Help Needed - Verrifying Les Paul 1968

[commachio]

Hi everyone….
Move been offered a Les Paul 1968 but has a few things that do not seem right.

Firstly has volute, dotted I, and Made in USA stamp below serial number.

BUT it has solid or one piece neck and one piece body (mahogany).

Three piece mahogany necks I believe came in around 1969 with pancake bodies similar time.

This has thrown me - 600 series serial number.

Have reached out to Stephen at LSLP and he’s 100% confident it’s not a ‘68.

And thoughts/comments welcome

 

[giogolf]

Everything you described indicates its very late 69 into the 70s

 

[commachio]

Even with one piece solid body and one piece neck? Thought 3 piece necks came out in 69/70? Thanks

 

[giogolf]

Even with one piece solid body and one piece neck? Thought 3 piece necks came out in 69/70? Thanks

We really need pictures, its hard to say what it is, but a Volute didnt show until late 69 into the 70s

 

[commachio]

awaiting photos.....stated that its all 'one piece neck and one piece body, all mahogony'. Have asked for detailed photos off the neck from various angles as, with a volute, my guess would be a three piece neck = 1969+.....BUT, if it IS one piece HOW can it have a volute.....hoping the photos will prove it ;-) More as soon as I have something....

 

[commachio]

Okay....so were confirmed. Three piece body, three piece neck, large (ish) volute (defo not small).....I have photos....just trying to find how to add them ;-)

 

[commachio]

Gary Nomad

Explore Gary Nomad’s 30 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[giogolf]

Gary Nomad

Explore Gary Nomad’s 30 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

Yep, no way thats a 68 or a 69..

 

[garywright]

that very worn cherry sunburst looks great

 

[Bob Womack]

Looks more like a '73 era with lots o' mods. It has the sandwich body, the custom-size headstock, and I am seeing a three-piece neck. Mods? Pickup replacement, for instance, and pickup rings, pickguard, poker chip, knobs all changed from creme to black. Case is a second-era chainsaw case from Nashville, what, 1979?

Lots of love and life.

Bob

 

[Elmore]

Does it have a silk screen Les Paul Model logo on the headstock? Rub your finger over it. If it is raised up, that is silk screen. It is my understanding that those stopped in the middle of 1972.

 

[commachio]

Thanks Elmore…..I don’t physically have the guitar in question. I was looking at buying it but was approached x. 14hr round trip and wanted some kind of assurance before making the journey.

That said thanks for the very useful info…..add more evidence on my 1970 LP I have ?

 

[Wilko]

No large headstock in 68.

 

[Bob Womack]

Does it have a silk screen Les Paul Model logo on the headstock? Rub your finger over it. If it is raised up, that is silk screen. It is my understanding that those stopped in the middle of 1972.

I'd never heard that but tried it on my '74 and felt the logo. Hmmm...

Bob

 

[ScumbackSpeakers]

Post 70 vintage LP. 3 piece "pancake body"...might be an early Norlin era. Volute came in 1970, IIRC. A 71 LP Custom I considered before my 68 LPC had the volute, the 68 did not. Sorry, but that's not a 68.

 

[Bob Womack]

Oh, and by the way, by 1974, the volute was what I call a "vestigial volute," meaning that it had shrunk to a much smaller size.

Bob

 

[LAY-PAW]

I use to gig a 1968 Custom.
One pc neck, one pc mahogany body, it might have been all hog as it was a light
LP, no volute, no made in USA , correct serial number. It roared like a lion, but it was
stolen...

 

[Progrocker111]

According to serial number and other signs its a very late 71. I would bet the pots codes are 1377142.

 

[Wilko]

Post 70 vintage LP. 3 piece "pancake body"...might be an early Norlin era. Volute came in 1970, IIRC. A 71 LP Custom I considered before my 68 LPC had the volute, the 68 did not. Sorry, but that's not a 68.

Norlin era started 1969.