Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitars
Gibson began producing Les Paul electric guitars by offering the Fender Telecaster in 1951. They shot to the top of their game in the industry and remained there for the last 65. Guitar greats such as Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Jeff Beck of the Yardbirds use Gibson Les Paul electric guitars, plus many, many more great artists from the last six decades. The focus of Gibson and Les Paul has always been the sharpest sounds, excellent quality and the best looking guitars on the market.
Mocked for crafting and marketing the first solid-body guitar, Gibson was ahead of the game and proved over the last 60+ years that solid-body electric guitars are a guitar player's dream, while still producing and effectively marketing hollow body guitars, as well. Les Paul's sunburst Standard was fitted with a wrap-over bridge, then a tune-a-matic bridge, humbucking pick-ups and a hallowed finish that made it a sensation in 1958 when it was introduced on the market.
Les Paul guitars are skillfully crafted to boost sonic capabilities and tonal ranges. Fitted with the absolute best pick-ups, piezo-loaded bridges and the latest in tone technology, these guitars provide nothing but the best for any guitarist.
Les Paul was a musician in his own right when Gibson Guitar president Ted McCarthy asked him to work with the Gibson Corporation as a consultant. He has already finished the construction of a hand-built solid-body original-design guitar which he called The Log. He preferred to play his favorite guitar, the 1972 Gibson Recording, all the way up to his death in August of 2009. He had made adjustments and modifications to that personal guitar over the years, with sometimes noticeable and always beneficial changes.
As is the same with all great artistry, copies were made of Les Paul's innovative guitar creations. Some Japanese companies came very close to successfully replicating copies of the original Gibson Standard.
Most copies made in the 70's and 80's looked vastly different from true Gibson Les Paul guitars and weren't made with the same quality. Since Les Paul guitars have changed much over the years, and can be found in various shapes, sizes, colors and designs with various different electronic and technology specifics, it can be hard to determine what is original and what is not.
Today, Gibson Les Paul electric guitars can be solid or hollow body, different body materials and several body shapes. Adding different colors and designs makes every guitar unique, unlike any other ever made. The list of famous guitarists that are using or have used Les Paul electric guitars is very long, consisting of names like Zakk Wylde, Jimmy Page, Sammy Hagar, Buckethead, Ace Frehley of KISS and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. These artists all have their own unique Les Paul electric guitar, outfitted with signature designs, in-lays, headstocks and humbucker pickups.
Gibson Les Paul electric guitars have been crafted to near perfection. They are used and referred to in tv and movies from around the world, taking on comedic and dramatic roles. It is interesting to note that in some countries, such as Finland, the words Les Paul became a noun, used to describe a guitar with certain characteristics, regardless of whether or not it is a genuine Gibson Les Paul electric guitar.