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Gibson Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul was designed in 1952 by Gibson president Ted McCarty in collaboration with popular guitarist Les Paul, who was looking for an instrument that better served the need of jazz guitarists. Almost 60 years later, the Gibson Les Paul is inextricably linked with rock and electric blues.

Jazz players certainly took to the instrument, attracted by its sonic versatility, sleek curves and a solid body that ensured feedback resistance and more sustain than traditional archtop hollowbodies. Keith Richards was probably the first high profile rock musician to play a Les Paul, but it was Eric Clapton's use of a 1960 Burst on the Bluesbreakers' legendary 1966 'Beano' album that changed the fortunes of the then-discontinued instrument.

Les Paul lovers over the decades include Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons and Slash. Despite numerous variations on the theme, it's a fitting testament to the original design that today's Gibson Les Paul Standard remains little changed from its inception.

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