The Gibson Les Paul Guitar Story

In 1950, there was a big boom in the world of musicup gradation of the hardware was offered with a
when the Fender Telecaster (electric guitar) wasblack finish. There was a constant improvement seen
introduced in the market. Another breed of guitars ledin the pickup, body and hardware patterns that truly
the world of music after this with Gibson Les Paul. Aspulled lots of guitarists towards it.
the name suggests Gibson is the leading musicalThere are different features that distinguish the Gibson
instrument manufacturer and Les Paul was one of theLes Paul from the rest of the brands. Gibson Les Paul
most respected guitarists in history. Les Paul has beenis known for mounting of its strings, which are always
known for his innovation in musical instruments and itmounted on top of the guitar body and not through the
was for this reason that the president of Gibsonguitar body as was seen in the Fender's models.
Company, Ted McCarthy, got Les Paul to be aGibson Les Paul has offered a wide range of
consultant for Gibson.decorative models, customized hardware, and electric
Les Paul made a solid body prototype, which waspickup options. The humbucking pickup completely
known as The Log. Les Paul had approached Gibsoneliminated the 60-cycle humming that previously beset
in the year 1945 with this prototype but this idea wasthe amplified guitars.
refused, but then again in 1951 Les Paul and GibsonGibson Les Paul has gone through an evolutionary
worked together and Les Paul's innovative idea gaveprocess over the years and has brought on unique
birth to a marvel that rocked the music world. The linemodels to gear up with state of the art advanced
of models for the Gibson hollow-body electric guitarstechnology and style. The line of Gibson Les Paul
provided ideas to create Gibson Les Paul, whichmodels are Goldtop (1952-1957), Custom (1954-1960),
differed from Fender in having a more curved bodyGibson Les Paul Junior (1954-1960), Gibson Les Paul
and a glued-in neck.TV (1955-1960), Gibson Les Paul Special (1955-1960),
There are different controversies regarding the role ofGibson Les Paul Standard (1958-1960), Gibson Les Paul
Les Paul in Gibson. One of the controversies is thatSG 1961, Gibson Les Paul Deluxe 1968, Gibson Les
the president of Gibson Corporation approached LesPaul Studio 1983, as well as the modern Gibson Les
Paul and asked him for the right to print his name onPaul guitars.
the headstock of the guitar so that they could increaseIt was in the 1960 that the icons in the world of
the sales of that specific model and name it Gibsonguitarists such as Mike Bloomfield, Keith Richards,
Les Paul.Jimmy Page as well as Eric Clapton acknowledged
It was also claimed by McCarthy that they only hadthe professional capability of Gibson Les Paul's late
discussions with Les Paul regarding the tailpiece and50s guitars because they had the thicker and more
fitting of a maple cap over the mahogany body forsustaining tone of Gibson's humbucking pickups. This
increased density and sustain. Les Paul also wantedinnovation just gave Gibson Les Paul the unique
the new model to have a gold finish but the Gibsonstanding in electric guitars and then there were a lot of
gave flame and tiger maple finishes for it to competecompanies that followed the lead of Gibson in making
with the Fender.the humbucking pickups. Following these icons, a lot of
The Les Paul guitar started out with two models, theother bands and artists made Gibson Les Paul their
regular model, which was then nicknamed as thechoice and now a 1959 Les Paul can cost in a range
Goldtop and the other was the custom model in whichof about $100,000 to $500,000.