Les Paul

Born Lester William Polfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1915, Les Paul had a successful career as a musician and producer but it was his work as an inventor that has had the greatest impact on the world of music. 

Paul began his career as a jazz musician.  Unhappy with the volume his acoustic guitar provided, he began tinkering with the instrument.  Those tinkerings led to the invention of the solid-body electric guitar, an instrument that forever changed rock and roll and music as a whole.  In addition, Paul developed the technique that allowed musicians to record their parts of songs at different times, mixing them together later.

Consciously or not, music fans, writers, and bloggers are hearing and writing about Les Paul because his inventions led to changes in the way music was heard and recorded.

Gibson Guitars began manufacturing the Les Paul model in 1952, a model that continues to be manufactured today.  Among prominent rockers who play Les Paul guitars are Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Guns N' Roses' Slash, and The Who's Pete Townshend. For younger generations, the kids may be learning to play the Les Paul model guitar in popular video games like Guitar Hero.

Paul retired from working as a musician in the late '60s to focus more on his inventions.  In his later years, he returned to playing music at clubs on Monday nights in New York.  Page, former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen, and Eddie Van Halen were known to drop by to pay tribute to the legend and even sat in with him.  Paul died in August 2009.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “Les Paul”

• A quiet visit and a surprise!

  
  The Wondering Brit — Authority: 132
  The other day I took time out in a guitar shop… Nothing weird there you might think – but actually, there was… I love my old guitar (can’t play it like) and while it’s travelled the globe with me, it has bad pickups and the neck/frets are wearing out. My guitar is a beastie I’ve often been told does not ...
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• Gibson Buckethead Les Paul

  
  Plunder Guide — Authority: 448
  Known for his guitar wizardry and his unusual props and stage presence, Buckethead (Praxis, Guns N’ Roses) is now Gibson Guitar’s latest signature model. The alpine white Buckethead Les Paul features a mahogany top and a large, semi-hollow mahogany body for a unique sound and light weight. The marker-less ...
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• Epiphone Les Paul Special Ii Heritage Cherry Sunburst - £119.00 - Musical Instruments

  
  Link Fiend — Authority: 157
  £119.00 Info / Buy Product Information Epiphone Les Paul Special II Heritage Cherry Sunburst with Chrome Hardware. Gear 4 Music Special Offer That trademark Les Paul shape in an economical package including two open coil Alnico V Humbucker pickups for ...
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• Gibson’s Buckethead Signature Les Paul with Alpine White Paintjob Looks Cool

  
  Elite Choice — Authority: 517
  Guitars have been the symbol of our western cultures. Most eastern cultures borrowed many things from the west, and they have been doing well thanks to the borrowing. One of them is also the guitar, which is one of the traditional instruments of Europe. With that in mind, the guitar has travelled a long way not just ...
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• Gibson Les Paul Studio Ebony With Chrome Hardware - £939.00 - Musical Instruments

  
  Link Fiend — Authority: 157
  £939.00 Info / Buy Product Information Traditional Les Paul performance with a modern no-frills attitude. Introduced nearly 25 years ago as a guitar for the studio musician the Les Paul Studio has become one of the most desired Les Pauls for its tremendous ...
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• Gibson Buckethead Signature Les Paul

  
  Music gadgets — Authority: 129
  Gibson presented one of its latest guitars – the Buckethead Signature Les Paul model. Each Buckethead Signature Les Paul is crafted from a two-piece maple top attached with ultra-strong Franklin Titebond 50 glue to a chambered mahogany body. This wood combination, one of the most legendary pairs in the history ...
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• Guitar players you should know: Danny Gatton

  
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  Link Fiend — Authority: 157
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• Les Paul Images: In Loving Memory of Les Paul 1915 – 2009

  
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  Got some Les Paul’s pictures from the Gibson website : About Les Paul from wikipedia : Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009) known as Les Paul — was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric ...
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• Chasing the Perfect Sound

  
  Teds Take — Authority: 616
  For those of you who play guitar or just love guitar infused rock n roll. Les Paul is a pioneer and a god- like figure. He is an innovator, a talented musician, an inventor and just plain old cool guy. Watch this documentary  on SnagFilms on Les Paul, his life and times. This man is one of the most ...
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• Da-Na-Na-Na!

  
  My So-Called Blog — Authority: 114
  So, back in 1998 when I lived in Atlanta I somehow scrounged enough money to buy a Crafter acoustic electric guitar. It looked a lot like this one only not as bright blue. I don’t recall much about my practicing or playing there, but I definitely recall playing it in Lake Tahoe. I even got an amp from a friend. ...
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• The Fixation | Gibson 1959 Les Paul (Vintage)

  
  Gear Patrol | The Definitive Men's Resource — Authority: 528
  This week’s fixation: a guitar. But not just any old guitar. A rarity amongst rarities, this completely original 1959 Les Paul is completely original from the hardware, case & key, paperwork, right down to its gorgeous signature flamey finish. For more information, contact the venerable high end audio retailer ...
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• Gibson Sg Standard Heritage Cherry - £999.00 - Musical Instruments

  
  Link Fiend — Authority: 157
  £999.00 Info / Buy Product Information Gibson SG Standard Heritage Cherry Gear 4 Music Special Offer Gibson released the SG in 1961 as the replacement for the Les Paul ! Fortunately Gibson realised that the SG was appealing to a totally different guitar ...
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• MusicLab announces RealLPC

  
  rekkerd.org — Authority: 449
  MusicLab has announced RealLPC , a virtual guitar instrument bringing the incomparable Les Paul Custom Guitar sound to your studio. RealLPC provides incredible playability based on the unique performance modes and easy-to-use keyboard layout as well as the advanced key/pedal/velocity switch system allowing a ...
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• Silvertone SSL3 Electric Guitar Pack

  
  3stepADS - Free Advertising Blog — Authority: 587
  Do you know someone who wants to learn to play guitar?  Then the Silvertone SSL3 Electric Guitar Pack is the perfect choice for a first guitar for your aspiring rock ‘n roller.   Everything you need to get started playing electric guitar is included, so you can start up as soon as you open the box. [...]
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• 1975 Gibson S-1

  
  Guitar Blog — Authority: 426
  guitarz.blogspot.com : Didnt think Id ever be surprised by a Gibson Les Paul - until I discovered the S-1 ! Love the Flying V headstock, and the pickguard shape simulating a SG on top of the Les Paul body is brilliant... Together with the Marauder , it was an attempt of Gibson to attack the ...
  2 weeks ago

• Gibson Les Paul Traditional Guitar Cherry Sunburst - £1639.00 - Musical Instruments

  
  Link Fiend — Authority: 157
  £1639.00 Info / Buy Product Information You asked for it - you got it. Introducing the Les Paul Traditional electric guitar from Gibson USA. With all the fat sweet snarling Les Paul tone that purists love the Traditional plays sounds and weighs like the ...
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• Gibson Sg Special Faded Series Worn Brown - £599.00 - Musical Instruments

  
  Link Fiend — Authority: 157
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• Hirasawa Yui Cosplay by Rinami

  
  ????????? ?('~`;)? — Authority: 138
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