NVGD '68/'69 Goldtop (Thanks, Moonweasel!)

[aladdinsane]

Hey guys,

I've been lurking like crazy, reading Moonweasel's LSLP site over and over, etc. and I finally pulled the trigger on this amazing '69 Goldtop. It shipped 1/7/69, so let's debate whether it's a '68 or a '69 (JUST KIDDING!).

I haven't gotten any good pics of my own up yet, but I'll post a few from the dealer.

Great story: I went to check out the guitar and show them a '79 Strat that I wanted to trade toward the GT. I went back another day and got cold feet, but I told them I would call the next morning to give them my decision. The next day, they called me and told me that someone wanted to but the guitar and had cash in hand. He'd been stalking it, too, but they gave me first dibs. I said, "I want it!" and went down to buy it that day.

When I was paying, the dealer said, "A very famous guitarist was stalking this guitar." When I asked who it was, he quietly said, "Do you know the band Steely Dan?" Hahahahaha. I can't believe Becker touched my guitar! :wow

Anyway, I know it's been through it, but I've been on a Neil Young/Daniel Lanois GT search for a while, and it's not a '53, but it fits the bill for me! 8.71 lbs. of GT greatness!

I'll post my own pics soon. A special thanks to Moonweasel and his amazing site. I'm now an expert on LSLP small headstocks, long tenons, and 68/69 serial numbers!

 

[guitplayer]

:3zone

 

[Progrocker111]

Yeah, congrats in this forum too. :dude: Sweet guitar

 

[Reno_1ted]

My note of congrats on this forum too.

 

[aladdinsane]

Yeah, congrats in this forum too. :dude: Sweet guitar

The ol' double post trick!

 

[lhric]

Hey guys,

I've been lurking like crazy, reading Moonweasel's LSLP site over and over, etc. and I finally pulled the trigger on this amazing '69 Goldtop. It shipped 1/7/69, so let's debate whether it's a '68 or a '69 (JUST KIDDING!).

I haven't gotten any good pics of my own up yet, but I'll post a few from the dealer.

Great story: I went to check out the guitar and show them a '79 Strat that I wanted to trade toward the GT. I went back another day and got cold feet, but I told them I would call the next morning to give them my decision. The next day, they called me and told me that someone wanted to but the guitar and had cash in hand. He'd been stalking it, too, but they gave me first dibs. I said, "I want it!" and went down to buy it that day.

When I was paying, the dealer said, "A very famous guitarist was stalking this guitar." When I asked who it was, he quietly said, "Do you know the band Steely Dan?" Hahahahaha. I can't believe Becker touched my guitar! :wow

Anyway, I know it's been through it, but I've been on a Neil Young/Daniel Lanois GT search for a while, and it's not a '53, but it fits the bill for me! 8.71 lbs. of GT greatness!

I'll post my own pics soon. A special thanks to Moonweasel and his amazing site. I'm now an expert on LSLP small headstocks, long tenons, and 68/69 serial numbers!

Nice guitar. Especially the crazed/checking it has to it. I was looking at this guitar as well back earlier in the year prior to getting the 68 goldtop I have currently. I believe your guitar has a 531xxx serial # with 50th week of 68 pots.

 

[shred]

Congrats. LSLP's are such a cool era of the LP's illustrious history. Awesome :salude

 

[aladdinsane]

Nice guitar. Especially the crazed/checking it has to it. I was looking at this guitar as well back earlier in the year prior to getting the 68 goldtop I have currently. I believe your guitar has a 531xxx serial # with 50th week of 68 pots.

That's correct! How's your 68?

