BTR#27 1969-1970 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe, End of the "Vintage Era"?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- As we know, early in 1961 the single cutaway Les Paul was discontinued due to lack of sales. In summer 1968 it was reintroduced by popular demand. The first Les Pauls produced in 1968 were almost similar to those of the Ted McCarty era. In fact the 1968 Les Pauls predate the less desirable production changes that were carried out in the following years, during the infamous Norlin mismanagement. Shortly after its reintroduction, the Les Paul slowly shifted away from the 50's concept and received distinct features. The Les Paul Deluxe, introduced in 1969, is part of this transitional process. Let’s check out these changes! #VINTAGEGIBSON #VINTAGELESPAUL #VINTAGEGUITARS
-English subtitles available
-Sottotitoli in Italiano
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Grande Bob! Potrei guardare i tuoi video per giorni e non annoiarmi mai!bravissimo,come sempre!!!
Grazie Lorenzo!!
Thanks for a great video. It is nice to see the Channel growing. You deserve it! 👍🏼😁
Thank you!!
He's some of the best content on here. It seems the environmentalists behind the conception of these algorithm would understand that keeping old wood going forever is the ultimate form of recycling and would allow Bob's top shelf content out into the open. I remember seeing him show a very early Hamer years ago and have watched since. This should get 10-100 times this exposure. Just top quality content.
Buongiorno Bob, attendo sempre con impazienza la pubblicazione dei Tuoi video, sono precisi, interessanti e fatti col cuore. Continuano ad insegnarmi cose interessanti sulla storia e l'evoluzione di questo magnifico strumento, e di questo ti sono grato. Continua così e un in bocca al lupo da un Tuo affezionato “Vintage”.
Grazie di cuore per queste tue belle parole incoraggianti Alfredo!
Thanks for the comprehensive overview of thus era of Les Paul Deluxe's. Very informative. I have to do more research on my 70-71 Goldtop.
Thank you for your kind words JFX, I'm happy that you enjoyed the video. Please feel free to browse through the other content of the BTR channel; good luck with your research!
Bob,
Thanks for the great historical
review of the vintage Les Paul Deluxe guitars. I was lucky to have owned a early 71 Deluxe Tobacco Burst in the 70s, 80s, & 90s, til it was stolen. It was like the 69 model, with all the earliest desired features.
I still miss that old friend.😿🎸💙
🌴🎸🎶🎹🎤🥁🎸🥃👌😎🤳🌴
That's too bad, so sorry for that!
On a positive note, thank you for your kind words, please feel free to keep an eye on the channel and join our community of guitar friends for more! : )
The Deluxe is my favorite LP by far…🎸
Cheers!
Cheers Brian, thank you for checking in.
I bought my 73 Deluxe LP goldtop with mini humbuckers brand new for $348.10 slapped schaller tuners on it and have played it ever since. It is as good as any LP I ever owned...
Sounds great Ed. When did you buy it?
grande Bob, grazie x I tuoi video eccezziunali.. ragazzi c'e' srmpre tanto da scoprire.. ciao!!!
Grazie Fabrizio!!
Ei Bob, grandi video come sempre. Siamo alla ricerca del vintage perché questi strumenti suonano meglio di quelli della moderna produzione perché in primis i materiali utilizzati, legni e magneti (per pickup e speaker) ,erano di qualità. Questo vale anche per gli amplificatori. Grazie , saluti.
Grazie per il tuo caloroso feedback Paolo! Essì, siamo d'accordo sull'amore per il vero vintage! : )
I just bought a 76 Deluxe for 3000 Euro. Best of my guitars!
Best wishes on your awesome "new" guitar!
As always great video. I loved that you included the minihumbucker original Epiphones (Sorrento, Riviera, Wilshire, Crestwood). If you run into one, please make a video.
Thanks.
Thank you so much for your appreciation and your kind request!: would love to come across a vintage original Epi!
