I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

T

theycallmegio

New member
I was really excited to play it, and I'm glad I did but this guitar was not anything I would want to own (if I was paying for it). I blame the owner for not keeping up with it and not maintaining it. it didn't feel good to play. It was strung up with what felt like 8s, and they felt like they too came from 69. Nobody plays this thing anymore or bothers to clean it up ever. Really a shame

Aside from that, the guitar felt really light, not something I expected. The neck was interesting, not really my style. It was thin but a little fat. It was a weird profile. I like fat 50s like on my old 97 custom. I have an 04 standard with a regular 60s neck and it too feels better than the vintage custom, it's like a wide thin.

I'm assuming it's got the pancake body as it's a first year norlin. I would love to go back and restring it for the guy and condition the fretboard and clean it up a bit but I don't care enough to think of a polite way to offer. Really cool experience, but I now know that a 69 custom is not for me. Kinda cool to know such a thing from experience. Also, the saddles on the bridge looked like they were corian or bone.

Here are the pics

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obligatory 'here I am with a vintage les paul' pic
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Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

I could handle that in my collection, as it is one cool guitar!

It's a shame that it is in extended dormancy.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

Yeah, I play a 68 sometimes. They are absolutely tone Kings throuhg an old vintage Marshall, or Blackface that can exploit their amazing quality. You wont hear all that much difference in a reissue /modern amp. If your a very good player, you'll notice it plays like nothing else since. Thats just old world craftsmanship- it cannot be replicated. Those things wrere made with old growth wood and the finest finishes. Quite simply put, you played a masterpiece. Not many can or ever will. Most , even if they do, would not be sophistocated enough to know the difference between that and a modern , for example PRS or Custom Shop Gibson today. PRS Smith and Custom Shop Gibsons are fine guitars, and expensive, but a total joke next to what you just played. Just to clarify , understand I'm talking vintage classic tone, but why would anyone play high gain with a vintage /reissue guitar anyway? Thats for Ibanez/Jacksons and other modern guitars.
 
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Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

I didn't play a 'masterpiece'. I played a norlin era 3 piece pancke bodied guitar that's set up like **** and played like ass
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

theycallmegio said:
I didn't play a 'masterpiece'. I played a norlin era 3 piece pancke bodied guitar that's set up like **** and played like ass
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Heh, that ain't a '69 then, but it looks like one. Norlin wasn't in '69.Ive played a bunch of vintage guitars that are set up like **** and play terribe, but the tone is there .
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

A proper setup can work wonders for tone and playability. I would not be too quick to pass judgement based on what you said about the setup and strings.

But it definitely cannot fix a neck profile that does not work for you.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

JeffB said:
A proper setup can work wonders for tone and playability. I would not be too quick to pass judgement based on what you said about the setup and strings.

But it definitely cannot fix a neck profile that does not work for you.
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heh, if a '69 neck profile doesnt "work" for you, I'd suggest you take up something different. Badmintton perhaps?
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

I know you love shuttlecock Jerry, but not for me thanks :bigthumb:
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

I have a standard w a 60s neck and it's nice, feels a lot better than that 69. I had a custom w a 50s carve and it was FANTASTIC.

What I can't get over is a 3 piece body, no thanks
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

theycallmegio said:
I thought norlin was 69-87
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Norlin was 74 - 86.

On December 22, 1969 Gibson parent company, Chicago Musical Instruments, was taken over by a South American brewing conglomerate, E.C.L. Gibson, Inc. remained under the control of CMI until 1974, when it became a subsidiary of Norlin Musical Instruments (a member of Norlin Industries - named for ECL president Norton Stevens and CMI president Maurice Berlin). This began an era characterized by corporate mismanagement and decreasing product quality.

Between 1974 and 1984 production of Gibson guitars was shifted from Kalamazoo to Nashville, Tennessee. The Kalamazoo plant kept going for a few years as a custom-instrument shop, but was closed in 1984; several Gibson employees led by plant manager Jim Duerloo established Heritage Guitars in the old factory, building versions of classic Gibson designs. The company was within three months of going out of business before it was bought by Henry E. Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman, and Gary A. Zebrowski in January 1986.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

An opportunity to grab a vintage guitar and jam for a while is a nice thing but... Bearing in mind that I am probably the last person to consult about a vintage Gibbo, the saddles on this one should be nylon, I believe. They look like they belong in a ziplock plastic bag, together with the nut. It might be a pricey museum piece but it still won't play well without proper string alignment. Besides that, a 40 year old guitar of high quality ought to sound godly. If it doesn't, it isn't worth it.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

vinta9e said:
40 year old guitar of high quality ought to sound godly. If it doesn't, it isn't worth it.
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They do. They all do. Gibson didnt let a turd leave the Factory at that time, despite some fools claimng there are old genuine Gibson tone turds- they are imbeciles. If theres something wrong with it, it happenedl later- usually much later, and for that, theres defintely some junk out there.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

Les Pauls from that era (69-early 70s) are hit and miss for me. I've played some fantastic ones, and then I've played some that did absolutely nothing for me. I guess that could apply to most guitars though.

How were the frets? That's my main beef with those Les Pauls... really small flat wire that wears quickly. If the frets are in good condition they can be fun to play but too often I find one that needs a fret dressing.

I've never seen saddles like that on an older LP. Interesting.

If I were you and wanted to fix up the guitar for the owner, I'd just say, "Hey, you know that LPC you've got? I think you'd really enjoy it a lot more if it was cleaned up and set up properly. What do you say?" Just like that.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

I don't think the pancaking started until later. 69-70, possibly longer, should be good solid LPs.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

MetalManiac said:
heh, if a '69 neck profile doesnt "work" for you, I'd suggest you take up something different. Badmintton perhaps?
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Or maybe I don't know here just buy and play a Guitar with a neck profile that feels right to YOU!
So what if it isn't what the corksniffer gear snob's love as long as it works for YOU!
Owned and played a number of old Pauls here over the 35 + years i have been playing as well as Pre CBS Fenders. Some are gems some dogs and frankly I would not trade a single one for the Pawn shop prize 07 PRS Custom 24 I now own if I had to use them as my #1 stage guitar so----.
 
Re: I got to play a 1969 LPC yesterday, pics and thoughts within

JeffB said:
A proper setup can work wonders for tone and playability. I would not be too quick to pass judgement based on what you said about the setup and strings.
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this

Lovely piece,tho!Damn shame it's wall-art,but what can you do...

Would love to see it at full potential!
 
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