Gibson guitars are known for fantastic high quality sound, which is the reason for their longevity. The quality of their sound is equal to their durability. There are Gibsons that are fifty or sixty years old that are playing like new ones. And as long as this quality remains intact, the Gibson guitar will always have a unique place among the music crowd.

When Les Paul guitars first started, they had two separate models. The regular model had the unique name of 'gold-top', while the other was the 'custom' model, which had a black finish and a bit of extra hardware. It was these pickups and bodies with the hardware that kept people playing the Les Paul.

Another unique feature of the Les Paul is the string mountings. The strings are mounted on top of the body as opposed to through it like a Fender model guitar. There have also been several variations on the ornamental side of the Les Paul models. They also have hardware that is customizable with several option on the electric pickups. The hum-bucking pickup did away with that sixty cycle humming in the older guitars.

The quality of the Les Paul was recognized in the 60s by Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, and Mike Bloomfield. And they were all renowned players at that time. They gave kudos to the thicker and the better sustaining sound put out by the hum-bucking pickups. This style of pickup was a revolution put in motion by Gibson. There were soon many bands touting the Gibson Les Paul as the guitar of choice. And since 1959 one of these guitars can cost you as much as one hundred thousand dollars, and can reach as much as five hundred thousand.

As it goes with a lot of guitars, the Gibson Les Paul has gone through some changes. Most guitar enthusiasts can point out the differences quickly and easily. But if you're not really into guitars, then you may find it hard to connect a guitar with a specific year. But if you want that kind of information you can go online and find it fast. There are sites out there dedicated to the Gibson guitar, and they can give you any information you might be looking for.

The Gibson guitar is beyond a doubt a solid piece of our music history. If you have the cash and are looking for a guitar of top quality, then the Les Paul is one that is well worth the money.

Les Paul has become a legend in the guitar world, and he is responsible for bringing us the legendary Les Paul guitar. In the 1930s most guitars were acoustic arch-tops with fitted pickups. They tended to get a lot of feedback because of the resonance that emitted from the strings that vibrated into the open cavity of the body and the sound holes. So Les Paul got the idea of inventing a guitar with a solid body to avoid this nuisance. He called it 'the log'. This guitar was a mere 4x4 fence-post that had a pickup, a bridge, and a neck attached. He then took a saw to the body of an Epiphone guitar, and attached it to the fence-post. This formed a solid body for experimenting with his idea. And it proved to be very promising in reducing the feedback, and enhancing the sustain, due to the fact that the energy from the strings wasn't dissipated by resonance like it was with the hollow bodies.

Les Paul was a famed jazz guitarist. As he grew in popularity he was able to record records with a few very popular artists in their own right. Then he made some solo efforts as well. Then further on into his career, he married his wife named Mary Ford, and they soon became a very popular duo. He also became one of the early innovators of recording technology. He was a big part of designing equipment that enabled multi-track recording.

Early into the 50s, Les Paul teamed up with Gibson guitar to design a solid body guitar. The ideas and the suggestion came from Les Paul. And thus the legendary Les Paul guitar was born. This guitar placed the strings and the bridge mountings on the guitar top, as opposed to old 'through-the-guitar' design used by Fender. It was also offered in various types of wood finishes, unlike the car paint looks of Fender guitars.

The first Les Paul guitars featured 2 single-coil pickups. Then in 1954 we saw the second generation of Les Pauls, that were crafted with tune-o-matic bridges. Then in the year 1957, they changed the pickups to a double-coil 'humbucking' type pickup. The Les Pauls had a selector switch with three positions for the pickups. Later on another double-coil pickup, again a 'humbucking' pickup, was added as well. But they retained its three position selector switch. This resulted in creating pickup combinations that weren't available elsewhere. These guitars are very thick which makes them also very heavy.

The studio style of Gibson Les Paul has proven to be a most powerful instrument in and of itself. It has show itself to be a powerful and consistent addition to the famous Gibson Les Paul Family.

The Les Paul guitar has been a most popular guitar, celebrated as a staple of our modern instrumentation all around the world, ever since it was introduced to us in the '50s. There have been various models introduced in past years, like the Custom and the Standard, but the Les Paul Studio model has been the most popular of them all.

Its features are a back and neck made of mahogany, a top made of maple, and a fretboard made of rosewood. You have the option of getting ebony for your Alpine White finish. It has a tune-o-matic bridge which is standard, along with the stopbar, also standard. This is what one would expect from most any Gibson product. The chrome or the gold hardware are standard as well, and are relevant to what finish is used. It has pickups that are 490R and 498T magnetic humbuckers. Then it features two volume knobs, a 3-way switch, and two tone controls, all in the infamous Les Paul Style.

