LP Custom: 57 or 68?

[Jim Sloves]

I'm gassing for an LP Custom. I'll try to keep the monkey off my back but in the meantime: I love my R4 Custom black beauty (s/n 4 4089) into a Soldano SLO. I'd like to get a Custom with humbucking tones for even more grunt for hard rock/metal: Steve Stevens, Whitesnake, etc. Any opinions or experiences with these two LPs for this type of music: high gain hard rock/ 80 90s metal?


As far I can see, the main differences are the 68 has a maple cap while the 57 doesn't. The 68 may have a bigger neck but I'm fine with most necks as long as they aren't small

 

[Browneyes]

I'd always go with the 57.

 

[blueguitar]

I'd always go with the 57.

ahhhm, you sure he really means "The True´57" over "The True´68", when posting in the historic district (given he has read forum policy...)

 

[Jim Sloves]

Ugh...I hate the Gibson Custom shop vs Custom Historic vs Histom Custoric.....I get confused.

R57 Custom Black Beauty vs ?R68 Custom Black Beauty

 

[Ronson]

If you're going for a hard rock, 80s (early) 90s tone - then I'd say the 68 for sure. The maple cap is designed to give some bite and edge that I think you'll enjoy for the sounds you're after.

Steve Stevens plays maple-topped Customs, so does Billy Duffy... enough said?

 

[Jim Sloves]

Stevens' LPs have opaque tops so I couldn't tell which model Custom they were. Thanks!

..

 

[vintage58]

My vote would be for a three-pickup '57 reissue ("master tone" knob configuration: optional ). Since you already have a two-pickup '54 version, you might as well round things out with a three-pickup model:

 

[moonweasel]

For the type of music you just said, I say 68, maple cap.

 

[jgyn]

'68.

 

[Electric Lloyd]

Not that it matters, but isn't the '68 a reissue of a reissue? :hmm :wah

 

[bigworm04]

3 pu 57 all the way. I own niether but the black beauty is next on my list.

 

[StSpider]

Three pickups R7 are coolest, but a 68 might be more suited for what you're after.

 

[Jim Sloves]

Thanks guys. I pulled the trigger on a used black R'68...should be here in a week.

:salude

 

[moonweasel]

Cool!

 

[LPLord]

Hey Jim,congratulations on getting the '68 reissue. Like all LPs,these are not
all born equal. But if you get a good one,this is as good as an LP gets. The
'68 has the looks,the ebony,the sound. I have three '68s. I could have gotten
'58/'59/'60 Std reissues; I prefer the '68.

 

[Jim Sloves]

Thanks. I read a lot about them here. I really enjoy my R4 Custom but often wish it had humbuckers. So now my Les Paul line up is disgusting, gluttonous, and looks like this:

• R4 goldtop
• R4 Custom black beauty
• 71 Deluxe goldtop routed for humbuckers
• Standard orange sparkle Custom shop
• R68 black beauty(incoming)

and I'm thinking of getting a (maple necked) 79 Custom black beauty.

:bh

 

[L.A.Man]

This one looks cool wish I had it:foghorn

 

[garywright]

Thanks guys. I pulled the trigger on a used black R'68...should be here in a week.

:salude

congrats Jim :salude ...and of course "family" pix would be greatly appreciated !

 

[Jim Sloves]

congrats Jim :salude ...and of course "family" pix would be greatly appreciated !

Thanks Gary. I went way overboard because I sold some outboard recording gear and just sank my teeth into a (presumably) maple neck black '79 LP Custom.

I'll probably flip one of the Customs. It's not like I'm going on a world tour or anything; just gigs in Tahoe and Reno.

So now the LP subquiver looks like this:

1. R4 goldtop
2. R4 Custom
3. ~R68 Custom
4. 1979 Custom
5. 1971 Deluxe goldtop routed for humbuckers
6. Standard from the Custom shop (the orange sparkle seen in Sunburst section)

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