When Gibson left Kalamazoo was a real definite point. When Honduras mahogany reached depletion was another threshold.
Thank you Junior Kong, good point; they were definitely important steps in the Norlin era.
Great reviews of some of Gibson's coolest guitars. There are so many great early 70's Deluxe's out there!
Thank you for your appreciation of the video Michael! I totally agree, those guitars can sound and play great. Please feel free to subscribe the channel to keep posted and join our facebook group if you wish.
Fantastic work Bob! Thanks for all you do.
Thank you so much for your feedback JP, I'm happy that you like my videos... more on the way : )
Thanks Bob for the great interesting video!!!! I have a 1969 I bought used in 1971 and did the retrofits you mentioned and more! It's beloved to me! I've replaced many humbuckers in it starting with 1972 Gbson T-Tops, then Dimarzios, then Duncans but the last 10 years I've ended my search with a pair of Tom Homes pickups. The search is over, the guitar sounds great!!!!!
Thank you for the kind feedback Analog Blues! Please feel free to subscribe the cannel to keep in touch ...More to come! : )
@@BobsToneReview I’ve been a subscriber for a while now. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much@@analogblues9606 ! Just finished the shootings for the next episode : )
Great Bob! Beautiful video!
Cheers from Munich
Danke Jim! : )
Complimenti. Ti seguo da tempo, i tuoi video sono sempre piacevoli e interessanti, si vede che lo fai con passione. Continua così!
Grazie dell'incoraggiamento Enrico! Sono contento che i video del mio canale ti piacciano... e si, sono fatti con passione! : )
Nice Velvets cover! What many people say on Les Paul forums is that the volume and tone controls on 70s models had little effect on the output. A very common modification is to swap out the pots, and then it's easier to customize the sound you get.
Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation and the information David. I'm a fan of the Velvets since I was in my teens. The song is kind of freely reinterpreted : ) I didn't notice the problem that you mention on that Deluxe. I think that later in the 70's they adopted 300 K pots, which are not a good match with humbuckers; while that Deluxe still retains the original values. Great to have you onboard!
@@BobsToneReview Actually, I'm on my third LP Deluxe. I shouldn't have sold the first one, a 1979 model. The second one, a 1973, wasn't as good; it had been through a fire and had lost some of its natural tone. The latest one is from 1976. It has a single-slab solid mahogany body, not the pancake construction, and as I mentioned, the pots were replaced. It's a real treasure. Thanks again for your video.
@@davidkoral1673 thank you, I'm happy that you enjoyed the video and that you finally found a Les Paul you are fully satisfied with.
Great video.
The best guitar I ever owned was a Goldtop 69 Les Paul Deluxe with the factory second stamp on the back of the headstock. I was young when I owned it and couldn’t afford to have the frets reshaped and polished so I sold it. I paid $350 for it in 1984 and it’s the one guitar I regret selling and the cost to replace it now is a little outside my budget.
Thank you for your feedback Chris, I'm happy that you liked the video! Sorry for the ending of your story, we all made those mistakes sadly. Please feel free to subscribe and browse among the other content of the channel. Be well!
I too bought my 69 Gold Top in 1984 for $300. There was a 68 for $350 right next to the 69 but I couldn’t afford it at the time. I still have mine. I’m sorry you got rid of yours.
right on, fascinating! say...what' s the difference in sound between the mini and the full size humbucker?
Ciao Livia! I'd say that the mini-humbuckers are more focused on high frequencies as opposed to the "all-round range" of the full size humbuckers.
@@BobsToneReview thanks Bob. but then... are the sigle coil more focused on high frequencies than the mini-humbackers?
Not necessarily @@liviaontheroad , for instance P90's are single coils as well and their tone is often described as "centered".
Check out Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson playing Deluxes in Thin Lizzy
Thank you for the tip Humbuckerboy, Thin Lizzy are not really my cup of tea but it's always good to know for sure!
