My Les Paul Forum (2024)

FAQs

Why did Jimmy Page use a Les Paul? ›

"I knew that Les Paul guitars were very user-friendly, insomuch as they put out a lot of level when you plugged them into the amplifier because they had a double-coil pickup, whereas the Telecaster had a single-coil pickup," he explained.

That's because they lack the smooth contours and belly cuts of far more ergonomic guitar designs like the Stratocaster or SG. The carve of the Les Paul's lower horn is also far too narrow, which makes the guitar sit rather awkwardly on your thigh.

Mahogany Body with Maple Top

This duo creates a balanced tonal spectrum unlike any other. The deep, resonant characteristics of mahogany complement the brightness and clarity provided by the maple top, resulting in a harmonious blend of warm lows and crisp highs that define the Les Paul's versatile sound.

I think the main reason is because they are hand made and the materials used are not cheap; at least those made from the Les Paul Custom shop. They are built in another way than for instance the Fender Stratocaster. They have more tricky components to add together and its a lot of work to produce the Gibson Les Paul.

While his name is often peppered around the conversation regarding the greatest guitarist of all time, Page believes the mantle belongs to Jimi Hendrix.

There have been reports that Page was having problems with one of the pickups in the Dragon Tele in early '69, and in April of that year he replaced the “magical guitar" when he purchased the Les Paul, and it's unclear if he planned to return to the Dragon with any regularity in the future.

no. it's not as noticeable as switching from guitar to bass or something, but the slightly shorter scale of a les paul makes a difference in how slinky the strings feel. some like it, some don't. Les Paul feels way easier than a strat to me!

In 1961, Gibson stopped producing the traditional Les Paul in favor of a lighter redesign which was later called the SG.

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard used Honduran mahogany from trees that were centuries old. This wood was ideal for carving, and its qualities are so different from the fast-grown mahogany from Fiji plantations used in today's Les Paul Historics that it can almost be considered an entirely different type of wood.

What is the best genre for a Les Paul? ›

Rock music, in all of it's various permutations (classic rock, rock opera, 70s rock etc), the guitar you need is a Gibson Les Paul. Overwhelmingly, the opinion of our staff (who are pretty much all gigging players) is that if you want to rock, the Les Paul is the best tool.

If the Les Paul is a very early one it could be worth many thousands. If it is 20 years old and a studio, it will sell for hundreds not thousands. Check used guitar sites for examples of models, age, and asking prices to get an idea of what the specific Les Paul may be worth.

Compared to the Les Paul Standard, I find the Custom to be slightly darker in sound, a little mellower and not quite as bright. Gibson rate the 490R's output at 7.4 and the 498T at 9.

Gibson USA Les Paul Standard

It has no weight relief so it can be heavy, but if you're prepared to go searching, lighter guitars are out there. Regardless of weight, this has all the classic sounds and gorgeous looks. They are roughly 1.8 inches (47mm) thick. Typically, these will weigh anything between 9 and 11 lbs.

“Number One” – 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard

This is Page's main guitar, hence the name. He got this guitar in 1969 from Joe Walsh, and he's played it consistently ever since.

An ordinary 1959 Standard, so a guitar that has no association with an artist can fetch $400,000. As fantastic a guitar player Peter Green was, Led Zep and Jimmy Page have a much larger fanbase. An educated guess for his Number One would be upwards of 2 million, possibly even closer to $3,000,000.

"Lucy" is the name George Harrison of the Beatles gave to the unique red Gibson Les Paul guitar he received from Eric Clapton in August 1968.

It's a complex and super-flexible wiring scheme for guitars equipped with a pair of 4-conductor humbuckers that are each connected to a set of volume and tone controls. This has become a famous Les Paul mod and, in this context, it's widely known as the "Jimmy Page" wiring.