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Submitted By Lowden
Everyone wants one, and old Gold Top preferably, but does anyone think about the real Les Paul?
Les Paul is the reason we have music............sounds unbelieveable? but its true.
You all thinks guitars, but that's only a small part of the man who is probably the greatest ever 'musician' who ever lived.
Les Paul was born Lester William Polfus in Wisconsin in 1916 and started playing music at the age 0f 9, did his first semi-pro gig at 13. But during the war, in 1941, this guy who was interested in music and electronics started to develop a solid body guitar, using some 4 by 2 and a door hinge as a bridge, but by 1948 had a solid guitar built to amazing specifications for it's time.
He had approached Gibson with his design pre 1948 but they felt demand and production costs were not viable for it's manufacture. They saw sense in 1952 with the relaease of the first Gibson Les Paul, which I believe is in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum.
Pre the release of The Gibson Les Paul he had established himself as the top guitarist of his generation and had 2 no.1's in 1952 with his wife 'Mary Flood', 'How High The Moon' and 'Voya Con Dias' .
The Les Paul Trio also had hits like 'Tennesse Waltz' and 'Mockin' Bird Hill'.
He started experimenting with recording techniques in 1948 and by 1953 had devoloped 'The Sync Head' for multi-track tape machines. This invention allowed over-dubbing which has become the mainstay of the modern recording industry. Pre this invention a band had to play live into a few mics direct to a tape machine - you could record as much as you wanted but if someone made a mistake then it's back to the start. Les Pauls invention meant that each instrument could be recorded seperately and 'blended' or 'mixed' to create the full sound, thus opening the door for modern recording techniques.
In 1977 Les Paul was awarded a Grammy for his album with Chet Atkins called Chester and Lester', which you all should buy (even if you're not a old timer ) This album is two geniouses at work and might not appeal to all (i.e. you detuned distorted axegrinders) but remember without this guy your so-called guitar Gods would be pissing against the wind.
In 1988 Les Paul was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, basically about 30 years too late.
So next time you oogle a Gibson worth a few grand remember Les Paul lived completely for music and it's development, not only to create a guitar that will continue to endure the test of time. Since his first Les Paul in 1952 there have been very few modifications to his design, the bridge has changed slightly and Humbuckers became the norm, but the basic design of construction has remained unchanged.
Les Paul, without him, we would be playing into cones and recording on wax and looking like dumbasses with single coil aluminium sticks as guitars.
Zak
MultiQuote
) a couple of weeks ago was a godly experience. This is a well-deserved legends post.
what'a f.... I didn't even know that Les Paul was a guitarist. I thought it was just a guitar. Didn't know it was named after a humanbeing! Damn! Well, it all comes to me someday.
