1968 Les Pauls - Do you prefer Customs or GTs?

[JimmyAce2006]

For the 1968 LPs, do you prefer a Custom or a Gold Top Standard?

[Red Baron]

Standard... I think you'll find most people will agree, and also why people will often pay more for an equally good Standard over a Custom, even though there were a lot less Custom's built in '68.

[djd100]

+1...

Had both back in the day and my Custom was way heavier (10lbs or so?), while the 68 GT I still have is around 9lbs with Grovers.

Custom was real nice excepting the weight though...

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Standard... I think you'll find most people will agree, and also why people will often pay more for an equally good Standard over a Custom, even though there were a lot less Custom's built in '68.

[JimmyAce2006]

Originally Posted by djd100

+1...

Had both back in the day and my Custom was way heavier (10lbs or so?), while the 68 GT I still have is around 9lbs with Grovers.

Custom was real nice excepting the weight though...

I am finding that the weight and the frets make the difference. I love my LP Customs. But all of them have original fretless wonder frets. For me, those frets are fine for playing while sitting. But when I stand up it is another story. The GT is better for me for frets and weight in that case, but mostly the frets. I wish I had the best of both. I.e., while I do like P90s, they make too much noise for me. And I am unwilling to do anything that will change the sound (trust me, I have tried everything there is). So the best answer? Find one of the extremely rare 1968 models that was special ordered with original PAFs! I know someone who has one. Or of course I could modify one that is in "player" condition or get a 50s version.....so I suppose there are options.

[Red Baron]

FWIW you could always find a nice Historic as a player? ...sure 68's are nice but a good Historic is just as nice.

Good luck finding an original factory PAF equipped 68 Standard, I've heard rumours but never seen any concrete evidence there was any made as custom orders... although even if they did, I can't imagine them installing original PAF's, I doubt they would have had any left in 68.

[JimmyAce2006]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

FWIW you could always find a nice Historic as a player? ...sure 68's are nice but a good Historic is just as nice.

Good luck finding an original factory PAF equipped 68 Standard, I've heard rumours but never seen any concrete evidence there was any made as custom orders... although even if they did, I can't imagine them installing original PAF's, I doubt they would have had any left in 68.

I have heard of guitars with PAFs (ones with chrome / nickel, not gold poles) as late as 1970 in a very few, most likely employee ordered guitars. But call Bizarre Guitars in Reno and ask for the owner, Greg Golden. He plays a 1968 GT that has factory PAFs.

I don't want to start a debate here in this thread, but I have to disagree with what you said about a historic being just as nice as a 68 LP. They are not even in the same league. For one, the frets on anything new are too tall. The neck profile is bad. The wood is new. The pickups are not in the same class. IMHO, the only new guitar that has been worth anything in the past 10 years at Gibson is the Jimmy Page Custom Authentic (love the compound neck radius). That is a sweet guitar. But the rest are only ok compared to a 1968 custom or gold top for playability and sound in my opinion. But I am sure plenty of people disagree.

[Red Baron]

Granted - the necks on 68's are very nice, and in overall feel I would say my 68 was the best guitar I've ever owned. But as far as sound qualities are concerned, once you change the electronics in an Historic for good aftermarket parts, I believe you have the potential to end up with a guitar that can sound as good as any guitar ever made...

[Axeman16]

gold top.

[djd100]

I agree, though PAF converted 68/early 69's rock if you can find a deal?

Electronics/Pups and Hardware/Nut/Setup are 95% of the deal with solid body electrics IMO.

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Granted - the necks on 68's are very nice, and in overall feel I would say my 68 was the best guitar I've ever owned. But as far as sound qualities are concerned, once you change the electronics in an Historic for good aftermarket parts, I believe you have the potential to end up with a guitar that can sound as good as any guitar ever made...