Funny. This video was posted the day I became vintage myself. So thank you so much for the reminder, haha. I do not own a Les Paul Deluxe, but had to take a look in here to learn more about them. I own a very early 1970 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty. Serialnumber 90175XX. But.... in here trying to date a Les Paul Gold Top Deluxe with serial number 899775. Pancake body. Dot over "i" in Gibson-logo. "made in USA" stamp. Mahogany neck. Has anyone an idea of what year it is?
Your Custom is a great guitar Sallhame. Are the tuners on the Deluxe branded Kluson or Gibson? Please feel free to subscribe the channel and join our community of guitar-friends!
@@BobsToneReview Hello and thanks for your answer. The tuners are branded "GIBSON DELUXE." I don't know if they are original, but I can't see any extra screwholes.
Hello Sallhame, it seems that it could be a 1971, it should have only a hint of lump or volute behind the nut. If it has pickup markings and more pronounced volute, it could be from 1972 or 1973. Unfortunately in those years the serial numbers are not a reliable method for dating Gibsons: it would be a typical SN from 1968 but clearly the features you indicate don't appear on Gibson instruments before 1971.
Very nice video. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your kind feedback Cristobal, please feel free to browse among the other content of the channel!
Mike Ness of Social Distortion loves the Deluxe models although he typically removes the mini humbuckers and installs P90’s.
Thanks Ken, in fact it's not easy to find notable "testimonials" of the Deluxe played with original pickups..
@@BobsToneReview I think Neil Young is another artist the played Deluxe models but changed out the stock pickups and replaced them with P90's. In fact, I think Mike Ness learned this from Neil Young when Social Distortion toured with Neil Young decades ago
This dude sounds exactly like Yngwie.... until he picks up a guitar ; )
I loved the rest of the video, though!
I'm a '71. After that they throttled down factory cars, increased importation from the far east...etc. Well the skirts kept getting shorter and the music was awesome for another 15 years anyway. Hamer made a splash and so did Yamaha.
I bet you still are a "good old vintage guy" Junior Kong ih! ih! : ) Please feel free to subscribe to keep in touch!
@@BobsToneReview Thanks Bob. I subscribed a long time ago. I like vintage stuff, but was never a fan of violin smell. Some of those old amps and stuff and old tweed cases really start to reek. All five senses get involved with something like music. I do appreciate lacquer that's for sure. Lundgren Pickups and Robert's Pickups among others are as good as any ever made. I should have hoarded more Brazillian Rosewood in the '90s.
Thank you@@juniorkong9587 ! Being a musician, and not a collector, I'm totally with you, except that I love the smell of a vintage case anytime, ih! ih! : )
Nel 1972 e poi nel '73 vidi i Jethro Tull a Bologna e in tutte e due le occasioni Martin Barre utilizzava una Les Paul del luxe gold con i miniHB ... che suono, la voce del prog, voce simile anche dai Gentle Giant, Kansas e altri. Paul.
Ciao Paul, molto interessante! In effetti la Deluxe è probabilmente il modello più rappresentativo di quel periodo storico e di quella scena musicale. A quanto mi hanno riferito, il chitarrista dei Gentle Giant all'epoca usava in concerto una Burst originale, pare che sia stato uno dei primi a capire il valore della produzione vintage anni '50.
@@BobsToneReview Rimasi estremamente colpito dalla "voce" di Barre, avevo cominciato a suonare la chitarra nella primavera del '70 e a giugno'72, per la promozione, mia nonna mi regalò l'elettrica, a causa di Barre acquistai una Maya (Ibanez), LesPaul gold, un oggetto economico ma che collegato al Twin, anni dopo quando lo acquistai, aveva proprio una voce '57, poi la vendetti per acquistare una strato. Paul.
