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2018 50th Anniversary 1968 Les Paul Customs and Goldtops

dleake

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Messages
52
2018 Gibson Custom 50th Anniversary 1968 Les Paul Custom and 1968 Les Paul Goldtop. Custom limited to 300 total. Goldtop limited to 68 total. (Sorry for quality. Screenshots from Instagram)

Screen Shot 2018-06-01 at 2.11.57 PM.jpg

Screen Shot 2018-06-01 at 2.11.20 PM.jpg
 

dleake

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Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Messages
52
Nicely aged binding not neon yellow and this one weighs 9lbs!
 

CDaughtry

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner and Moderator
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Jul 16, 2001
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12,646
I just spoke to a buddy of mine at Gibson Custom and he confirmed that those are leaked early drafts of a dealer product one-sheet. He said consumer release will be in two weeks.:jim
 

dleake

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Messages
52
Better shot of the back plate. These are starting to roll out.

3140_D8_D1-_A39_B-4_B41-8815-_A036_FD4_E9487.jpg
 

Bruce R

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Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
1,029
It's the reissue of the very first reissue!:salude

Exactly! Essentially a '56 Goldtop. I wonder if these 50th Anniversary '68 Goldtops will have chrome hardware and the lower headstock angle? It was tough to read the pamphlet so I couldn't discern this. They looked heavily aged, while the Custom says they will be a VOS appointment.

Curious what the prices will be.
 

Mars Hall

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Nov 26, 2008
Messages
1,829
Exactly! Essentially a '56 Goldtop. I wonder if these 50th Anniversary '68 Goldtops will have chrome hardware and the lower headstock angle? It was tough to read the pamphlet so I couldn't discern this. They looked heavily aged, while the Custom says they will be a VOS appointment.

Curious what the prices will be.

I was able to squint and read those specs. Chrome hardware and 14 degree headstock angle confirmed. Your guess is as good as any on MSRP.
 

Progrocker111

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Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Messages
4,013
These can be very interesting!

Anybody with some info about 68 Custom humbucker? :)
 

Progrocker111

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Dec 10, 2003
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4,013
Last edited:

Progrocker111

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
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4,013
I agree, a reissue of a reissue .... sounds silly ..pass

In fact its the only possibility to have classical maple topped LP Custom with long neck tenon and ebony fretboard these days.

And dont forget, that the real 68s werent only the reissues - the maple top and T-Top pickups gave them in fact very different tonality in comparison to older all-mahogany 57-60 LP Customs. :)
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
So the pickups will be Custombuckers ? Also I could not tell if the serial # was inked ? on or imprinted into the wood ?
 

toxpert

Active member
Joined
Jul 2, 2005
Messages
3,068
For the gold top...additional details on the originals:
- strap button by neck mounted too high
- ABR bridge posts in wrong position, required repositioning to set intonation
- high neck angle
- ‘crown’ inlay for headstock overlay
- straight walls for control cavity carving
- gumdrop caps for the tone pots
- ‘busy’ looking inlays for fretboard
- wide binding in cutout
- flatter arches on the top of headstock
 

jimmyace2006

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 24, 2007
Messages
2,157
For the gold top...additional details on the originals:
- strap button by neck mounted too high
- ABR bridge posts in wrong position, required repositioning to set intonation
- high neck angle
- ‘crown’ inlay for headstock overlay
- straight walls for control cavity carving
- gumdrop caps for the tone pots
- ‘busy’ looking inlays for fretboard
- wide binding in cutout
- flatter arches on the top of headstock

The crown inlay on the head was only used on a few early ones. I have had both versions - with and without the crown. But the caps are probably different on them. Some had gum drop brown caps, others had black beauty caps. And yes, the shape of the route in the control cavity on the 1968s had 4 sides that were all rounded. Earlier and later guitars had 1 or 2 flat sides.
 
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