1968 Les Paul Custom Serial # 899358

My conversations and emails with Gibson indicated that my LP Custom shipped May 28 1968 and was then used for the NAMM show in June of that year. They indicated that there were three done in time for NAMM. My Custom was the first Les Paul Custom completed in 1968. They speculated that Les Paul may have been sent my guitar for his approval prior to the NAMM show, but this was purely speculation based on the shipment from the plant in May. A maple top with one piece mahogany body, one piece mahogany neck as well as long neck tenon and no volute. OHSC. Pot codes 1376715 9lbs 7oz

1969 Les Paul Standard Goldtop Serial # 538883.

George Gruhn “This guitar, although it has a serial number falling within the 1969 range, clearly is built to 1968 specifications with small peghead, one piece neck, one piece mahogany back, Long neck tenon, maple top with gold lacquer finish, two single coil P-90 pickups, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, clear "natural" finish on the neck and back, and OHSC. 1968 was the first year of reissue for the gold top Les Paul Standard.” Pots codes 1376850 9lbs 8oz

Email from Gibson-

“Hello Bryan,

Thanks for contacting Gibson. Serial number 899358 appears consistent with a Les Paul Custom ship left the plant on 5/28/68 and serial number 538883 appears to be part of group of Les Paul Standard models which left the plant on 3/11/69. We do not have access to outside websites. We do not have information beyond the ship dates for these serial numbers.

Best regards,

Bob Burns

Gibson Customer Service”

Weight comparison: My - 1954 LP 9lbs 12oz; 1956 LP 8lbs 14oz, 1958 LPC 9lbs 12oz.

Part of the shipping ledger from 1968 –