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Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop 1954 , 1956 , 1968 reissues.

dblock1717

New member
Joined
Jul 1, 2020
Messages
11
Hey can anyone tell me there opinions and the difference’s between Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop 1954 , 1956 , 1968 reissues (all with p90 pick ups.) i am in the market for a gold top with p90 picks up so i would like some feedback on each of these years. Thanks!
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Hey can anyone tell me there opinions and the difference’s between Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop 1954 , 1956 , 1968 reissues (all with p90 pick ups.) i am in the market for a gold top with p90 picks up so i would like some feedback on each of these years. Thanks!

I can't speak for the '68 reissues, but there is a feel difference between the '54 and '56, along with the fact the '56 models generally intonate better with the ABR vs the wraptail. My 2019 '54 reissue has higher and skinnier frets than my 2006 '56 reissue did (I sold it to buy the R4), and that makes for a big feel difference.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
It kinda depends on what floats YOUR boat.

The wrap tail R4's are wonderful and you can find them with absolutely HUGE necks.

The ABR on the R6's intonate better (if that will drive you nuts) yet still rumble with the best of the P90's out there.

Can't speak to the 68 in a p90. I only had a 68 Custom.

The wrap does it and I have HUGE neck and large neck versions.

The R6's feel slightly more refined with the ABR on them.

If I could only have one or the other it would be a hard choice but I would probably grab the R4.

Just more fun, basic, raw.

R4's

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R6's

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EdmundGTP

Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2016
Messages
41
I have one of the limited edition aged 68 Goldtop RI's and love it. The look of the aging is a bit "polarizing" but I dig it. I did hand polish it a bit to tone down some of the overdone greening in the finish. I can only assume the follow on non-aged 68 RI's are the same minus the aging.

Neck profile not a "baseball bat" but it's pretty full, close in size to what was on my 2009 R8 before it got a makeover. Headstock angle on the 68 RI will be shallower than what comes on an R4 or R6 (if that matters to you); 14 degrees instead of 17 degrees. Fretboard inlay material on the 68 RI's is generally a bit more "swirly" as it was in the mid-late 60's, as opposed to more of a "wavy" pattern in the 50's. 68 RI will also have nylon saddles in the bridge, chrome tailpiece, and reflector knobs. All pretty minor/aesthetic differences really if you ask me. I swapped the knobs and tailpiece on mine for a more R6'y look.

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