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Inherited this - What do I have here?

thesibleys

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Aug 27, 2019
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3

Davidos

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Jun 19, 2010
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94
I was with my father when he purchased this Les Paul Deluxe guitar and Fender amp in a pawn shop in the early '70s. After he passed away, my mom gave to me. Can anyone tell me more about what I have? Not that I would sell it, but would be nice to know if it has any issues or rarities, or needs special insurance as I have no clue on an approximate value.

Thanks,

https://laplacetravel.box.com/s/fzrp7zfdpgvy0c6l887c1gywiz0ke631

https://laplacetravel.box.com/s/5dte5f2553jjmo00krhnwpy6oddrz0wz

Late '60s LP Deluxe... Serial # says '67 but '69 was the first year with mini-humbuckers... Check the pot codes to be sure of the date. First year ('69) LP Deluxes are worth $4,600 - $6,100 according to the VG Guide. Yours looks super clean. I'd say at least $6k.

If it is a '67 I'd say it's pretty rare...

Let us know what the pot codes are!
 

toxpert

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Jul 2, 2005
Messages
3,068
3-piece mahogany neck with wide headstock, mini humbuckers with ‘goof-rings’...late 69 to early 70s.

There were no Les Paul’s Made in 1967. The 1968-early 1969 had 1-piece neck and small headstock.

Looks nice a nice clean guitar that was well-loved and cared after by your dad.
 

Grog

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Apr 7, 2012
Messages
562
Your guitar has "Goof Rings" around the mini humbuckers. These were added to hide oversized or sloppy pickup routing. I have never seen a 1969 with goof rings, that doesn't mean that none were produced. Does your guitars neck have a small volute? I see it has no "Made in USA" stamp. It looks like it has the deeper carved top like a '69. Here is a photo of mine for comparison.

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Reno_1ted

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Sep 21, 2014
Messages
665
Most likely late 1969.

However, we can tell you more about it if you can share/post:

A picture of the body 'side on' so we can see if its one piece or a three piece 'pancake' body - can you see multiple layers, horizontal lines?
The pot codes - open the back and check for the numbers on any of the metal pots, they should start with 137
A picture of the area where the neck meets the neck - is there a small bump (known as a volute)
A picture of the headstock face/logo.

:hank
 

thesibleys

New member
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Messages
3
Most likely late 1969.

However, we can tell you more about it if you can share/post:

A picture of the body 'side on' so we can see if its one piece or a three piece 'pancake' body - can you see multiple layers, horizontal lines?
The pot codes - open the back and check for the numbers on any of the metal pots, they should start with 137
A picture of the area where the neck meets the neck - is there a small bump (known as a volute)
A picture of the headstock face/logo.

:hank

I've uploaded a bunch of photos to Flickr. Let me know if you can see them and what you can make out. Thanks a ton.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGzevX7
 

Reno_1ted

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Sep 21, 2014
Messages
665
http://www.latesixtieslespauls.com/middle.asp

Same specs as stated in Moonweasel's latesixtieslespauls site "middle series"

Actually I would say this is a 'late series'. It has the three piece 'pancake body'.

The three piece body places it late 1969 at the earliest, but when you factor in that there is no 'Made in USA', no volute, it has 13769xx pots, and the open font on the logo, I don't think this guitar strays into 1970. So you have a guitar from late on in 1969, and a genuine Late 60s Les Paul - cool guitar.
 

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
Agree- and the color of the body is also "spot-on" for late 60's.
 

Grog

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Apr 7, 2012
Messages
562
Agreed. Pretty much same as mine with the exception of the pancake body & Goof Rings.
The pot codes seem to be just a few weeks older than mine.....

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MeHereNow

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Aug 13, 2009
Messages
677
Actually I would say this is a 'late series'. It has the three piece 'pancake body'.

The three piece body places it late 1969 at the earliest, but when you factor in that there is no 'Made in USA', no volute, it has 13769xx pots, and the open font on the logo, I don't think this guitar strays into 1970. So you have a guitar from late on in 1969, and a genuine Late 60s Les Paul - cool guitar.

Because of this:

"NOTE: The earliest pancake body, typically a Later Series feature, I have seen SO FAR is an 88752X Les Paul Deluxe. [EDIT as of 5-2014: The earliest I have now seen is a 88750X guitar. It has NO VOLUTE and an open 'b' and 'o' logo. Thank you Hector B. for your email and pictures!]"

on the "middle series" under "stats & info" section on the left of thepage, and the fact the OP's guitar has pots dated 34th week of 69, i keep with my first assumption.
[h=1][/h]
 

Grog

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562
Wow, those pots were a nasty mess. Chaulky like an exploded battery. What causes that and should I just leave them alone or they be delicately cleaned? If so, with what?

I would leave them original, they've survived that way for over 50 years. I think the corrosion is from the flux that was used at the time the electronics was soldered.
 

zombiwoof

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Feb 22, 2003
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3,565
What's with the extra holes above the bridge?. Looks like it has been re-located. why would that be?. Better intonation?.
Al
 

toxpert

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Jul 2, 2005
Messages
3,068
Wow, those pots were a nasty mess. Chaulky like an exploded battery. What causes that and should I just leave them alone or they be delicately cleaned? If so, with what?

That’s called patina....natural aging that helps confirm originality. You should not clean the residue from the pots...it does not affect the function.
Cheers,
Mac
 

latestarter

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Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
What's with the extra holes above the bridge?. Looks like it has been re-located. why would that be?. Better intonation?.
Al

Wondered the same thing. I had to do that to my 381 Ricky...they located the bridge in the wrong place. I've seen other Gibson where that's an issue also.
 

Reno_1ted

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Sep 21, 2014
Messages
665
Because of this:

"NOTE: The earliest pancake body, typically a Later Series feature, I have seen SO FAR is an 88752X Les Paul Deluxe. [EDIT as of 5-2014: The earliest I have now seen is a 88750X guitar. It has NO VOLUTE and an open 'b' and 'o' logo. Thank you Hector B. for your email and pictures!]"

on the "middle series" under "stats & info" section on the left of thepage, and the fact the OP's guitar has pots dated 34th week of 69, i keep with my first assumption.

That shits the later series earlier, not the middle series later. The later series is characterised by the introduction of the pancake body.

Middle Series: "Although the tenon route is changed, the remaining features are identical to early 69 bodies. In essence, they are still pre-genuine-pancake bodies."

In terms of dating the guitar its a bit of a moot point. In terms of value of the guitar, it's everything.
 

Reno_1ted

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Sep 21, 2014
Messages
665
Wow, those pots were a nasty mess. Chaulky like an exploded battery. What causes that and should I just leave them alone or they be delicately cleaned? If so, with what?

Don't clean the outside of those pots ! Leave them as is. :salude

if you are struggling to see a pot code, you can just give it a wipe with a damp finger.
 
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