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Choosing between 1969 Gold Top Models

Daso

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Jan 22, 2022
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11
I am in the fortunate position to finally buy myself another Gold top (to replace a long lost 68 I owned). I can't afford an early 68, but I have found a couple of 69's in my budget. My daily play is a 57 Custom Shop Gold top which I love. I am more of a Humbucker guy over P90. One GT is a late 69 with Mini humbuckers, one piece body, three piece neck with no volute and the other is a slightly earlier 69 with P90's, One piece body, one piece neck no volute with the top edges of the head with three pieces (is that considered a three piece) and better overall condition with pots which date to 68. I guess I could drop in Mini humbuckers in the earlier GT, but is the three piece neck actually better or worse when it comes to playability for these vintage guitars. Any thoughts would be appreciated. My goal is a 68 or 69, not a later model (50's guitars way way way out of my budget)
 

fernieite

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Jan 3, 2010
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609
Can you play these guitars, or are they internet sales? Ideally, you'd be able to play them, and let the feel, sounds and looks help you to make a decision.

I'd imagine the earlier 69 Standard with P90s would be worth more to most people than the later Deluxe with the minis.

(Why do you say the Standard with 1968 pots is a 69, if it has all of the earlier appointments and 68 pots?)

The 3 pieces that you see on the headstock doesn't mean a 3 piece neck. The headstocks from the 50s had the two wing pieces glued on the sides, as well.
I bet you R7 has that feature too...
 
Last edited:

Daso

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Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Messages
11
Can you play these guitars, or are they internet sales? Ideally, you'd be able to play them, and let the feel, sounds and looks help you to make a decision.

I'd imagine the earlier 69 Standard with P90s would be worth more to most people than the later Deluxe with the minis.

(Why do you say the Standard with 1968 pots is a 69, if it has all of the earlier appointments and 68 pots?)

The 3 pieces that you see on the headstock doesn't mean a 3 piece neck. The headstocks from the 50s had the two wing pieces glued on the sides, as well.
I bet you R7 has that feature too...

Hi, Thanks. I am able to try one and the other is online. Sorry if I misstated, but both guitars are 69, the earlier one with P90's seems to have pots (based on late latesixtieslespauls.com) that would be found on a 68 year. I guess thats could be expected. I wish I could try both. There is one more local which I hope to be able to see as well. The later 69 is also a real three piece neck vs the earlier with the P90's has the headstock wings. I prefer the look of the earlier one since it is super clean. I'm not a giant fan of checking in the finish.
 

mappee

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Jan 18, 2022
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8
I'd like the earlier model but you can't go wrong with either. Advantage of mini bucks is something to weigh in decision.
Depending on what they cost you may consider originality. Heck buy em both...problem solved?
 

Progrocker111

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Dec 10, 2003
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4,013
I would prefer earlier one too. P90s over minis...
Dont forget, in very late 69 they got the pancake body too.
 

Daso

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Jan 22, 2022
Messages
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I'd like the earlier model but you can't go wrong with either. Advantage of mini bucks is something to weigh in decision.
Depending on what they cost you may consider originality. Heck buy em both...problem solved?
If I could I would :) , but I'm leaning towards the older with P90 and better condition.
 

Enlarscom

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Joined
Jan 21, 2022
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58
. I guess thats could be expected. I wish I could try both. There is one more local which I hope to be able to see as well. The later 69 is also a real three piece neck vs the earlier with the P90's has the headstock wings.
 

Daso

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Jan 22, 2022
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The early 69 Gold top with one piece body and three piece neck with no volute and mini HB's is now happily at home with my 57 reissue CS. I'm totally in love with how the 69 Deluxe plays and sounds.
 

Progrocker111

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Dec 10, 2003
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4,013
The early 69 Gold top with one piece body and three piece neck with no volute and mini HB's is now happily at home with my 57 reissue CS. I'm totally in love with how the 69 Deluxe plays and sounds.
Congrats, how do they compare tonewise?
 

guitplayer

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Mar 8, 2008
Messages
2,114
The early 69 Gold top with one piece body and three piece neck with no volute and mini HB's is now happily at home with my 57 reissue CS. I'm totally in love with how the 69 Deluxe plays and sounds.
With a 3 piece neck , that is not an early 1969. More mid. to late
 

Daso

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Jan 22, 2022
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11
Congrats, how do they compare tonewise?
Good question, I have to say that I've been A/B'ing them and the 69 just sounds incredibly clean and more defined. I love my Custom shop, but the combination of the 69 neck and sound has me fully won over. On the 69 The neck pickup has the LP boominess, but it's much more defined and less muddy, the bridge pickup is a bit softer but still feels nice and wide in frequency but less sharp. Output is a bit lower but I do like to crank some heavy distortion and it sounds amazing overdriven and even with full on distortion. Very little harmonic feedback. I'd say the custom shop is truly close but I just keep going back to what seems like a more defined overall sound on the 69.
 

charliechitlins

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Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,020
My pile is small, so I try to avoid redundancy.
If I had a HB one and a mini HB one, I'd be wanting the P90s.
 
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