Introducing The Gibson Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul has been one of the guitar rock'n'rollers mainstays since the beginning. It's known for it's sustain and great tone. Just ask Nigel of Spinal Tap. He was so impressed with the guitar that he has 500 or is it 5000? In the 1940's Les Paul was in "Jazz at the Philharmonic" and has played on many albums since that time. One of them was Bing Crosby's "It's Been a Long Long Time". It was Bing himself that encouraged Les to build a studio in Les home. This where he used multiple recordings (overdubbing) to create his sound. Les was known to always be trying new things. He started tinkering with an Epiphone Archtop. He then wanted to try something new and different so he actually put a pickup on a solid piece of pine which has been nicknamed the "LOG". This was basically a 4" x 4" the length of a normal Archtop hollowbody which had a bridge and pickup. It was then connected to a normal guitar neck.

In the 1940's hollowbody guitars where amplified but suffered from feedback if they got too loud. So Les thought this wouldn't be a problem if the body were solid. It would also increase the sustain and tone of the guitar. In 1946 Les took the idea to Gibson. They referred to Les as the guy with the broomstick. Ted McCarty got interested in solidbody guitars when Fender came out with the Telecaster (Broadcaster). In 1951 he arranged a meeting with Les Paul and the Les Paul was born. The contract at the time gave a 5% royalty to Les for five years. Les Paul was very popular and would obviously play the guitar and indorse as well as promote it.

The guitar was first introduced in 1952. This early version was their first solid body Spanish style cut-away guitar. It was gold in color (similar to the Gold Top LPs) and had a "metal adjustable" bridge and tailpiece. The body was made of mahogany with a maple top. The Mahogany neck had a scale length of 24.75", which is what most LPs are today. The two pickups where the P-90s (soapbar) type with the standard two volume and two tone controls. It had the name "Les Paul" written on it. It was advertised as having "Marvelous, clear, sustaining tones in all positions with no dead notes". It was also mentioned that there was no "Buildup of synthetic tones" which meant the guitar didn't feedback like electric hollowbody guitars do. At the time they released the Les P. they also released the Les Paul amplifier. Both the guitar and amp became popular with blues guitar players like B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters.

Gibson shipped some 1,716 LP guitars in 1952 which was right under the ES-125 which was their most popular model at the time. It became apparent that the solid body guitars where here to stay. The gold finish was also extended to other Gibson guitars like the ES-295. This guitar was the first, other than the LP, to be fitted with the Les Paul Bridge and Tailpiece combination. The solid body guitars did have better action and more sustain.

The pickups used where the originally designed P-90 pickups. These where single coil type with adjustable pole pieces (metal rods). These pickups where designed in the 1940's yet Gibson felt they wanted to improve on the design. Seth Lover started work on the now famous Alnico pickup which featured 10,000 turns of wire around the coil and 6 individually adjustable magnets which where placed underneath each string of the guitar. The magnets where rectangular in shape with adjustment screws located right next to the magnet. It had the same shape as the P-90 and had the Alnico V magnets. The P-90 used the lesser powerful Alnico III or IV versions. These stronger magnets mounted underneath the string gave the pickup much more power and sustain than the previous models. This meant that with using a more powerful pickup meant you have less noise by virtue of the more guitar signal.

The next advancement for the LP was the introduction of the "Tune-O-Matic O-Matic" or TOM Bridge. This new type of bridge allowed the guitar's intonation to be changed (Adjusted) this is what is meant by Adjustable Bridge. Not only can you adjust the height of the strings but you can also adjust the length of the string. Ted McCarthy who invented the TOM bridge made it so each individual string could be adjusted. Before this guitars weren’t capable of perfect or at least very good intonation. The TOM (Tune-O-Matic O-Matic for short) used saddles that held the string in place and was moved forward (towards the neck) or backwards (towards the bridge) via a screw located at the bottom of the saddle. Gibson put this bridge on their hollow bodies as well as the solid body guitars. Since the TOM has become a standard well respected bridge design.

Both the new Alnico V and TOM bridge where then put onto the Les Pauls. At the time the original bridge didn't allow you to change the height of the strings, well you could but only a very small amount. You also couldn't adjust the length of the string in order to get a satisfactory well tune guitar. The early LPs also had another bridge type that wasn't as adjustable as the TOM bridge. It was called the Bar Bridge. This is also called the Stopbar tailpiece which was an open eared metal bar with opened ears on each side. The strings wrapped around the bar and where fitted into slots. The bar was then supported by two large metal posts that where in essence large screws. You can rise or lower the bridge by turning the screws. This is arrangement was better than the trapeze type but not as good as the TOM bridge.

These improvements weren't added to the LP until early 1954. With the addition of the TOM bridge and Stopbar bridge guitarist could mute or damped the strings. Up until this time Goldtop LPs used either the Trapeze tailpiece or the Bigby tremolo. The first stopbar guitar produced was actually a bass guitar. It was in response to the Fender Precision bass that was taking the world by storm.

The Les Paul is considered today to be the Rolls Royce of guitars. Especially in the vintage dept. You just can't beat a 1958 or 1959 LP. The re-issue necks are joined to the body in a different way. The neck is embedded into the body somewhat more than its predecessors. The type of wood used is also different. The Gibson re-issues are actually better than the originals. If you want to invest in a guitar then the 1958 or 1959 re-issues are the way to go.

