1968 R8 and triburst color, please educate me

[Sir Punk]

I tried what I believe is a 1968 RI at GC it had 57 so it must have been it, it was a triburst. I fell in love with it. Heavy as hell, I loved the sound. I have a few questions about triburst?
what custom and/or standard models came in that color?

I am looking at this
Gibson Les Paul Custom, Flamey Custom Shop model, case - eBay (item 270257356706 end time Jul-26-08 14:43:50 PDT)

and this, which is what I believe I played at GC
'08 Gibson Custom 1968 Les Paul Custom Flame Top L@@k! - eBay (item 220261348719 end time Jul-31-08 17:10:07 PDT)

I can't point out any differences?

how is the R8 sound comparable to a standard, or what's its place among customs?

[Boleskinehouse]

'68 reissue Figured top Customs come in that color. I've seen a few R9s as well.

Here's my '06..

[Hemply]

What up Sir Punk!

I played that same Tri-burst GC '68 RI a few times, it's a very nice axe!

First a couple things about the '68 CS RI. I believe there are two different types out there.
There is the Guitar Center Exclusive '68 RI that you have played, and a non-GC Custom Shop '68 RI, obviously purchased at a dealer other than GC.

From what I can tell the only difference in the two is the neck. The GC has the exclusive 60's style neck, thin, and fast. The NON-GC axe has the 50's style neck similar to the neck on the R8, which is a thicker neck then on the GC axe. The '68 RI you provided the Ebay link to does not identify itself as a GC '68 RI but it eludes to GC in it's description of the price the seller is asking. A good price either way.

The Customs you are looking at have many differences in comparison to a Standard, more than I could list here.

That GC '68 RI Tri-burst is a fine axe, and I was thinking of grabbing it as my second '68 RI but ended up with a G0 instead. IMO I would snap up the GC '68 RI Tri-burst, but I'm bias.

Here is my GC '68 RI LPC. I picked this one for her sound, weight (12.6lbs) and because you dont see this finish on many.



PS anyone here who owns the '68 RI loves it and those who do not want it!

[Boleskinehouse]

They are the best Customs made, IMO.

[Hemply]

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

They are the best Customs made, IMO.

A1++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Sir Punk]

Originally Posted by Hemply

A1++++++++++++++++++++++++

which ones are you refering to?

thanks hempty from the good info. I didn't know about the GC version deal. It's really weird though because I thought the GC one had a 59 and not a 60.

So what's the difference between the 08 and the 01 I linked to?

and did this color just came on the 68 and 69 RI?
is there a page with info about this guitar and when was produced and what not?

[LongBeach]

I've got an 08 68 BB Custom. It's a fantastic guitar, and it's not from GC.
From what I've read, none of them are considered RI. Not GC's line, or mine, which was ordered direct through Custom Shop.

It's the only custom I own, and it's my new favorite.
But back to the subject, I think you'd be safe buying either one.

That tri-burst finish reminds me of the almost same finish
they offered on the Supreme. kinda?

[Hemply]

Originally Posted by Sir Punk

which ones are you refering to?

The GC '68 RI LPC of course!

[Hemply]

Originally Posted by LongBeach

From what I've read, none of them are considered RI. Not GC's line, or mine, which was ordered direct through Custom Shop.

You would be correct sir!

Gibson does not consider them to be true "RI's". *shrug*

[arcanis494]

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

'68 reissue Figured top Customs come in that color. I've seen a few R9s as well.

Here's my '06..

THAT IS HAWT!!!!!

[kingdavid01]

I LOVE mine...took the pick-up covers off to tone the "fanciness" down a bit...worth the money. You live only once.

[Sir Punk]

so only the re-issues come in that color?

what are the tonal differences between ebony and rosewood?

what is so particular about the 68 that other customs dont have?

[Hemply]

Originally Posted by Sir Punk

so only the re-issues come in that color?

what are the tonal differences between ebony and rosewood?

what is so particular about the 68 that other customs dont have?

Other than contacting Gibson Customer Care yourself this is what I have figured out about the '68.

They are as HISTORICALLY correct as they can possibly be with today's technologies. I believe the Tri-burst is an exclusive finish to GC which incidentally excludes it from recieving the "R" abreveation, that along with the serial number formatting also exclusive to GC.