The performance of a Les Paul Studio is a little different from its standard series of Les Pauls. It was introduced first in 1982, and has show itself to possess all the traditional LP performance only without frills, and without a big price tag. It was intended as a 'studio' guitar, therefore it steers clear of the attractive adornments associated with the Standard and the Custom series. For instance, the body binding is not there on this model.

The Studio's neck profile is thicker and a bit rounder, which speaks of earlier LP Standards from the '50s. It's also available with your choice of Ebony or a Rosewood finish. But the Ebony can only be had with the Classic White.

It could be that the most outstanding tonal difference is found in this LP Studio guitar, is in the hollowed out body chambers. This not only makes it lighter, but it adds some resonance and sonority that you don't find in any traditional models. It is both lightweight and very powerful, making for a combination that is very versatile.

The bottom line is this, a Gibson LP Studio is far more than just an average 'studio' budget model Les Paul. It's a very powerful instrument. It has proven itself as a welcome addition to the line, and is very consistent with the Les Paul style.

There is a new Gibson Les Paul Standard and it's terrific in a lot of different ways. You really can sense the Classic Les Paul spirit with this guitar.

The Gibson Les Paul guitar is one that's synonymous with rock and roll, along with its counterpart, the Fender Stratocaster. They have kept the thick stocky sound along with the shape as constants over all these years. But they have made some innovative changes in regards to the pickups and neck design. These were modified and now truly reflect the Gibson passion for innovation.

Gibson came out in 2008 with the introduction of its Les Paul Standard. This guitar had undergone a fair share of new alterations. Some of these were welcomed with open arms, while some were not received so readily. So lets delve into the construction of this guitar a bit more closely.

It now features quite a few new tweaks that give it a much more modern feel than it has had as one of the most well-known legendary electric guitars. The asymmetrical neck design is not one that conforms to the necks of the guitars from the 50s or the 60s. But for me, it is a great combination of both worlds, and is a delight to play.

There are a lot of guitar players who believe this Gibson Les Paul Standard is a little heavy. But there are just as many who think the weight is what gives it the quality of sound it has.

Les Paul guitars have always enjoyed incredible popularity. But the weight has long been one source of complaint. This newer version sports a chambered body that gives it some weight relief. And that asymmertrical neck shape is a very cool feature indeed. It has more comfort than those of the 50s, and is not as thin as those from the 60s.

Burstbucker Pro Pickups are another feature that sets it apart. They sound very good in my opinion. I've had them for around six years now and am really into the sound of them. And the bridge is the ever popular locking Tonepros.

The chambered body didn't take anything away from the tone as far as I can tell, and when you play it acoustically, it keeps a well balanced and deep tone. And if you have ever rocked out with a Les Paul for any length of time, you'll appreciate the lighter weight.

You'll find that the finish is really every bit a excellent as it's ever been. We critiqued one of the Heritage Cherry Sunburst finishes with a beautiful flame. We couldn't find one defect anywhere, and the setup along with the fret dressing was superb as well. Gibson made the choice of excluding the pickguard on this model, but if you like them you can always add one yourself. It does come included with the guitar.

Overall I have to say the this new Gibson Les Paul Standard is quite a guitar an a lot of ways. Again, you can get a feel for the Gibson spirit with this guitar. It is classic Les Paul. They now make a Les Paul 'Traditional' model that I'm sure many people are going to love. It's a bit more on the conservative side. So you can see why Gibson appeals to so many people, they have a superior product, and something for everybody in the Les Paul series.

Production began in the year 1952, the history of Gibson Les Paul Guitar began. It was Gibsons entree  into the solid body electric guitar. A couple of years before the Fender paved the way with the Telecaster. The Gibson design was presented in 1945 and was thrown out, the world was not ready for the Gibson yet.

Ted McCarty was the president of Gibson and he claims that he had already made the guitar before Les Paul was approached to endorse it. The 1952 design had a Trapeze tailpiece by Les Paul, tuners bu Kluson, a gold top nitro cellulose lacquered finish and a pair of P90 pick ups. It was listed for 210.00 USD. It did not have a serial number but in 1953 they started including them.

These guitars were quickly known as Gold Tops due to their maple top and a bronze powder that was used in the finish. They officially had no name and over time the bronze oxidized and turned green. They had fret boards and no binding on the edge or rhythm/treble plastic around the pick up selector switch.

The Trapeze tailpiece was changed in 1953 to a new design and the neck angle was changed. Tuning became more stable with this design but was changed again with the addition of the tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece that is still in models today. This bridge was designed by Ted McCarty and allowed each string to have individual intonation adjustment.

