Les Paul
The guitar world’s ultimate overachiever, Les Paul’s inventor chops even outstripped his jaw-dropping jazz guitar technique.
If Dragon’s Den had existed back in the post-war era, they’d have flung wads of cash at his volley of brainwaves, which included multi-tracking, echo chambers and flange - not to mention the eponymous solidbody Gibson that ensures his immortality.
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Floyd D Rose
Patenting his floating tremolo in the late 70s, Floyd Rose was turned down flat when he approached Fender.
Their loss. By the mid-80s, the designer had teamed up with Kramer to create the squillion-selling Baretta, and saw his unit abused by everyone from Eddie Van Halen to Dimebag Darrell.
Jim Marshall
In 1962 Jim Marshall’s shop in Hanwell was a place of black magic.
He might have started out trying to ape the Bassman with British parts, but his use of different components, Celestion speakers and 6L6 valves meant more gain, richer harmonics - and a queue of decibelhungry hairballs out the shop door.
Leo Fender
Don’t be fooled: that bespectacled gent stood awkwardly at the bandsaw is more rock ‘n’ roll than the hypothetical lovechild of Slash and Keef.
Leo’s hit rate in the 50s was amazing, with the Tele, Strat, Precision and Bassman cementing the design principles that endure to this day. There’s an argument that no-one has done more for your gigbag - and he didn’t even play!
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