I found this blurb on another forum in regards to the '68 RI and the G0 both of which I have.

GIBSON CUSTOM ADMIN:

I'm not entirely sure why the '68s have never been put under the Reissue umbrella, because in terms of specs and "historic accuracy" they are as close to the originals as any of our Reissue LPs. i think it's really just a semantic issue. the guitar you have has many of the same features that "official" Reissues have, and is fairly accurate to what Gibson was doing in '68...

It's kind of like the situation we have with the plaintop 1960 LP we do exclusively for Guitar Center...that guitar has all the specs of a normal Historic 1960 Reissue LP (except for the plain top and serial number format), but we do not consider it a Historic Reissue either.

[Sir Punk]

it's just drives me insane because it's nowhere to be found on any gibson website page.
It's not on gibsonscustom.com and not on gibson.com and I don't trust any re-seller website for specs.
I don't think GC is the only one who sells them

Buy Gibson Custom Shop 1968 Les Paul Custom 5A Quilt Top at Musician's Friend

but on gibon's website in the quilt top category there's no such guitar.
Then someone in the reviews on MF says is chambered body, maybe he doesn't know what he's talking about, it didn't seem chambered to me.

what a mystery

[kingdavid01]

There is a chambered 68 reissue. Perhaps the guy posting put it in the wrong place...
Buy Gibson Custom Shop 1968 Les Paul Custom Chambered Electric Guitar online

[Hemply]

I can tell you the GC '68 is not a chambered Les Paul, not at 12.6lbs it aint!
But that may be another exclusive to GC and it could be possible that the "other" '68's are chambered? I just don't have an answer there? Could be the guy at MF has no idea what he is talking about?

I forget if its Musicians Friend or Sweetwater but one of them is actually owned by the corporate GC, but, that doesn't necessarily mean they will have the same 68's that are actually in the GC stores.

If you liked the Tri-burst 68 you played at GC why don't you just go and get it? At least throw a deposit down on her while you shop around a little more, this way you know you have a hold on the axe you played and enjoyed. Just a suggestion.

[Sir Punk]

that's a good idea that I was planning to do if I got that custom for $1500 and resold it. But now there's a guy locally that is selling his for $2650 and I am thinking about it. The more info I have about the guitar the better decision I can make. I am gonna call gibson.

[Hemply]

Originally Posted by Sir Punk

that's a good idea that I was planning to do if I got that custom for $1500 and resold it. But now there's a guy locally that is selling his for $2650 and I am thinking about it. The more info I have about the guitar the better decision I can make. I am gonna call gibson.

Shame really the last time I played the GC 68 Tri-burst was on the 4th of July which also happened to be GC's big "list" Sale. That Tri-bust was discounted to $2300.00 for that holiday weekend sale only!

I snatched up the G0 for the same discounted price that day only because I already have a GC 68 LPC with the 57's in her and wanted something different.

Good move putting that axe on hold... and good luck with Gibson Cust Care!
Let us know what you find out!

[Boleskinehouse]

All I know is that my Tri-burst is not a GC model, nor is it chambered...

[LongBeach]

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

All I know is that my Tri-burst is not a GC model, nor is it chambered...

+1 neither is my BB.

[Sir Punk]

2300!!! oh no! I was there that night. But at that time I had my eyes on a standard desert burst. But last week I tried a R8 and that kicked her ass side by side.

[Hemply]

Multiple-Gassing... poor guy!

[Sir Punk]

although that makes you wonder how much they charge for the "custom" thing. if they lower the price from 3400 to 2300 it means they still have a huge profit on the guitar. I bet it costs them 300 to make it.

[Hemply]

Originally Posted by Sir Punk

although that makes you wonder how much they charge for the "custom" thing. if they lower the price from 3400 to 2300 it means they still have a huge profit on the guitar. I bet it costs them 300 to make it.

sure huge retail mark-up but hey everyone has to make money right?
I know on the 4th when they were running the sale they basically told me they clear inventory that way, not really making profit but making "room" either way always nice to catch a sale.

I've gotten close with most of the guys a my GC (at least the guys who run the place), to the point that we hang out when they are off and such. You can always "negotiate" a deal with them anyway, but if I decided to wait on something until it went on sale then there is always the possibility someone else may come along and buy it at the regular price and I'm shit out of luck!