The Les Paul Custom was called the fret less wonder because the fret wire was wider and flatter than on the Gold Top and with the ebony fretboard it took less effort to play. It had gold plated hardware and a black finish and was known as the black beauty among musicians. The bridge had a standard P90 pickup and a single coil pickup in the neck. Pole pieces were rectangular and it was louder. It used an aluminum nickel cobalt alloy designed by Seth Lover and was known as the Alnico pickup.

The budget version was called the Les Paul Junior made from a blond yellow finish and was known as the TV model as it was supposed to look good on black and white television. The Les Paul Junior came out in 1955 and the Junior 3/4 in 1956 which measured 2 inches shorter than the standard 24 3/4 inches of the Les Paul.

The humbucker pickup replaced the P90 in 1957 by Seth Lover to eliminate the interference that the single coil pickups produced. This new design produced a higher output signal and mellower tone and by the design he employed using two pickups and wiring the coils in series and out of phase the hum canceled itself. They received a patent for this design but when they applied the sticker to the guitar they used the wrong number, it is not clear if this was intentional.

In 1958 the gold top was replaced with a cherry red sunburst design, many were sprayed with a dye sensitive to ultra-violet light which is now seen as red or brown due to fading. The 1959 models tend to have a dye that did not fade. In 1960 the dye that was used was not affected by the sun and some can be found to have no sunburst pattern at all just a cherry red finish.

There is no end to the things people will replicate and try to sell as the real thing and knowing how to spot fake Les Paul guitars can save you a lot of money in the end There are obvious things that you need to be aware of to look for when purchasing a Les Paul from a private party, from China or anywhere in Asia, over the Internet on places like eBay or perhaps at an auction. Understanding the features of a real Les Paul will save you a lot of problems.

Check the headstock front, the Gibson logo will be a thicker font on a fake and is not angled like the authentic is. The letter G should start near the D string tuner post on a real Les Paul. The truss cover should be bell shaped and have only two screws. Fakes will often have three screws and will often have the word Gibson on it which is a dead giveaway.

The neck of an authentic Les Paul will be one piece, anything that has more than one piece is not authentic. Serial numbers can be fake, it is best to ask for warranty information. Ask the seller if the guitar originated in China especially if the guitar says it is Made in the USA. There are many fake guitars coming from Asia.

All authentic Gibsons have ebony fret boards, the Chinese fakes have rosewood and are very obvious. Check the bridges for slot head screw adjustments that are signs of a fake. The guitar should not have a colorful Gibson sticker on the pickups. The logo is silk screened on an authentic Gibson, a decal is an obvious fake.

A real Gibson will cost two to three thousand dollars, be suspicious of one that is for sale for less than this particularly if it is advertised for a few hundred dollars. Always buy from a reputable reseller to be sure that you get what you are paying for.

The case is made just as well as the guitar is, if the guitar does not come with a case or in something other than the original this could be a warning sign that it is not authentic. Ask where the original case is.

When you play the guitar you can hear the difference between a real Les Paul and a fake, the fake won't sound as good. Research what the measurements should be and measure it to make sure it has the correct dimensions, an undersized guitar is a sure sign of a fake.

All the pearl should be inlaid, always. The Les Paul script should always be done in cursive, any deviation from this is a clear indicator that it is not real. The control and pick up cavities should be clean and not painted or have sloppy wiring. Fakes are often painted black in the pick up cavity. Always request the owners manual and warranty inspection card to compare to the serial number on the guitar. Check the wiring, if it is plastic it is not a Les Paul. If you have any questions you can contact 1-800-4GIBSON to speak directly to someone who can assist you.

Now that you have decided on a guitar this Les Paul Guitar Buying Guide can assist you in the model that is best for you. Since 1957 when Les Paul introduced the humbucker pickup electric guitars were greatly improved by eliminating electrical feedback. There are about 127 models that have been produced since 1952.

The Les Paul has been popular among many musicians due to their playability, sound, look and historical value. The basic design elements are a single cutaway, a solid mahogany back and carved maple top, a set-in mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and a lacquer finish. It measures 24 3/4 inches, has 22 frets, a 3 way pickup switch, 2 tone and 2 volume controls, a fixed bridge and 2 humbucker pickups. There are a few exceptions in some models.

Most Les Pauls have carved maple tops in flame, plain, quilt or solid finish styles. The finish color will vary according to the model. The neck is usually mahogany with a slim taper from the 1960's or a rounded from the 1950's. The fingerboard, also known as the fretboard, is made from rosewood or ebony and the inlays are either block, trapezoid or dot. Two pickups, usually humbucker, are modern and P90 single coil.

