Gibson Les Paul Personal - 3 Pickup version

[bachuwa]

Hello Friends, I just came across (Now in my possession) a Les Paul Personal. Serial Number 1969 or 70. I have done a lot of research and looked at all the online images and have only seen a two pickup version. I have a three pickup version and trying to see if there is a story behind it. I opened a case with Gibson and they are intrigued but so far they have not had any information for me. Was wondering if anyone here has seen such a beast? The guitar was just a shell with all the pieces in a box which I all all of them including all three pickups.

 

[TM1]

I remember when those came out, except I've never seen a 3-pickup version.. They were heavier than all other Lesters..

 

[Grog]

I believe I’ve seen one 3 pickup Les Paul Recording by photo only. Yours must have been a custom order finish also, or a refin. They made very few Personals, all in brown stain. Awesome find!!

 

[Kevin Colt]

got one. tobacco sunburst. there was a dot above the "I" on the logo in 69, in 70 the dot was eliminated.

 

[Grog]

got one. tobacco sunburst. there was a dot above the "I" on the logo in 69, in 70 the dot was eliminated.

The OP sold his. Did you buy it?

 

[Kevin Colt]

yes.

 

[Maguchi]

Hello Friends, I just came across (Now in my possession) a Les Paul Personal. Serial Number 1969 or 70. I have done a lot of research and looked at all the online images and have only seen a two pickup version. I have a three pickup version and trying to see if there is a story behind it. I opened a case with Gibson and they are intrigued but so far they have not had any information for me. Was wondering if anyone here has seen such a beast? The guitar was just a shell with all the pieces in a box which I all all of them including all three pickups.View attachment 23237View attachment 23238

Holy guacamole !

 

[Kevin Colt]

these were built for Les Paul alone. they have an XLR jack on the upper bout where he mounted a mic on a gooseneck because he didn't like using a mic stand. it was probably rejected by him because he wasn't a fan of binding. there were only about 200 give or take ever made. I've only seen one other three pickup one and it was stripped to just a body. the one I just bought has a dot above the "I" on the logo which means it's a 68 or 69. in 70 they removed that dot. I'm going to look at the pots to get a date code in the near future.

 

[Strings Jr.]

I believe I’ve seen one 3 pickup Les Paul Recording by photo only. Yours must have been a custom order finish also, or a refin. They made very few Personals, all in brown stain. Awesome find!!

Never knew there was a "Custom" and a "Standard" version. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Very interesting. Never seen. What do the pots date?

 

[Grog]

The OP sent me a shot of the control cavity, looks like an early 1970. My Personal has a dotted “i” & is supposedly a ‘71.

 

[Offshore Angler]

Appears to have a April 1970 pot in it, so not an early 1970.

 

[Kevin Colt]

looked it over very carefully before the purchase. it is authentic.

 

[Maguchi]

I seen a couple of these for sale in the '90s and aughts in one of the shops on  guitar row on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, CA. My recollection is they weighed a ton and sat for sale in that store for a long time. The ones I seen were 2 pickup models. So the 3 pickup ones are probably more rare. Also maybe they're more desirable now than 20 -30 years ago.

 

[Grog]

looked it over very carefully before the purchase. it is authentic.

Congrats on being able to buy it! It is a rare gem!

 

[Kevin Colt]

I could have bought a recording model off the floor at Grinnell's music back in 73 for about 250 bucks, with case. I kick myself to this day.

 

[Grog]

I bought a used Les Paul Triumph Bass for $300.00 about 35 years ago & it grew into this………

 

[Offshore Angler]

I would guess the odds of someone faking a Les Paul Personal are about the same as me being elected pope.