Gibson Les Paul Custom ‘68 Reissue 50th Anniversary 2018 - Black

The Gibson Custom Shop made 300 of these in 2018 commemorating the 50th Anniversary of their '68 reissues of their '50s Custom and Gold Top LPs. A "Custom Les Paul Custom Reissue Reissue" if you will :)

This one is in great shape and BEGS to be played... the craftsmanship is just awesome, never seen a Custom this nice, gorgeous binding, picture perfect vintage finish, feels and sounds like a million (1968 USD!) bucks. Plug it straight into a tube amp and you've got the timeless sound of countless rock recordings. Pinnacle stuff, there's nothing better.

It's fairly light for a real deal LP Custom at just over 9 pounds. The pickups lean vintage but deliver high output with tremendous clarity and depth. This one is a delight for the hands, eyes, and ears. Sound and feel, a true piece for both players and collectors.

It is without question my best sounding electric, but I've bonded with an SG Junior and I just don't play this one enough. My guitar collection has ballooned to unreasonable levels and my interests have shifted towards acoustic guitars.

So here we are again. I had it listed about a month ago but took it down thinking I wanted to hold onto it after doing a shootout with all my electrics (it won, obviously). I've had it only about 6 months total and have played it sparingly. Ultimately I can't justify keeping this monster locked up in a closet. If you've ever wanted a black beauty you're not going to find a better one in better shape at this price.

minor cosmetic issues:
one nick on the heel, some light finish scratching from playing, the gold finish on the tailpiece is worn off some, some discoloration on the headstock binding near the nut

Retail description and specs from Gibson:

The 1968 Les Paul Custom stood apart from its predecessors in a few significant ways. Instead of a solid mahogany body, it now had a solid maple top on a mahogany back – adding the clarity and bite that many rock guitarists sought. It also came standard with two humbuckers as opposed to three, providing additional picking clearance. And lastly it had a 14-degree peghead angle for reduced string tension. This set of features instantly became the new standard for the Les Paul Custom model, which has been produced continuously by Gibson ever since.

This 50th Anniversary 1968 Les Paul Custom was designed to be the final say in historical accuracy, tone and feel. Every detail and spec was meticulously revived by the skilled artisans at Gibson Custom Shop to provide an amazing vintage experience.

Body:
Body Style: Les Paul
Back: Lightweight Solid Mahogany Back
Top: 2-Piece Maple Top, Hide Glue Fit
Weight relief: None

Neck:
Solid Mahogany, Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit, 14 Degree Peghead Angle
Neck profile: Medium-Chunky C-Shape, scanned from original
Nut width: 1.687”, 42.85mm
Fingerboard: Solid Ebony, Hide Glue Fit
Scale length: 24.75”, 62.865cm
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Nylon
Inlay: Pearl Block

Hardware:
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-o-matic w/ Nylon Saddles
Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stopbar
Knobs: Black Witch Hats w/ Gold Reflectors
Tuners: Kluson Waffleback
Plating: Gold Electronics

Neck pickup: 68 Custom Humbucker
Bridge pickup: 68 Custom Humbucker
Controls: 2 500K CTS Volume Pots, 2 500K CTS Tone Pots, Hand-Wired Harness with Black Beauty Capacitors, Switchcraft Toggle Switch
Finish/Accessories

Finish: Ebony VOS
Case: Gibson Custom Black Hardshell with Gold Lining
Collateral: 50th Anniversary Switch Plate Medallion (w/ Extra Black Plastic Cover in the Case), Replica 1968 Gibson Gazette, Exclusive 1968-style Gibson Guitar Picks, Gibson Custom Shop Certificate of Authenticity