The Les Paul Professional was introduced along with the fancier Les Paul Personal as an updated Les Paul concept in 1969. Gibson did not produce the Les Paul body shape between late 1960 and 1968, so both guitars were part of the first wave of new Les Paul models along with the Les Paul Deluxe and updated Les Paul Custom. These Les Pauls were distinguished by two oblong plastic-covered pickups, a more rounded cutaway horn, and an array of new electronics including a phase control and an XLR output jack.