End of an Era: Les Paul Dies

Makes me sad that none of my current guitars are a Les Paul... I can't play one in his honor.

Great pioneer. His first electric guitar was built on a 4X4 timber. Multi-track recorders, too.

Les, you rule!!!

His guitars are a work of art.........which spawned thousands of musical works of art.

RIP Les.

Interesting man, he was. The first time heard him play I did, blown away I was. Pursue the discipline it takes to become talented at using what they have designed, often people that build and design don't.

For my size, too big and heavy are Les Paul guitars! To play, the Force I must use!

Les Paul, thank you I do.

Yoda

The guy was amazing.....he was in a car accident and nearly died. The wreck mangled his arm up so bad the doctor had to immobilize it (make it straight forever). Les made him put it back together at an angle such as he could play the guitar, thats part of the reason for the design of the Les Paul style....it's made for him to play easily with the perma-bend in his arm...

Somebody jump in here if I am wrong.

In January 1948, Paul shattered his right arm and elbow in a near-fatal automobile accident in Oklahoma. Doctors told him that they could not rebuild his elbow so that he would regain movement; his arm would remain permanently in whatever position they placed it in. Paul instructed the surgeons to set his arm at an angle—just over 90 degrees—that would allow him to cradle and pick the guitar. It took him a year and a half to recover.

Found this on Wikipedia.....it must be true....LOL

Yes, another piece of the fabric of my generation's life gone. As influential as Les Paul was, I suffered more the day Chet Atkins died. I grew up listening to his records and trying to play like him. Ha! Fat chance for most of us. Although, later I realized some of what I was trying to emulate was overdubs (courtesy of Les Paul). There are similar players for later generations, but the connection isn't the same as it is when you're growing up.

It kind of makes you wonder what state the world, especially the US, would be in had he not invented that guitar. Obviously music would be very different, but what about all the social and political changes brought about in the 50's and 60's, fueled by rock and roll? Would songs (good or bad) like Neil Young's "Rockin in the Free World", The Beatles "Revolution", CCR's "Fortunate Son" or even Body Count's "Cop Killer" have the same impact on social awareness if they were played as somewhat folksy acoustic renditions?

When you really think about it, the Les Paul guitar might one day belong in the pantheon of great things which have shaped humanity for the better, along with the wheel and electricity.

In his honor, I have decided to by a LP custom for Christmas. (Well actually I have wanted one since I was about 14, and now I finally have the money....)

I just bought an Epi Les Paul just before he passed.