1968 Les Paul and 1969 Les Paul Serial Number Information

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(Serial Range: 565xxx-566xxx, 6xx,xxx(?), 800xxx-891xxx)

The Middle Reissues:

This is the second of three major categories for late sixties Les Pauls. As we progress through these three sections, the construction of the guitars will get further and further away from the 1950's style (and will descrease in value). It is important to remember to make up ones own mind about the merits or pitfalls of these changes. A guitar from any one of these sections could easily be perfect for you. Also, unofficial production numbers from this era indicate that production increases as we progress. This implies that each succeding era becomes more common.

The Middle Reissues (MR) are great comprimises between price and construction. They are increasing collectable and have always been undeniably playable. Their bodies are exclusively early 69 design, 1-pc construction. The necks are 3-pc construction throughout. Although they lack long tenon construction, the Standards gain "Mini-Humbuckers" early in the run. These pickups are well regarded by players. One source informed me that their 845xxx GT cost them $348 back in 1969. This is the era that Gibson chose to base their "1969 Les Paul Deluxe" reissues on. They are covered in the "Modern Reissues" section. Note the reissues arent very accurate for whatever that's worth. :)

Note the major changes to neck construction and neck joint.

Note the minor change in maple top construction and body tenon route.

Note that there may be a technical name change from "Standard" to "Deluxe" in this time period. I need to do some more research to post something solid here. The change is typically associated with the addition of mini-humbuckers and a "Deluxe" engraved truss rod cover.

The defining features of this era are the transitional neck tenon, the addition of mini-humbuckers, the early 1969 body, and the 3-pc neck.

Date of Construction: Around April 1969 through mid-late 1969. (These dates are CONJECTURE. An educated guess. Please take them with a grain of salt and certainly try not to pass them as fact.)

For serial references, see the "Serial Number Database".

PICKUPS: Concerning Standard models only, Mini-Humbucker pickups enter early in the run. They have cream rings and have typical late 60's "Patent Stickers" on their bottoms.

BASIC CONSTRUCTION: Honduran Mahogany as stated in the flyer released in 1968. Maple top. Three-piece mahogany neck (with two little seperate wings to form the holly shaped headstock) throughout this category. Although it is unclear when the center seamed maple top disappears in the category, it is certain that it does. Let it be noted that many, if not nearly all 50's Goldtops had non-center seamed tops. The very first parts of the run have the early 1969 style bodies. This includes the route for receiving a long tenon. This is most certainly exhibited on the last of the 5xx,xxx series. Eventually, the route was modified to barely extend into the pickup cavity. (AKA, not under the pickup's center like before.) This shorter route probably comes into the neck cavity by about a quarter inch whereas the long tenon route was about 3/4 of an inch. Although the tenon route is changed, the remaining features are identical to early 69 bodies. In essence, they are still pre-genuine-pancake bodies.

NECK JOINT: These guitars exclusively have a transitional tenon neck joint. These are flat bottomed like long tenons, just not as long. (NOTE: I seem to remember a few transitional tenoned guitars with a long tenon route body having a block of wood to fill the gap. Be careful to make sure what you are buying as the trans tenon can look like a long tenon with this block in place.) Remember, 99% of Middle Era Reissues will be a transitional tenoned neck into a transitional tenon routed body.

IMAGE ---> Image Comparison of three types (LPF)