68 or 69 GT?

[SpringySound]

Hello all!

This is my first post here and I’m honored to be here among some very knowledgeable folks about the Les Paul. I recently purchased what was described as a 69 Les Paul Goldtop but as I learn more about the 68 and 69 guitars, I go back and forth on whether to call my guitar a 68 or a 69.

It has every 68 feature - one piece body, one piece neck, small headstock, long neck tenon, dot over i on the Gibson logo, etc. however the serial number shows up as a 69 being 5332xx.

Would you guys go ahead and describe it as a 69 based on the serial number or a 68 based on its features?

 

[corpse]

Small HS equates to ONLY 1968.
The SN “system” is a train wreck. Maybe it shipped late.
We need photos.

 

[S. Weiger]

Small HS equates to ONLY 1968.
The SN “system” is a train wreck. Maybe it shipped late.
We need photos.

And very early '69.
I had a jan./feb. 1969 with 48. week 1968 pots, serial# 531xxx with all 1968 features, including small headstock.

 

[S. Weiger]

Hello all!

This is my first post here and I’m honored to be here among some very knowledgeable folks about the Les Paul. I recently purchased what was described as a 69 Les Paul Goldtop but as I learn more about the 68 and 69 guitars, I go back and forth on whether to call my guitar a 68 or a 69.

It has every 68 feature - one piece body, one piece neck, small headstock, long neck tenon, dot over i on the Gibson logo, etc. however the serial number shows up as a 69 being 5332xx.

Would you guys go ahead and describe it as a 69 based on the serial number or a 68 based on its features?

It's an early 1969 with '68 appointments.
Just as good as a "real" 1968. Same-same in my book.

 

[Hricl]

I agree. Same guitar and features. Built well into the first quarter 1969.

 

[Wilko]

Control cavity tells the story.

Straight sides is 68 style. Went into very early 69.

 

[S. Weiger]

Here's the cavity of my jan./feb. 1969 with 48. week 1968 pots, serial# 531xxx:



And rest of the guitar:

 

[S. Weiger]

Double post.

 

[Hricl]

Has the “cloverleaf “ shaped control cavity and routed out before gluing on the maple cap. Did Gibson utilize pots dated 48th week 1968? I know the first and early 68 reissues used up pots dated the 45th week 1967 and then on to pots dated 32nd/33rd week 1968 then onto 50th week 1968 and then 52nd week 1968.

 

[S. Weiger]

Has the “cloverleaf “ shaped control cavity and routed out before gluing on the maple cap. Did Gibson utilize pots dated 48th week 1968? I know the first and early 68 reissues used up pots dated the 45th week 1967 and then on to pots dated 32nd/33rd week 1968 then onto 50th week 1968 and then 52nd week 1968.

It might have been 50th week 1968. Heck, it was many moons ago.

 

[Wilko]

here is the first listed Gibson serial number for 1969. I bursted it and it has 1961 PAFs in this pic.

Thread 'Quite possibly the first 1969 Les Paul'

Dec 13, 2008

I forgot about this picture that I've not yet posted. I bursted this guitar that was a goldtop when I bought it from Mark Bishop.

It's all 1968 features with the serial that is listed as a first for 1969.

• Wilko
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Sunburst/Gibson USA Pub

 

[SpringySound]

Here's the cavity of my jan./feb. 1969 with 48. week 1968 pots, serial# 531xxx:

View attachment 26885

And rest of the guitar:

View attachment 26889

I’ll take a look at my control cavity. My guitar looks identical to yours on the outside.

 

[Hricl]

It might have been 50th week 1968. Heck, it was many moons ago.

Probably 50th week 1968. My guitar was probably built in November/December 1968 finalized completed end of December but didn’t get shipped out till 1/14/69. It’s a 529XXX with pots dated 50th week 1968.

 

[Hricl]

In the meantime a bunch of 531XXX and 532XXX shipped out first couple weeks 1969.

 

[aladdinsane]

My 531XXX shipped on 1/7/69. I call it a 68!

 

[SpringySound]

My 531XXX shipped on 1/7/69. I call it a 68!

It seems like many people associate the 69s with being pancake body and Norlin. That’s one reason I felt compelled to refer to mine as a 68.

 

[aladdinsane]

It seems like many people associate the 69s with being pancake body and Norlin. That’s one reason I felt compelled to refer to mine as a 68.

Definitely. Seems like there were a ton of 68s just waiting to go out after the holidays. Do you know your ship date? I was lucky enough to see mine on the ledger that's floating around.

 

[SpringySound]

Definitely. Seems like there were a ton of 68s just waiting to go out after the holidays. Do you know your ship date? I was lucky enough to see mine on the ledger that's floating around.

No, I don’t know the ship date for mine, unfortunately.

 

[Hricl]

No, I don’t know the ship date for mine, unfortunately.

Not sure if Gibson is still looking up ship dates in the ledgers and providing them or not? But you can email them and ask. They kindly looked up and provided the ship date for my 68 goldtop. However, that was almost 10yrs ago and not sure if they’re providing ledger shipping information currently.