R.I.P - Les Paul

[DavidS]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_e...t_les_paul

Guitars everywhere are playing the blues today.

[lafinfil]

Played well into his 90's - that's a hell of a gig if you ask me

He literally changed the face of music forever.

I loved this quote - "He had been hospitalized in February 2006 when he learned he won two Grammys for an album
he released after his 90th birthday, "Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played."

"I feel like a condemned building with a new flagpole on it," he joked.


I have a friend that has an incredible archive of recordings. He was at one of Les' weekly club shows a few years back
and struck up a conversation with him between sets. My friend mentioned a particular recording that Les had done
and he seemed surprised he had ever heard of it. My friend said that he had a pressing of the
long out of print (and rare) recording and Les about fell off of his stool in disbelief. He didn't even have
a copy of the particular recording.

Les gave my friend his card and phone number and in return my friend sent him a CD copy of the original vinyl.
In return, Les sent him a very kind letter thanking him for his trouble and a sincere invitation to look him up
next time he was in the city. Sounded like Les was a class act.

[microchip]

Wow. He'll be missed.
My dad has a Les Paul Delux and my Uncle actually met Les Paul at one point.

[JoeM]

A true giant and genius. He certainly had a wonderful, long life. He will surely be missed.

Funny, for some unknown reason, I pulled my '68 Les Paul Deluxe out late last night and played it a bit. I held it up afterwards and just admired the beauty of it. Hadn't touched it in many, many months. I will sit down tonight and play it again after pulling out my old Les and Mary LP collection.

[Fred_Also]

"How High the Moon"

Les Paul & Mary Ford



Fred Also

[steve...]

He was featured on PBS's American Masters in 2007: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/...sound/100/

There was quite a bit of footage from his recent club shows. He really enjoyed life and was a pleasure to watch.

[Gutenberg]

He had a long and rich life. He certainly will be missed.

[Octave Doctor]

I've always enjoyed Les' playing even though I've been Gibson Free for thirty years.

I hope PBS runs that special again, most people have no idea how much Les Paul innovated over and above his music.

RIP.

[Wailer]

why were Les Paul guitars so damn heavy?

[JoeM]

"...The weight and the tonal characteristics of the Les Paul were largely due to the mahogany and maple construction: both are quite heavy woods...."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Les_Paul

It has been discussed and debated over the years. The weight of Pauls can vary from around 8lbs to 13lbs or so. Some say Norlin moved to heavier woods in the 70's as they were outbid for better woods by casket makers. The manufacturing process included actually separating and cataloging wood by weight which was then allotted to various models. So Pauls can vary quite a bit, weight-wise.

I was a skinny-@ssed kid in 71 when I bought my 68 Deluxe. I had been playing a 67 Tele (original owner) when I moved up to the Paul. I got around the weight by using 4" leather guitar straps.