Historic humbuckers come in the Burstbucker Types 1,2 or 3, the Burstbucker Pro, the '57 classic, the '57 classic plus and the mini humbucker. If there is binding, color and number of plies vary by model are are on the body, neck and headstock. The hardware comes in nickel, chrome or gold finishes. The bridge and tailpiece are either wraparound (one piece) or tune-o-matic/stopbar. The knobs are either top hat or speed. The tuners are either Grover, Kluson or Schaller.

If money is no object you can have your Les Paul custom built to your specifications. All Gibson Les Pauls are made in the USA. The three families are the Studio, the Standard and the Custom. The Standard is the modern version of the 1958 and 1959 that was reintroduced in 1970. The Studio is the same construction as the Standard but is a stripped down version with 490R/498T pickups, no binding, decal instead of pearl logo on headstock and no figured top. It has a rounded '50's neck that is a bit slimmer. The Custom is the same as the 1958 Standard with upgrades of an ebony fingerboard, pearl block inlays, gold hardware, 7 ply binding on the top, 5 ply binding on the back and 7 ply binding on the headstock. There are additional models as well.

Gibson USA builds custom guitars out of the finest mahogany. You can even have a VOS or vintage original spec created for you with nitrocellulose finish treatment to give it that vintage patina. Each VOS piece is historically accurate. Signature models are created with the specs of famous artists like Jimmy Page and Zakk Wylde.

In 1957 Gibson acquired their competition Epiphone. The Beatles used the Epiphone Casino. The differences between the two guitars are the country of origin. Epiphones are made outside of the USA. Epiphones have polyurethane finishes. Alder and mahogany are used in the body. There are more mids and bass in an Epiphone.

The Les Paul is a very desirable guitar known for their sound and ease of playing. They are a beautiful instrument to look at and to handle. Anyone would be thrilled to own one, you just need to decide which one to choose.

Guitar players are particular about the instruments they play and for so many musicians there is nothing that compares with a quality guitar that bears the name of music icon Les Paul. The biggest challenge will be finding the particular type of Les Paul guitars that best fit the player's needs.

This instrument was the result of a design developed by accomplished guitarist and inventor Paul and a designer at Gibson Guitar Company named Ted McCarty. Paul then entered into an endorsement agreement with Gibson to put his name on the finished product.

The Gibson Les Paul hit the market in 1952 as the first solid body electric guitar made by the guitar maker. The body was manufactured out of mahogany and a rosewood fret board graced the front of the mahogany neck. The finish was only available in gold until Paul requested a more elegant version in black. The Black Beauty sported mother of pearl inlays on an ebony fret board and nickel silver plated or gold hardware.

The Custom produced these days has a mahogany body with a maple cap and is available in a number of finishes. In addition to the traditional gold and ebony, Gibson also offers wine red, cherry sunburst and alpine white. The Custom model is noted for its warm tone and bright attack.

The Junior mimics the original in many areas with a single cutaway model and rounded neck profile. The body and neck meet at the 16th fret and the rosewood fingerboard is decorated with acrylic dot inlays. The single coil P-90 pickup delivers the soulful tone that makes it one of the most popular in the industry.

The Melody Maker delivers all the quality that Gibson is famous more in an affordable package that is palatable for the beginning guitarist. This guitar was originally designed as a student guitar but the superior tone, sleek neck and lightweight package quickly made it a favorite of professional musicians. The slim body and rounded neck are both mahogany and it uses a single pickup with a special design. A rosewood fret board and wraparound tailpiece, similar to its vintage namesake, complete the package that offers real value for the money.

Gibson has designed a number of Custom Signature editions over the years and one popular model is the Joe Perry Boneyard. This dramatic looking piece has BurstBucker 2 and 3 pickups and a maple top. Aged nickel hardware complements the Green Tiger finish. The Boneyard logo and Joe Perry engraving on the truss rod cover add to its unique visual cues.

Another distinct piece is the Slash "Appetite for Destruction" limited edition model. The neck profile was designed especially for the Guns 'n Roses guitarist and the body it outfitted with his signature Seymour Duncan pickups and hand chosen capacitors for a vintage sound. Artwork on the headstock features a smoking skull wearing a top hat.

Whether you are an amateur guitar player or a seasoned veteran, there is a Gibson Les Paul model that will suit your needs.

Les Paul was born in 1915 in Wisconsin and grew up to be one of the greatest American jazz and country guitarists in America. He is credited with inventing the solid body electric guitar which created the sound that became the foundation for rock and roll music. A true American musical icon, there is plenty to know about Les Paul the guitarist and musical innovator.

