1968 Ledger pic... are there others?

[garywright]

A Gibson customer rep got back to me a said that he doesn’t have access to the ledgers and Gibson does not provide this type of service…

Boo !

 

[NachoMan77]

If anybody got the ledger page featuring 5387xx you'll make me a very happy dude...

 

[delawaregold]

Sorry, this is as close as I have.

 

[NachoMan77]

Sorry, this is as close as I have.

View attachment 22761

Thanks man! Now I'm a little bit closer than yesterday ?

 

[garywright]

A Gibson customer rep got back to me a said that he doesn’t have access to the ledgers and Gibson does not provide this type of service…

why does this truly really bother me ! ?

 

[delawaregold]

why does this truly really bother me ! ?

Because it should! It bothers me...
We (Consumers) should have the Ledger Scans, the Brazilian Rosewood "Chain of Custody" and "Final Use" documents,
the RFID / Serial Number Cross-reference. All the verification, and documentation available. All this information should
have been cataloged, and made available to the consumers. I believe Gibson has all of it, but it was stored in a way
that it isn't retrievable.

 

[garywright]

”does not provide this type of service ! “ ???

 

[garywright]

no longer feel an entire ledger book should be publicly available but on an individual basis , yes

 

[commachio]

Does anyone have any further ledge images?

 

[Standard Magic]

Would there be any downside to Gibson or anyone if ledgers were made publicly available?

I can understand Gibson not wanting to do this as they are not responsible for someone's second hand guitar even though it's Vintage however, it should save them the hassle and reputation by making it available.

 

[commachio]

@Standard Magic I totally agree. Gibson are 'not responsible' but vintage prices on their guitars are going North all the time. When people are investing circa £10k+ it would be great to be bale to get some ledger information.

I have just bought a '68 GT (will post once it arrives) - serial number suggests it is early Jan '69 but ALL of the hallmarks of a '68 (one piece neck, no volute, no made in USA, small headstock, long tenon etc) and according to my research it took the guys in Kalamazoo anything upto 90 days to build these things from scratch (from Tony Bacon et Al.). It seems like the production line would have had this ready for shipping in late '68 and, post Christmas festivities, they push them out of the door in '69. So is it a '68 or a '69?

Bit like being born in Dec '68 and being released from hospital in 69.......

 

[S. Weiger]

@Standard Magic I totally agree. Gibson are 'not responsible' but vintage prices on their guitars are going North all the time. When people are investing circa £10k+ it would be great to be bale to get some ledger information.

I have just bought a '68 GT (will post once it arrives) - serial number suggests it is early Jan '69 but ALL of the hallmarks of a '68 (one piece neck, no volute, no made in USA, small headstock, long tenon etc) and according to my research it took the guys in Kalamazoo anything upto 90 days to build these things from scratch (from Tony Bacon et Al.). It seems like the production line would have had this ready for shipping in late '68 and, post Christmas festivities, they push them out of the door in '69. So is it a '68 or a '69?

Bit like being born in Dec '68 and being released from hospital in 69.......

If it's got all '68 specs, it's a 1968 model, only shipped (and maybe completed) in early '69.

Same thing with early '65 Gibsons carrying all '64 specs (wide nut, nickel HW, braz. board, pre T-tops). They are 1964 models, only shipped (and maybe completed) in early 1965.. Same-same

 

[Hricl]

What are the first three digits of the serial number? Gibson used the 50s small headstock on the goldtops up through the 539xxx serial range prior to starting the larger headstock matching the Custom model. Probably to keep pace with mfg and streamlining build methods at the same time. A lot of Goldtops went out the first two weeks or so with the 531xxx and 532xxx guitars being shipped.

 

[Hricl]

What are the first three digits of the serial number? Gibson used the 50s small headstock on the goldtops up through the 539xxx serial range prior to starting the larger headstock matching the Custom model. Probably to keep pace with mfg and streamlining build methods at the same time. A lot of Goldtops went out the first two weeks or so with the 531xxx and 532xxx guitars being shipped.

Also wanted to add that Gibson also started using the first of the “pancake” cross hatching using a very thin layer or veneer maple just below the top maple cap. I think starting with the 533xxx or 534xxx to 536xxx then resumed regular one piece mahogany back with maple cap but still retaining the smaller headstock.

 

[S. Weiger]

Also wanted to add that Gibson also started using the first of the “pancake” cross hatching using a very thin layer or veneer maple just below the top maple cap. I think starting with the 533xxx or 534xxx to 536xxx then resumed regular one piece mahogany back with maple cap but still retaining the smaller headstock.

Actually, the veneer was located almost in the middle of the sandwiched mahogany slab.

 

[Hricl]

Actually, the veneer was located almost in the middle of the sandwiched mahogany slab.

View attachment 26317

Right. That was with the late 1969 Les Paul Deluxe model with the actual “sandwich “ laminated body. Gibson was building the 1968 goldtop reissue model well into the first quarter of 1969 with the small headstock, traditional Gibson logo inlay 50s/60s, clover shaped control cavity routed before maple cap was glued on. However, within the serial # 533xx or so Gibson was adding in a very thin layer maple below in between the maple cap and mahogany back. They only did this for a short period stopping around the 535xxx or 536xxx range. I guess you can see it better within the pickup cavities.

 

[jb_abides]

Right. That was with the late 1969 Les Paul Deluxe model with the actual “sandwich “ laminated body. Gibson was building the 1968 goldtop reissue model well into the first quarter of 1969 with the small headstock, traditional Gibson logo inlay 50s/60s, clover shaped control cavity routed before maple cap was glued on. However, within the serial # 533xx or so Gibson was adding in a very thin layer maple below in between the maple cap and mahogany back. They only did this for a short period stopping around the 535xxx or 536xxx range. I guess you can see it better within the pickup cavities.

FWIW, Trolly shows off the veneer under the maple cap on some he's received.