Tell me about Les Paul Customs: Norlin, Post-Norlin, '57 and '68 Reissues

[Cossack]

I think this is the proper forum for this...

My dream guitar is a Les Paul Custom. I've only played one in a shop (a 1978) and it was wonderful, but of course most of the mystique is the aesthetics--the double binding, inlays, split diamond--and the association with favorite players.

Anyway, I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify the cost, since I have wonderful guitars, but I keep looking at them. I live in Montana and don't get the chance to go to a large music store where one can A/B guitars and see lots of used gear, so I mostly look online. I've noticed that at the moment $3500 should give a person a few used guitars to pick from online, and with patience, it seems that one could find one in the ballpark of $3000. That's a lot of cash for me, but that seems to be the price of admission right now. I've noticed the following four categories of guitars as I look for Les Paul Customs.

Can anyone give me a rundown of the following versions? I'd like to know a bit of what I'm looking at and the features/pros/cons of the few different options out there, and what to look for or avoid. I'd also appreciate any other considerations for me or observations about LPCs in general.

-Norlin Era LPCs - often have wear and tear, which (within reason) is not a turn-off for me. I like the aged binding and a few scars, so I don't have to worry about adding some of my own.
-Post-Norlin Era LPCs - Later '80s-Present
-'57 Reissues
-'68 Reissues

As far as my own needs and tastes go, I play mostly '70s style hard rock and classic heavy metal (think NWOBHM, Iron Maiden), but also do some country and folky stuff, and like to be able to play whatever with whomever is around me. I already have a Les Paul with Dimarzio SD/PAF pickups and a couple Strats. I'd like something that complements these. Pickups aren't a big deal since they can be changed (and often have already been changed from stock if one is buying a used guitar). I play through a Marshall 6101LM, SC20c, TSL122, and a Fender '65 DRRI.

Anyway, I just want to think about the various considerations and which might be the best fit for me.

 

[slammintone]

The 54-57 Reissues are all mahogany bodies with no maple caps. The rest of the Customs you’re looking at do have maple tops like Standards do under either black, white or sunburst and other paint jobs.

 

[Cossack]

The 54-57 Reissues are all mahogany bodies with no maple caps. The rest of the Customs you’re looking at do have maple tops like Standards do under either black, white or sunburst and other paint jobs.

So how much difference does the all-mahogany make vs. the maple caps?

 

[delawaregold]

Sorry, wrong Section.

 

[JPA67]

I think this is the proper forum for this...

My dream guitar is a Les Paul Custom. I've only played one in a shop (a 1978) and it was wonderful, but of course most of the mystique is the aesthetics--the double binding, inlays, split diamond--and the association with favorite players.

Anyway, I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify the cost, since I have wonderful guitars, but I keep looking at them. I live in Montana and don't get the chance to go to a large music store where one can A/B guitars and see lots of used gear, so I mostly look online. I've noticed that at the moment $3500 should give a person a few used guitars to pick from online, and with patience, it seems that one could find one in the ballpark of $3000. That's a lot of cash for me, but that seems to be the price of admission right now. I've noticed the following four categories of guitars as I look for Les Paul Customs.

Can anyone give me a rundown of the following versions? I'd like to know a bit of what I'm looking at and the features/pros/cons of the few different options out there, and what to look for or avoid. I'd also appreciate any other considerations for me or observations about LPCs in general.

-Norlin Era LPCs - often have wear and tear, which (within reason) is not a turn-off for me. I like the aged binding and a few scars, so I don't have to worry about adding some of my own.
-Post-Norlin Era LPCs - Later '80s-Present
-'57 Reissues
-'68 Reissues

As far as my own needs and tastes go, I play mostly '70s style hard rock and classic heavy metal (think NWOBHM, Iron Maiden), but also do some country and folky stuff, and like to be able to play whatever with whomever is around me. I already have a Les Paul with Dimarzio SD/PAF pickups and a couple Strats. I'd like something that complements these. Pickups aren't a big deal since they can be changed (and often have already been changed from stock if one is buying a used guitar). I play through a Marshall 6101LM, SC20c, TSL122, and a Fender '65 DRRI.

Anyway, I just want to think about the various considerations and which might be the best fit for me.

Had a Black and Gold 79 Custom. After some fret work, it was an animal! Sold when I injured a tendon in my left wrist.

 

[guitplayer]

Inherently, Customs sound darker.

 

[brandtkronholm]

I think this is the proper forum for this...

My dream guitar is a Les Paul Custom. I've only played one in a shop (a 1978) and it was wonderful, but of course most of the mystique is the aesthetics--the double binding, inlays, split diamond--and the association with favorite players.

Anyway, I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify the cost, since I have wonderful guitars, but I keep looking at them. I live in Montana and don't get the chance to go to a large music store where one can A/B guitars and see lots of used gear, so I mostly look online. I've noticed that at the moment $3500 should give a person a few used guitars to pick from online, and with patience, it seems that one could find one in the ballpark of $3000. That's a lot of cash for me, but that seems to be the price of admission right now. I've noticed the following four categories of guitars as I look for Les Paul Customs.