Other musical inventions he is given credit for include a harmonica holder that is worn around the neck to allow the player to play without holding the instrument. With this device he was able to play both the guitar and harmonica simultaneously. This same basic holder design is still manufactured and in use to this day.

His playing ability was just as innovative and his timing, fretting techniques and chord sequences served to put him in a league of his own. Many present day guitar virtuosos were inspired by Paul's playing style.

His musical career nearly ended in 1948 when a horrible automobile accident severely broke his right arm. Doctors were unable to restore mobility to his elbow and informed him that his arm would be permanently frozen in whatever position they set it in. Paul asked for a nearly 90-degree angle, so he would still have the ability to play the guitar.

One of his first solid body electric guitars was The Log, built in 1940 in the Epiphone factory. When he approached Gibson Guitar Corporation with the idea, they remained unimpressed until Fender started marketing the Telecaster and Esquire. The guitar manufacturer eventually signed Paul to an endorsement contract for the Gibson Les Paul model although there remained some dispute between the two parties about just how much of this guitar design belonged to Paul.

Paul went on to perfect his multitracking recording technique. He started out recording overlaid tracks of different guitar parts. Later he worked with parallel tracks to record the different tracks at various speeds and achieved his signature sound. He was also instrumental in designing the first eight-track recording machine.

The iconic musician and inventor received numerous awards and honors over the decades for his many contributions to the industry. Those awards include a Grammy Trustees Award in 1983 and the National Medal of Arts honor in 2007. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomed his induction in 1988 and he was invited to join the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2006.

His 90th birthday was celebrated in 2005 with a tribute concert in New York at Carnegie Hall put on by a host of contemporary musicians. Gibson presented him with a commemorative guitar to mark the occasion.

In August 2009, with family and friends at his bedside in a White Plains, NY hospital, complications from pneumonia took his life. He is buried in a plot at Prairie Home Cemetery in his hometown of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

There is no disputing the influence that Les Paul had on the musical industry. From his contribution of the solid body electric guitar to his many inventions dealing with sound mechanics to his iconic guitar sound, Paul revolutionized the entire recording process and popular music in general.

Any serious guitarist or guitar collector will tell you that the Gibson Les Paul is one of the most famous and coveted guitars ever made. Although this instrument is still being manufactured, old and new models alike are priced highly and valued by their owners. Due to the accessibility of the Internet and its increased selection of both old and new guitars, many people are now purchasing their Les Pauls online. However, it is important to ensure that the instrument is indeed a real Les Paul before committing to the purchase and a great way to find out is by looking at the Gibson Les Paul serial information.

This guitar is a solid body electric guitar. It was originally created in the 1950s by Les Paul, a famous guitarist, and Ted McCarty. Today, the guitar is still regarded as one of the best of all time and Gibson still manufacturers them in several different models.

Many people wish to own this guitar because of its reputation, the musicians who use it, and because of its design. Some famous musicians who use this model include Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Beck, Slash, and Eric Clapton.

The Les Paul produces an incredibly warm tone. This is due to its signature humbucking pickups. These pickups also help reduce noise produced by the instrument, which leads to a cleaner sound.

Although this instrument has been around for many years, its price is still quite high. The lowest priced model is the Les Paul Studio and is priced around $800. The higher end models, which many professionals use, are all within the thousands and tens of thousands range.

Since its inception, many other brands have come out with their own takes on the Les Paul guitar. Oftentimes, these versions are more affordable, but there are noticeable differences within the sound quality. Additionally, some independent guitar luthiers have made their own versions.

Because of the many knockoffs, it is important to inspect any guitar to ensure that it is the real thing. Many people will try to create replicas that fool the average consumer and garner a high price as a result. People oftentimes get away with selling these because they do so over the Internet and do not leave a trail or the consumer never wises up to the con.

In order to find out if you are about to purchase the real thing, you should take a close look at the serial number information. There are tons of websites that provide detailed information about where to find this number on different models. They also provide clues that help you figure out if the number is for real.

If you are considering a Les Paul Classic, here is what you should look for. It should be stamped in ink on the instrument. Also, there should not be any text reading Made in the USA. Most numbers will be either five or six digits long, but some of the earlier models do feature four digit numbers.

Gibson Les Paul Serial Number Examples:

9 xxx = 1989
0 xxxx = 1990
9 xxxx = 1999
00xxxx = 2000
05xxxx = 2005

The 1st and 2nd digit indicate the year of manufacture and xxx-xxxx represent the serial number.

Before you commit to purchasing any Gibson Les Paul, you should ask for a photo of the serial number. Once you receive this, search the Web for your specific model and check that the number follows Gibson's standards.