Ottimo servizio, bellissimi i prodotti vintage passati in rassegna all'inizio. La mia deluxe conversion mi pare suoni molto meglio di quella con i mini humbucker... :-)
Grazie del feedback e grazie ancora della preziosa collaborazione Carlo, sono contento che il video ti sia piaciuto! E si... La tua conversion suona alla grande!
bellissimo video, ne capisco poco, ma una de luxe capitò nelle mie mani, ma non era mia.
Grazie Jimmy, sono felice che ti piaccia! Chissà se non hai avuto tra le mani proprio quella che si vede in video: era di Stefano Fato che fece uno scambio con Mimmo Bucci.
Ottimo lavoro! :-)
Grazie Carlo, sono felice che il video ti sia piaciuto, un abbraccio!
Hi Bob, my name is Alex and I am about to buy a Vintage Deluxe with the made in Usa Stamp. It has a low serial: 118068. How can I be sure about the yaer of production. The seller thinks it is from 1974. According to my research giving the serial number it could be from 71/72. Thankyou for any information. Greetings from Rio.
Ciao Alex, best wishes with your new purchase! Unfortunately Gibson serial numbers are quite messed in those years. Are you sure there's no letter before the 6 numbers? Also 1972 Les Pauls usually have a Gibson logo embossed on the pickup covers. In 1975 a major change occurs with the adoption of a maple neck.
Hi bob, just bought it. Only six digits. Panquake body. 3 piece mahogany neck. Original eletrics. Hard to read the pots, but It can be in the fourth and fifth Numbers, 71 or 74. Sounds amazing, player condition, but very uncommon in Brazil. Thanks Bob! Great vídeo, it helped me to decide for the purchase!
Best wishes @@alexanderkellner5787 !! I'm really happy that you liked the video! Until early 1971 the tuners might still carry the Kluson brand.
👍
top
Thank you JJ!! : )
Yes it was the END. Gibson never recovered, not even now, their guitars don't hold a candle to the original PAF equipped Les Pauls. Gibson promised and made a big announcement, "We are bringing BACK THE LES PAUL!" They debuted the LP Deluxe. I bought one I think in '69, maybe earlier. A sunburst. It was an entirely POS, litte better than the junky Japanese imports. The mini's were shrill, had no warmth and even those pickups had been destroyed from the original PAF mini's being used in '61. The originals were 7K and they sounded like little PAF's and even had the PAF decals. The ones on my Deluxe were 5.5K, weak and tinny. So, I ordered a pair of buckers directly from Gibson, took the minis' out and chiseled the rout longer so I could fit the buckers. The result was even worse, dark and muddy tones, I got rid of that thing as fast as I could and held my breath hoping the chiseling wouldn't be noticed. So, here I am noew at age 71 and those junk guitars are selling for thousands. What a joke. Sadly the original PAF's ceased to exist because materials technologies were rapidly advancing, common steel alloys changed to higher carbon material, magnet wire became more pure, but Gibson bought the cheap poly wire and never used plain enamel again. Magnets got smaller and more powerful, so it was all destined to end. Some of the '68 bodies are rumored to have been old stock bodies of good wood. But I worked on a '68 that had been converted, and the wood in it was very warm, not the dry sound of the earlier desired guitars that none of us can afford now, and that wood will never exist again. Just because something is old doesn't mean its magic.
Hello Dave, thank you so much for your accurate and trustworthy comments, I hope you enjoyed the video.
I definitely agree that no reissues came even close to the original Les Pauls from the 1950's. I also tend to believe that the reported use of leftover bodies from the 50's in the late 60's or even early 70's, is yet to be demonstrated.
Some of the 1968 models (small headstocks , correct trap. inlays were shells left over when Gibson switched to humbuckers. The Deluxe is 10 pounds of junk. And it just kept getting worse. In 1972, I purchased a 54' reissue. It could have broken my shoulder! Fortunately, a year latter, I bought a 1960 for 900 dollars, the 54 reissue cost me 350. I no longer own any real sunbursts. I have 4 historics. One is better than my #2 1960 Sunburst. Two are so so, the other one is good. The Vintage Era of Gibson ended around 1963? Maybe about the same as with Fender. Demand for electric guitars was increasing and production went up! Quality took a hit. Cost cutting could be seen in both Fender and Gibson guitars! And it got worse - what came out of these factories in the late 70's was gross. Just like virtually every consumer item manufactured during that era.
