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I was jamming over at a buddy's house tonight, when one of his friends showed up with his 1968 Gibson Les Paul (either Special or Junior, not sure which). Flat top, sunburst, P90s, all original and in excellent shape. Apparently his Dad bought it 15 years ago at a garage sale for $200 or $300.

It played great and sounded incredible. It had the meatiest low E I think I've ever heard. I didn't have a digital camera handy, but I need to get back over there and take some pictures soon. Just thought I'd share my joy .

told ya LPs were good.

Weren't the late 60's to 70's Versions the quot;not so good onesquot;?


Originally Posted by KommerzbassistWeren't the late 60's to 70's Versions the quot;not so good onesquot;?I think the Norlin era was 70s-80s, but I could be wrong. No matter who made this one, it was a winner.


Originally Posted by pac112told ya LPs were good.

I've known it for quite some time, this was just a prime example.

I get very wary of playing vintage stuff in case I fall for it and can't afford to buy it. Same thing with PRS. I would love to own an instrument with a bit of history, but I'll have to win the Lotto first. Glad you enjoyed the experience tho.

Sweet. I own a 54 Yr old Gibson.

It's nice to know that there are still good old Gibson's out there. I have my '67 SG with P90s stuck inside a closet for the last 5 years because I don't play that loud any more. I always smile when people say how good their guitars sound 'cause I know Gibson guitars have never sounded and played the same since they moved out of Kalamazoo MI in the 70s. Gone is that sweet tone and nice playability; and then they introduced the 80's sound which I don't think it was half as good. It is a sad thing that Fender went through almost the same thing. The re-issues just don't measure up to the real ones.

Cool! It's neat to think about all the places old guitars have been. I have a post-war mandolin (WWI, that is) and I wonder about who owned it before me.

I'd love an SG with P90's. especially an old 1.

[BRAG] My 48 y.o. Gibson, with original P.A.F., is just dreamy. [/BRAG]

It couldn't have been a 1968 LP Special. Gibson did 2 LP models in 68, the Custom, and the Goldtop. I seem to recall a reissue of Specials just prior to 76.

The '68-69 LPs are pretty well regarded because it was still constructed pretty much like the 50's models. In '69-70 Gibson/Norlin instituted changes that weren't the most popular with players.

As far as quot;not the same since Kalamazoo...quot; I'm sorry, the guitars Gibson has been putting out since the mid 90's generally surpass a great majority of the guitars that Gibson put out of Kalamazoo from the 70s-83 or whenever it was they closed the plant. Until the last 2 years or so, Gibson under Henry had done a fantastic job of listening to players, and making changes that a majority of players would like.

Cool! It's neat to think about all the places old guitars have been. I have a post-war mandolin (WWI, that is) and I wonder about who owned it before me.

Being a dork who's interested in history, it's really nifty to think about where your guitar has been before you had it. It's a piece of history that you can own and enjoy. It's why I don't understand in the 80's when someone would take a 30 year old guitar and rout it out for a Kahler and a locking nut. I still don't understand it today when someone gets a 52 LP and routs it for humbuckers and retops it and sprays it sunburst. That guitar is more than likely going to exist after you're gone. In whatever shape you leave it in. In a sense you don't quot;ownquot; a vintage guitar- you just take care of it for the next quot;owner.quot;


Originally Posted by seafoamer[BRAG] My 48 y.o. Gibson, with original P.A.F., is just dreamy. [/BRAG]Brag part 2. My 56 LP Jr was given to me for free!

It sounds like a Junior to me. They ARE sweet, aren't they? I have an acquaintance who is in possession of an early LP Jr, and I have told him that if he ever sells it without telling me, I'm going to buy a McDonald's fillet o' fish sandwich, put it in his glove compartment and break the key off in the lock.

[BRAG] My 1952 Gibson ES-125 with original dogear P-90 is the best sounding guitar I've ever heard [/BRAG]

Juniors and specials are fantastic instruments. Love 'em.


Originally Posted by KommerzbassistWeren't the late 60's to 70's Versions the quot;not so good onesquot;?

Don't believe everything you hear. I've got two '77's, a Deluxe and a Special Double cutaway that will blow most anything made today out of the water, ESPECIALLY new Gibsons. I've got a '55 Junior, and they both stand up pretty well to it, too, although there is nothing like the sound of a 50 year old P-90!!


Originally Posted by The Golden Boy
As far as quot;not the same since Kalamazoo...quot; I'm sorry, the guitars Gibson has been putting out since the mid 90's generally surpass a great majority of the guitars that Gibson put out of Kalamazoo from the 70s-83 or whenever it was they closed the plant. Until the last 2 years or so, Gibson under Henry had done a fantastic job of listening to players, and making changes that a majority of players would like.

That's exactly when I smiled.


Originally Posted by AmateurThat's exactly when I smiled.

On a random sampling of instruments, show me a majority of multi-piece bodied, boat paddle headstocked, three pieced topped, short tenoned, thick finished, clown bursted, twelve pound instruments that are subjectively quot;betterquot; than a random sampling of guitars Gibson has produced in the past 10-12 years.


Originally Posted by The Golden BoyOn a random sampling of instruments, show me a majority of multi-piece bodied, boat paddle headstocked, three pieced topped, short tenoned, thick finished, clown bursted, twelve pound instruments that are subjectively quot;betterquot; than a random sampling of guitars Gibson has produced in the past 10-12 years.

I don't want to get into an argument, but let me tell tell you that if anyone has a good product, they don't have to put out any re-issues because people will go buy whatever is good. A re-issue is just a subtle way of admitting the old stuffs were better. It's not by the manufacturer's choice. When people play the vintage guitars, they usually say quot;This sounds awesome!quot; or quot;I gotta get me one of these!quot;. They may not have the best sounds, because sounding good is a subjective thing; but it is definitely something that make people like it. I never told anyone that the vintage guitars sound better, but people will find out by themselves eventually, and that's why we have the so called re-issues because the manufacturers want people to believe they are just as good. When you play a guitar which is almost considered as a benchmark day in and day out, you know its sound very well, you'll notice the difference when you play any another guitars including the re-issues. It's just like you handle the real dollar bills every day and you can tell a phony right the way because it just don't feel the same. I never try to convince people the the vintage guitars are better, but that is people's trend of thought right now, which I have to agree. I smile because I know what the majority thinks. I never told anyone my guitar is good, they told me that after they played it.

Sorry to give you an answer so late because I had band practice yesterday.