Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

5-31-2014 -- Another New FAQ !?!?!

Have you lost your mind? It is supposed to take you six years between major updates. What did you do this time?

      The site has been fully converted to HTML5 / CSS3 from old school tables. The benefit? The site will now scale to better fit modern ways of browsing the interet such as tablets and phones. Still learning this stuff, so expect some growing pains. Also, there is a chance the site will not be compatible with older browsers. I should care, but I don't. :) People should not be using 6 year old browsers. :) Kidding aside, there will be some inconsistency between various CURRENT browsers on how the site renders, but I am working on it.

5-12-2012 -- New FAQ !?!?!

You promised to update this site back in 2007, has hell frozen over?

      Yes.

4-12-2006 -- Original FAQ, circa 2008 [I will be editing it though, anything in brackets.].

Where are the pictures on this site?

      Coming very, very soon.

How much is a 68/69/70 Les Paul Standard/Deluxe/Custom worth?

      I wish I could help you with this. The market changes every day, and there are MANY factors that determine value. The best way to answer this is to watch online auction sites, gbase.com, online retailers, trade shows, and anything else you can find. Remember, condition and originality mean everything. Breaks, refins, missing parts all affect value.

Is a First/Early Reissue better than a Deluxe/Historic? (aka, is a 68 better than a 69 or 70 or modern historic?)

      Only you can decide this. A lot of people claim that the earlier more 50's-like guitars are vastly superior to the later ones. Then again, there are a LOT of happy late 69 and 1970 owners out there. It is YOUR opinion that matters, not mine or anyone elses. My opinion? I couldnt give a d$%m whether a guitar has a volute or not. How does it play? How does it sound?

How did you come to your conclusions?

      I only accept excellent data. What does that mean? I am very skeptical about any information that I cant verify with images or with reputation. I'm just doing my best to make some sort of order of Gibson's late sixties mess. It's not easy. :) Also, I dont have any ego about this. I dont mind being PROVED wrong. The only stubborness I have is to the truth. I'm always looking for that. I have done my best to only present truth, but I am at the same time certain some inaccuracies have squeezed though. [EDIT: After five more years of research, I can say that this site is very accurate now. Maybe 1% of guitars don't fit the "pattern".]

Do you have a LSLP?

      Yes. I have one of the last Early Reissue Customs. It was a garage sale find. (!!!!!) It's a 559xxx with 1pc, 69 construction and a long tenon.

What does LSLP stand for?

      "Late Sixties Les Pauls". You wouldnt believe how annoying it is to type that over and over. Thus, LSLP. :)

How did you come up with your approximate shipping dates for the different periods of LSLP?

      My 559xxx instrument shipped April 3rd, 1969. [Verfied by Gibson itself.] I have good data on the first instrument of 1969 and a very early 68 Custom (Aug. 68). Using the fact that my guitar has 6852 pots, I can extrapolate a four month delay in pot manufacture and guitar shipment. This is no Rosetta Stone since production was increasing across the span of this site, but it does help with the critical approximate date of the shift from 1pc to 3pc necks. [EDIT: I have added dozens more confirmed shipping dates in the past five years; the data works!!! Cool Stuff.]

What assumptions have you made?

      So far, my biggest assumption involves the order of the different series in 1969. The two major series I have the most data on are the 5xx,xxx and 8xx,xxx series. Using pot codes and construction methods as a basis, I believe that the 5 series came first with 6852 pots continuing into the first of the 8 series. To be honest, I started this guessing that the 5 and 8 series were concurrent, but I was quickly proven wrong with the data. [EDIT: No longer an assumption or an uncertainty. 99% of the time, you can be sure that the 5xx,xxx series came first and was NOT concurrent with the 8xx,xxx series.]

"You are completely wrong about ________."

      First, thanks for pointing whatever it is out. Criticism based on FACT is a great thing. Ive based this site on actual serial and photographic evidence. Please do not contact me about something unless you are REALLY sure about it. For instance, make sure you've have observed your issue in more than one guitar. I have done my best to base this site on a broad base of information. I may not be able respond to your email, but I will most likely get it.

Are there series of LSLPs outside of 5xx,xxx - 8xx,xxx - 9xx,xxx?

      Im not sure. I have early data on a potential 6xx,xxx series that I wont go public with until I have more collaborating evidence. Also, dont forget that there appear to be some First Reissues with 8xx,xxx serials. [EDIT: There were also GT's with a 985xxx prefix that are some of the VERY first guitars made.]

Do LSLP Standards/Deluxes have Brazilian Rosewood fingerboards?

      Nope. [EDIT: I still believe that 99% of them were not BR, but I have a friend who swears he can "smell" BR. He knows his stuff and swears he has come across a couple. You can decide yourself.]

Can you tell me about the average weights of LSLPs?

      Sure, I have heard, repeat I have HEARD that the earlier guitars are lighter on average. I have no PROOF of this. I would say the majority are in the 9-9.75 lb range. That would be a guess though. LP's are definitely heavier in the 70s though there are a few exceptions.

Does weight affect tone? Are lighter guitars better?

      Totally personal opinion. The one thing that is really not up for debate is the fact that lighter guitars are more comfortable. That may explain their higher values to some degree. Also note, some original bursts were mid-to-high 9's as well.