Can anyone give me a rundown of the following versions? I'd like to know a bit of what I'm looking at and the features/pros/cons of the few different options out there, and what to look for or avoid. I'd also appreciate any other considerations for me or observations about LPCs in general.

-Norlin Era LPCs - often have wear and tear, which (within reason) is not a turn-off for me. I like the aged binding and a few scars, so I don't have to worry about adding some of my own.
-Post-Norlin Era LPCs - Later '80s-Present
-'57 Reissues
-'68 Reissues

As far as my own needs and tastes go, I play mostly '70s style hard rock and classic heavy metal (think NWOBHM, Iron Maiden), but also do some country and folky stuff, and like to be able to play whatever with whomever is around me. I already have a Les Paul with Dimarzio SD/PAF pickups and a couple Strats. I'd like something that complements these. Pickups aren't a big deal since they can be changed (and often have already been changed from stock if one is buying a used guitar). I play through a Marshall 6101LM, SC20c, TSL122, and a Fender '65 DRRI.

Anyway, I just want to think about the various considerations and which might be the best fit for me.

All of the tonal differences listed below are subtleties.

A maple top will be brighter with more snap than a mahogany top.
However, the ebony fretboard (part of all LP customs) is fast and compensates by adding some brightness and snap to the tone.

New reissues: The ‘68 reissues tend to have maple tops and two pickups.
The ‘57 reissues tend to be mahogany, but can be maple. Ask the sales person to look in a cavity. 17 degree headstock pitch - it’s cool but I would know if it makes a big difference sonically.

Norlin: anything is possible, but expect maple tops. I really like the 3-pickup LP Artisan from this era. 14 degree headstock angle - maybe it plays easier?

80s: Anything is possible. Fine guitars.

In short: Go nuts.
My opinion: any 3-pickup version from any era would be a great guitar. The fancy Artisans have all the bling!

 

[slammintone]

Norlins likely have maple necks as well. Mine had a 3 piece maple neck.

 

[JJDon]

I have a 2021 57 Reissue Black Beauty and I can tell you the differences between it and the standard Custom when I was looking to decide. In general, don't worry too much about the woods or any of that crap. Neck size, pickups, weight, and subtle aesthetic features you want matter way more.

The biggest thing with the 57 Reissue is that its neck will be much fatter than the 68 reissue like they used to make them in the 50s. I like bigger necks, but if you prefer slimmer ones, than you probably want to look at the 68s. The volume/tone knobs on the 68s also have a different look. The standard non-reissue Customs produced now will have a slimmer neck and I believe the neck joint maybe slightly slimmer on them compared to the reissues. The 58 will have a yellowish, aged looking binding vs. a white binding with the 68 and non-reissues.

I think both the 58 and 68s have Custombuckers now. The non reissue Customs have 498T/490R in the bridge and neck which are better for more rock/metal applications. Some of the older 58 Reissues, like early 2000s to mid 2000s, have Burstbuckers. I'm not a fan of the Custombuckers, but I play heavier music, so it depends on what you're going for.

Another big difference with the reissues is the height of the pickup rings. I didn't realize this until I got it, but the 58 reissue has taller pickup rings than the standard Customs. I wasn't a fan of it, so I just got a pair of the standard sized ones to replace them. The 58 Reissue will have ivory tuning pegs vs. gold ones on the standard Customs. I've also heard that some reissues have the "fretless wonder" short frets, but the more modern reissues don't. I think you'd have to go back to the early 90s or before to encounter those.

As for Norlin era and other variants, I don't have any experience with those, but there are a ton of variations. The main thing to think about when getting a Custom IMO is to figure out what type of neck profile you're interested in, what type of tuners you prefer for the aesthetics, and whether or not its standard frets or fretless wonder. Everything else like pickups, pickup rings, and knobs can easily be changed out. But if you know what neck size range you're looking for, its easy to narrow down your options to a particular year or type of Custom. There are variations, even within the same year/reissue of guitar, but in general its a lot more consistent. Like a 58 reissue in general, is going to weigh more than a non-reissue custom and the 58 reissue will probably have a neck that is over .88 at the first fret up to .93. Non-reissues and I assume 68s are going to be around the .80 - .83 range at the first fret.

And yes, to me, the Custom was definitely worth it. As for price, definitely buy used if you can and even check Guitar Center's used online listings. I got mine from there and it was exactly as described. Reverb will have the most listings, but you won't find a Reissue for under $4,000. Most reissues go for around $4,500 - 5,500 depending on the year and condition. The non-reissues are definitely doable in the $3,000 - 4,000 range though.

 

[dnabbet2]

I've had a wide range of Customs and a wide range of Standards type Les Pauls.

I don't hear any consistent difference between the all-mahogany and the mahogany-with-maple-top. One man's opinion.

Other variables such as pickups make more consistent differences to my ear.

 

[Wilko]

I know it sounds like heresy, but I'm no a fan of late 70s or 80s models. If wood makes a difference to you, they are less likely to have much in the way of resonance/vibrations/overtones for cleaner mildly gritty tones at lower volumes. They are great for heavy all the time loud electric.

Best all around will be anything but those years.