reissues?

I’ve been seeing a lot of late 70’s/early 80’s Customs on the market lately, was there a peak of production at this time making a lot more available or is it just the 40 year mark and people think it’s time to move “Vintage” gear?

The Custom was the deluxe model, or what Les called the “tuxedo” model. It has multiply binding on the front and back, and an ebony fretboard and gold hardware. Originally it was supposed to have the maple top, but Gibson made them all mahogany. It had nothing to do with the custom shop, since that didn’t exist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Les_Paul_Custom


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

The Custom was the deluxe model, or what Les called the “tuxedo” model. It has multiply binding on the front and back, and an ebony fretboard and gold hardware. Originally it was supposed to have the maple top, but Gibson made them all mahogany. It had nothing to do with the custom shop, since that didn’t exist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Les_Paul_Custom


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, I know the original history of the Custom, I’m more wondering about some of them that I might be able to own one day.

 

[LLL]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Don't forget they use Richlite for the fretboard wood instead of the traditional ebony.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

The '68 RI also has an ABR bridge, but adds a maple cap. All of the 68RIs I've ever seen had the baseball bat neck, but I've heard of examples with a slim taper neck. I'm pretty sure this model was introduced in 2003 or 2004 with '57 Classics, while current models have 68 Custom Humbuckers. I'm not sure when the transition was.

Doesn’t the ‘68 RI also have a 3-piece neck? (Or maybe the body?) I thought I recalled reading that in the specs on Gibson’s site?

 

[dystrust]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Doesn’t the ‘68 RI also have a 3-piece neck? (Or maybe the body?) I thought I recalled reading that in the specs on Gibson’s site?

The current specs don't mention that, and I've heard of it. I honestly don't know for sure.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

A '68 reissue should not have a multi-piece neck (aside from the headstock ears, of course), but it should have a maple top (as opposed to mahogany top like the '50s ones), less headstock angle than the '50s ones, witch hat knobs, a narrow nut width (similar to a Fender nut width), and a non-pancake body. I believe they made it a year or so before the necks started being multi piece. FWIW, the multi-piece necks are stronger and less flexible...and became even stronger yet when they started being made of maple instead of mahogany.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Don't forget they use Richlite for the fretboard wood instead of the traditional ebony.

Which and when? 2019 is Ebony, I assume the reissues always have been ebony as well?

 

[LLL]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Which and when? 2019 is Ebony, I assume the reissues always have been ebony as well?

A good handful of years... prolly last 10-ish. Henry J. ya know.

They must have changed it back to Ebony.

Here's a thread from back then:

https://forum.gibson.com/topic/83603-les-paul-customs-now-use-richlite-boards/

 

[AlexR]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

2012 is when the shift to Richlite took place.
Its worth trying one at the least.....Martin use it as well for some models FWIW.

I have read posts from numerous players who actually own such instruments and they report no playing based issues for having a non-wood fretboard. I have a Hagstrom Semihollow that has some resin based fretboard - never an issue on my side......unless you have some preconceived notion of what a guitar should be.

 

[slightly_rude]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Which and when? 2019 is Ebony, I assume the reissues always have been ebony as well?

Reissues and Historics were always ebony.
Richlite started shortly after the Fed's raid in Aug of 2011. Curleigh and crew appear to be righting the ship. Hopefully it continues.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

My new 2018 LP Classic Player Plus has a Richlite board, and I must say that I love it.

As far as I can tell, it's very similar to, if not exactly the same stuff as, Garolite (i.e. what used to be called Bakelite). I don't think it will wear at all...and we don't have to rape Africa to get it.

The only drawback is that the black isn't as rich as a nice, deep ebony. It has a slight "ashiness" to it. But it's so minor you can't tell unless you go looking for it...and it it totally uniform in blackness. No dyeing required.

It doesn't make sense in reissues IMO. Accurate original specs are a goal on those.

We shall see what re-frets are like in the future, but for now, it gets two thumbs up from me.

Also, FWIW, Musikraft has stopped offering ebony, and only offers Richlite. That won't stop me from ordering it on an upcoming bass neck. In fact, I am happy to use it instead of ebony. I will, however, be using Guitar Mill for two other projects, because I want real ebony on those, since they are supposed to be "parallel universe" Fenders – i.e. what if Fender had used ebony on their guitars back in the '60s and late '50s.

Also FWIW, I will be trying it clear coated on that upcoming bass project (like the old Fender lacquered Bakelite Tele/Esquire guards).

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

Man, I’ve got some serious GAS for a Custom. (To be honest, I have for 20 years, I just might be in a position now to make it happen)

Looking for a player, one with yellowed binding that’s been rounded by playing, worn gold hardware, something a Gibson collector wouldn’t want but that plays and sounds great.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

You know, I see a lot less Customs around than I used to. It is like people stopped buying them like 10 years ago, so you don't see used ones hardly ever.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Gibsunday Question #1.... Les Paul Customs

I wouldn’t pay $4000 for an LP with 498/490 in it, and who knows what sins of a slab of wood under a solid color.