Congratulations on your Les Pauls Alex. In what year your favourite Burst Reissue was manufactured?
1997. @@BobsToneReview
Thank you for the information@@denAlexVA . I see your point but in my opinion indicating 1963 as the end of "the "Vintage Era" is a bit too drastic. I agree that 1963 or, more correctly, 1964, is a "watershed year" but some SG's and some Les Pauls from the late 1960's are still great sounding vintage instruments. If we want to talk about Fender, I owned 2 KILLER 1967 Telecasters; you can find great sounding vintage Strats or Teles or basses up until 1972.
That is shown in the prices. Some are good, further, some Fenders and Gibsons from the Fifties were not good.@@BobsToneReview
@@denAlexVA In my life I've only seen a 1955 Les Paul All-Gold that was not exceptional soundwise. I agree with you that market prices are usually good indicators of quality.
That guitar face 🤣😂
: )
What is that groovy organ music?
Hello Chris, that's the Hammond organist Jimmy Smith
Bob's Tone Review Killer! What’s the name of the tune? Also, if you’re not familiar, there’s another wonderful organ jazz dude from that era named Jack McDuff. Thanks!
@@christophersullivan5482 , the track is "Motoring Along", thank you for your tip! Please feel free to join our community of guirar-friends and to keep in touch.
keep sniffing your corks, any electric that's a few decades old is vintage, whether it's 'sexy' or not.
LFunkey, I never mentioned that being "sexy" is the discriminating factor for a vintage guitar. There are plenty of vintage guitars that are anything but "sexy" out there and plenty of "sexy" guitars that are anything but vintage : )
Nevertheless it's not as easy as you're trying to convey. Jeff Beck's Telecaster was vintage when it was only 8 or 9 years old; a Telecaster from 2003, 20 years ago it's not vintage and probably will never be. It's not a matter of "cork sniffing": as you will see in one of the next episodes, I simply adore cheap vintage guitars, provided that they have original design. On a different note, I never say no to a glass of good wine : )
@@BobsToneReview Cheers. i don't think Beck's tele was vintage that early on, unless he claimed it to be ;). a 2003 tele is no less vintage than a 59 burst was in 1979. if we are to assume that 'vintage' requires 'quality', then why is a 60s Teisco 'vintage' but a quality Cunetto era Fender not? i guess we'll have to accept, like you said, that only the Golden era guitars are vintage. someday, when or if guitar production dies out, they'll all be vintage.
@@LfunkeyA cheers! Vintage guitars started to be a thing in the 1960's when players like Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Mike Bloomfield and Eric Clapton started to play instruments from the previous decade; indeed 8 or 9 years old. I'm sure you agree that this is not Jeff Beck's claim or mine; it's just common knowledge among guitar enthusiasts.
- a 2003 tele is no less vintage than a 59 burst was in 1979.
This is simply not true Lfunkey... Please consider that we are discussing market value, not personal preferences. In 1979 a '59 Burst was already worth like 10 new guitars of the time or even more... how much would you spend today for a good used 2003 Telecaster?
- why is a 60s Teisco 'vintage' but a quality Cunetto era Fender not?
Because a 60's Teisco is a guitar with original design built in the 1960's; the Cunetto Strat is either a reproduction of an instrument built in the 1960's or its modern reinterpretation.
-someday, when or if guitar production dies out, they'll all be vintage.
Maybe... after a nuclear or zombie apocalypse even Ikea forniture and Walmart items will be vintage but luckily this doesn't appear yet on our visual horizon at the moment; I would much rather stick to our age 🙂