Personally I have no issues with them making a profit large or small, that's how they stay in business and like I always say I would rather there be a GC in the mall than another ghetto dollar store!

I did more than 20+ years of the "starving artist" bullshit, never having enough cash to buy the nice axes. Now that I have been out of the live music scene for about 17 years I'm finally making some nice money and will buy whatever I like when I want it. It also helps that I can deduct from my taxes all of my musical gear at the end of the year due to my occupation.
Believe me I feel for the cats out there who still struggle to get the $$ together for a nice axe, but it's all about the choices that we make!

[roadhog96]

Every time someone post a question about the 68 Custom I share my 2 cents worth. I have a GC 68 Custom and love it. It all started when I stopped at a local Gibson dealer in town to check out the Les Paul's. He had a 68 there and I tried it. The guitar was real nice but neck felt huge to me. I was use to playing a G&L S-500 (Strat) style guitar with a very thin neck. Anyway, I compared it to a Supreme they had which was fitted with a 60's slim neck and it felt so much better. The wife says why don't we go to the GC in Rhode Island about a 40 minute drive and see what they have. Glad I did, hanging at the top of the wall was this beautiful Tri-Burst 68. It stood out more than anything up there. One of the sales reps says check out that 68 Custom and I said I'm doing it already, get it down for me. Something about it felt different, it was the neck, how could it be different. I went back to my local Gibson dealer to see his 68 again. Sure enough the neck was huge. Yes, I made another trip back to RI GC and bought that one. The neck was the same as the one on the Supreme, a 60's slim neck. I did some research on it because you have 30 days to change your mind. Got it home and pulled the neck PUP and found a long neck tenon in there. Nowhere was this mentioned in their ad for the guitar, in fact they knew nothing about it. I contacted Gibson and found out it was a the same guitar that they made in limited production runs only specked with a 60's slim neck exclusively for GC. The Tri-Burst finish was offered for both the GC and the regular Gibson 68 Custom. They no longer list it on there web site, I don't know why not but I printed it before the ad was dropped. The guitar is not weight relieved like the regular Customs. It is not cambered and weighs about 10 lb. There is a chambered 68 Custom available for those who don't want a heavy guitar but it will give you a distinct tonal difference. I have recently added a RS Guitarworks vintage kit and it was probably the best thing I did to it. All Gibson guitars could use an electronics upgrade kit like this to make them really shine above the rest. The 68 Custom is probably one of the best deals you can get when you look at all the features it comes with. I will never get rid of it, because it sounds to good now and has killer looks. You've probably seen the 68 Custom quilt top and noticed the only difference was the quilted maple cap and the price. At the time I bought my guitar, the difference between the two was 2700.00 for a quilt top vs. a figured top. I couldn't justify that much so I kept the figured top 68 and it is by the far the nicest guitar I own. The END To show you how screwed up Guitar Center is check out the spec's on their web page, (Rounded neck profile) They don't even know what they are selling. It's exclusive to them because of the 60's slim neck profile, nobody else has it. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-C...13-i1372734.gc One other thing, if the weight bothers you buy a nice wide padded strap like 3" or so and you wont feel it because it will distribute it over a wider area. I play mostly seated but I have a strap.

[shotgunlew]

Sweet guitars guys!

[Guido]

Originally Posted by Hemply

Multiple-Gassing... poor guy!

HAPPENS A LOT OF TIME!

[Androo]

Originally Posted by kingdavid01

I LOVE mine...took the pick-up covers off to tone the "fanciness" down a bit...worth the money. You live only once.

That IS beautiful. Gibson also makes Studios in tri-bursts:



Beautiful ain't it guys?

[Sir Punk]

roadhog. that was a great post. And yesterday I actually called gibson and spent 15 minutes on the phone with them. What the guy told me is that the 68 is out of production, then I told him that GC has it and he didn't know about but said that could be a special batch made for them. He also said that it would be considered the re-issue and that tri-burst was only made for a few models. He also said that in HIS opinion I should look for one from 2003 or after, because at that point the specs got better and were more close to the original ones.

about guitar center, I honestly don't like them, never liked them and never will. I try to avoid them if I can and lately they are not doing that well. They stopped opening stores and actually closing a few. I prefer mom and pop's stores where they serve you better and know what they are talking about.

[LongBeach]

Androoslash: the studio is Fireburst, I got one, there fantastic!