 

[marshall1987]

Nice score, and anecdote. I have been searching for a 1968 Les Paul Goldtop for a couple of years. Did you end up trading your 1979 Strat and cash? :salude

 

[Reno_1ted]

Nice score, and anecdote. I have been searching for a 1968 Les Paul Goldtop for a couple of years. Did you end up trading your 1979 Strat and cash? :salude

Couple of years? Whats held you back? :hank

 

[aladdinsane]

Nice score, and anecdote. I have been searching for a 1968 Les Paul Goldtop for a couple of years. Did you end up trading your 1979 Strat and cash? :salude

Yeah, I traded the Strat. I figured that I could always get another late '70s Strat if I ever wanted one (doubtful). Bought that before I knew that CBS Strats are NOT the good ones. :lol

I hope you get your '68 soon! I basically have a '68 with this one, but for a better price because it shipped 7 days after the New Year. I almost pulled the trigger on a '68 player about a month ago (was a very early '68 with '67 pots), but it had a good number of mods and it was over 10 lbs. I was trying to find one around 9 or under. Mine is 8.71 lbs.

 

[aladdinsane]

Also, I did add cash, as I would have needed about six 1979 Strats to get one '69 GT!

 

[audet]

it is a beauty. one day i will own a vintage les paul.

 

[jwalker]

Cool guitar! Does it have a B stamp in the control cavity? My small headstock '69 GT has the B stamp.

 

[jwalker]

Whoops. Double post.

 

[lhric]

That's correct! How's your 68?

I like it. It seems about 9-9.5lbs in weight. Has some dings and dents. Well played in guitar. Nice D-shaped neck carve. 529xxx serial# pots 50th week of 68. The OHSC is almost in new shape. I've had three of these 68 goldtops previously and all four together are uniquely different in comparison.

 

[lhric]

I like it. It seems about 9-9.5lbs in weight. Has some dings and dents. Well played in guitar. Nice D-shaped neck carve. 529xxx serial# pots 50th week of 68. The OHSC is almost in new shape. I've had three of these 68 goldtops previously and all four together are uniquely different in comparison.

The guitar shipped 1/14/1969 according to the Gibson ledgers. Kind of odd with many 531xxx goldtops shipping the first and second weeks of 1969. The first week especially. I think a lot of the necks were pre-stamped earlier prior to total guitar assembly.

 

[aladdinsane]

I like it. It seems about 9-9.5lbs in weight. Has some dings and dents. Well played in guitar. Nice D-shaped neck carve. 529xxx serial# pots 50th week of 68. The OHSC is almost in new shape. I've had three of these 68 goldtops previously and all four together are uniquely different in comparison.

Cool. When I looked at the ledger I noticed that some later serial numbers were shipped the last week of '68 so I think you're right about the stamping. How would you say your other three '68s differed and why did you get rid of them?

 

[lhric]

Cool. When I looked at the ledger I noticed that some later serial numbers were shipped the last week of '68 so I think you're right about the stamping. How would you say your other three '68s differed and why did you get rid of them?

The first one was a 522xxx routed for humbuckers, more narrow C-shaped neck, average weight, cracked repaired hdstck. Second one serial 501xxx had early crown inlay on hdstck, huge clubbed neck up to the nut, deep top contour carve, pots from 52ndweek of 68 though, average weight. The third 68 weighed about 10lbs, neck carve C-shaped then super thin taper toward the nut, serial 522xxx 33rd week 68. Less contoured top carve more shallow. Financial reasons had me sell the second and third ones. The first one I sold when I found the second one intact without repairs or mods.

 

[lhric]

The first one was a 522xxx routed for humbuckers, more narrow C-shaped neck, average weight, cracked repaired hdstck. Second one serial 501xxx had early crown inlay on hdstck, huge clubbed neck up to the nut, deep top contour carve, pots from 52ndweek of 68 though, average weight. The third 68 weighed about 10lbs, neck carve C-shaped then super thin taper toward the nut, serial 522xxx 33rd week 68. Less contoured top carve more shallow. Financial reasons had me sell the second and third ones. The first one I sold when I found the second one intact without repairs or mods.

I almost wish I didn't have to sell the second one though. That neck was very comfortable to play and felt very resonant to play. Plus it was one of the early 68 goldtops. But the pots were dated from late 68 which I never found out why that was done. This latest one comes very close to that second one. I think each of these guitars from 68 have very slight differences throughout the 6mths of mfg prior to the early 69 large headstock change and neck carve.