Gibson Les Paul Traditional
The Traditional is one the latest incarnations of the famous Les Paul. This new version is very “Traditional” in that it weighs and sounds like it should. The guitar is unchambered and is designed based on the LP’s of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Gibson '57 Black Beauty
The Custom was first introduced in 1954 and was the deluxe version of the Les Paul regular. It is also known as the 'Fretless Wonder' and of course as the 'Black Beauty'. The 'Fretless Wonder' name came about because of the advertising which stated that the frets where low and smooth and give the guitar fast playing action. So it didn't mean that it had no frets.

The '58 is VOS re-issue of one of the most popular LPs. It has been made for the pro guitarist and collector alike using the new Vintage Original Spec as manufacturing guidelines. This doesn’t just apply to the cosmetics of the guitar but also the playability and sound as well. For instance this VOS version uses high quality CTS pots and capacitors for greater tone stability.

The 1959 is a reissue of the LP from years ago. This is a VOS reissue which are meant to be historically accurate and having period correct neck profiles, hardware and electronics. The original gold tops were discontinued in 1958 and replaced with a cherry sunburst LP. At this time they added the word ‘Standard’ to the les Paul name.

Custom Shop 1957 Goldtop with PAF Pickups
The '57 Goldtop was one of the first Gibson's to have the PAF Humbuckers as well as the new ABR-1 bridge. It's called a Goldtop because the top part of the guitar body is painted gold. This was the last model before the 1958 LP Standard came in to existence. Since the Les Pauls inception in 1952 P90 pickups and two different types of bridges where used.

Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany
TheVintage Mahogany allows you to get that great sound LP sound and a very affordable price. As with most LP guitars the body is made of mahogany and has a carved mahogany top. Mahogany on guitars has a darker and warm tone than that of Alder. It was first found on the '54 LP Custom (Black Beauty).

Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar
The Studio is one of the more affordable LPs mainly because it doesn't have any binding around the body and neck. It still looks great and is available in a number of colors and finishes. There are a number of options that vary depending upon which finish you get.

There are three guitars that come to mind when I think of Led Zeppelin: The first being the SG Double Neck as used on "Stairway to Heaven", The Fender Telecaster and Fender Showman amp used on the first Zep Album, and the of the Gibson '58 LP. The Jimmy Page LP is a Custom Shop limited edition guitar. It is based upon his favorite 58 LP Standard which has an elliptical neck profile that is thinner at the 7th fret than the first while it becomes fatter at the 12th fret again. It also has some unusual added electronics that remain somewhat hidden. This is the second J.Page re-issue with the first being done in 1995.

With its Tiger Green finish this Joe Perry Les Paul Signature version is quite a jump from the earlier 1996 version. This one has solid mahogany body with an AAA grade figured maple top. The finish is aged tiger green which has a greenish/yellow hue. The body is weight relieved which means that the mahogany back has cavities which help to reduce the weight of the guitar.

Gibson Les Paul Axcess Standard Electric Guitar with Floyd Rose Vibrato Tailpiece
The Les Paul Axcess is named for greater access to the upper frets, floyd rose tailpiece, dual-coil pickup switch all add up to greater tonal variation and greater access to different sounds than every before from a les paul. It has the same elegant styling and rocking attitude you’ve come to expect from the classic guitar but with a number of upgrades. This is by far one of the most versatile LP’s made.

Gibson Les Paul Classic
The Classic is also available in Classic Custom and Classic Antique versions. This guitar is a modern version of the LP. Its main features are a 60's style slim style neck and hot ceramic humbuckers make this an excellent rock guitar.

The Special Faded is 6 string electric that has been purposely worn in areas on the guitar that usually get the most use. It is one of the Faded Series which also includes the LP Double Cut-Away, Flying V, and SG Special all purposely pre-worn. The guitar is also somewhat less expensive than other Les Pauls because it doesn't have any binding around the body, neck or headstock.

The Supreme is one of their more popular Guitars. It's very elegant styling demonstrates the high quality craftsmanship that goes into building guitars. The body of the guitar is made of four different types (Species) of wood.

The LP Special was introduced in 1955 as a lower cost version. It was the same guitar as the TV version with an extra single coil pickup at the neck and binding around the fretboard. The finish of the guitar was also a lime green color. This guitar is a VOS Gibson which means it has the 'Vintage Original Specifications' of that found on the original version at the time they were made.

The 1968 Custom is an elegantly designed guitar which features a carved figured maple top, multi-ply binding, and gold hardware. The body is made of mahogany which has a carved 5A quilted piece of maple glued on to it. You'll notice the grain on the body that really stands out on the translucent finishes. There's a multi-ply white and black binding surrounding the top and back of the body. It's available in Triburst, Antique Natural, and Firemist finishes. The bridge used is an ABR-1 with a stopbar tailpiece.

The Elegant is features great looks and tone. The body is made from mahogany with a triple-A grade maple top. There are open cavities in the body to reduce its weight while at the same time increasing its resonance. They are called dynamic chambers and help to increase the guitar's interaction with the amp.