Guitar, Studio Wizard Les Paul Dies At 94

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Guitar, Studio Wizard Les Paul Dies At 94

Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday August 13, 2009 @05:22AM from the he-will-be-missed dept.

beeshman noted that Les Paul has died. Paul was quite the hardware hacker of his day, innovating with guitar hardware, and later multi track recording. The Gibson Les Paul is one of the single most iconic instruments associated with Rock 'n Roll, and was of course played by Pete Townshend. Someday I'm going to get me one.

22 of 227 comments (clear)

Played by? by Stargoat · 2009-08-13 05:23 · Score: 4, Funny

Played by Pete Townshend? More like destroyed by.

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1. Re:Played by? by lumpenprole · 2009-08-13 05:36 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Actually, he used to put his good les pauls on a stand behind the amp, pull out a cheap copy and smash the crap out of it. He wasn't totally stupid.
  
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2. Re:Played by? by cayenne8 · 2009-08-13 06:07 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Geez, the obvious person to mention, who's name is synonymous with the Les Paul is Jimmy Page.
  Pete has played with the LP for a bit, but, has never been quite as associated with any one guitar like Jimmy Page.
  Page == Les Paul (and a telecaster in early days)
  Jimi Hendrix == Strat
  To me...I always picture Pete mostly with a Gibson SG during the 60's.
  
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3. Re:Played by? by Shikaku · 2009-08-13 06:14 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Godo Frock? Is that his Lord of the Rings name or something? Why is it one of the tags?
May I be the first to say... by scribblej · 2009-08-13 05:24 · Score: 5, Funny

Don't fret.
1. Re:May I be the first to say... by flaming+error · 2009-08-13 05:29 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Who is Pete Townshend
2. Re:May I be the first to say... by Captain+Spam · 2009-08-13 05:59 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I just told you. The rest of the band.
  
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3. Re:May I be the first to say... by Chris+Mattern · 2009-08-13 06:05 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  No, Pete Townshend never played with The Band.
4. Re:May I be the first to say... by Kompressor · 2009-08-13 06:25 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Pete Townsend's grandchildren!
  
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5. Re:May I be the first to say... by operagost · 2009-08-13 07:10 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What? Just when the thread was starting to pickup.
  
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Chet Atkins and now Les Paul by Sturm · 2009-08-13 05:31 · Score: 5, Insightful

What a loss. I love everything Chet Atkins and Les Paul did together. I loved hearing Chet and Les banter back and forth before doing a song. Their music was so technical but because of their great skill it ended up sounding effortless (the trademark of truly great musicians).
Most people will obviously associate Les Paul with a particular guitar, and although that particular piece of hardware will be his legacy, his musical skills will be greatly missed. His style was so unique and is almost impossible to emulate.
Thank you for all your wonderful contributions to the musical world, Les. You will be greatly missed.
1. Re:Chet Atkins and now Les Paul by Anonymous Coward · 2009-08-13 05:46 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Its not a loss. Its a great success! Look at all the stuff he got done before today! At 94 I'd say his lifes work was complete. And we still have all of his inventions. No need to miss him. Don't miss him, celebrate his work with the epic sustain of a Les Paul Standard.
2. Re:Chet Atkins and now Les Paul by Critical+Facilities · 2009-08-13 05:57 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  I will absolutely second this. My dad is a huge Chet Atkins fan, and a fan of Les Paul as well. As a result, I grew up listening to them both. I got to see Chet play live several times, but never got to see Les. I heard all the old 10 inch (yes, I do mean 10 inch) Les and Mary records, and it was the first time I considered the significance of multi track recording.
  
  As a kid, my favorite story about Les Paul was the one briefly alluded to here. Apparently, Les broke his arm badly (shattered would be a better description). So, he had the doctor set his arm in a bent position so that he could still play the guitar since it would never really be mobile again. That is a true guitar player.
  
  Thank you, Les, for everything. We will rock on in your honor.
Pete Who? by MojoRilla · 2009-08-13 05:35 · Score: 4, Informative

Pete Townsend did play a Les Paul, but only from 1972 to 1979. If you are looking for an iconic posterboy for the Gibson Les Paul, try Jimmy Page. Other notables include Slash, Joe Perry, and Ace Frehley. Here is a list of of 15 iconic Les Paul players from Gibson.
1. Re:Pete Who? by mwbeatty · 2009-08-13 06:11 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Sure he did. See here
'Guitarhero' by fwice · 2009-08-13 05:36 · Score: 5, Insightful

Whoever tagged this article 'Guitarhero' was absolutely correct.
The man's influence on music cannot be stated highly enough.
Between the design (and implementation of the electric guitar) to multitrack recording to delay effects, he really was a renaissance man.
Ah well... by Stenchwarrior · 2009-08-13 05:38 · Score: 4, Funny

At least we still have Esteban

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Oblig. Wayne's World by damn_registrars · 2009-08-13 05:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Per Wayne Campbell:

Oh yes, she will be mine
Butchered by CmdTaco:

Someday I'm going to get me one.

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Re:A true innovator by mcgrew · 2009-08-13 05:50 · Score: 5, Insightful

"The Log"
Paul was dissatisfied with the acoustic guitars that were sold in the mid 1930s and began experimenting with a few designs for an electric model on his own. Famously, he created "The Log," which was nothing more than a length of common 4" x 4" lumber with bridge, guitar neck, and pickup attached. For the sake of appearance, he attached the body of an Epiphone hollow-body guitar, sawn lengthwise with The Log in the middle. This solved his two main problems: feedback, as the acoustic body no longer resonated with the amplified sound, and sustain, as the energy of the strings was not dissipated in generating sound through the guitar body.
Les Paul actually invented the first true electric guitar. All the ones before it were simply acoustic guitars with mocrophones. If it weren't for Les Paul, rock and roll might possibly have never come about.

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Ah, nuts. by RevWaldo · 2009-08-13 06:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

Les Paul and his trio played (every?) Monday nights at the Iridium Jazz Club here in NYC. Every once in awhile I'd see the ad for it and think "I gotta check that out sometime. After all, he won't be around forever."

Of course, I never did.

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Re:What, too soon? by stalky14 · 2009-08-13 06:54 · Score: 5, Funny

Or, Les is mort.
HEY ABBOT!!!! by TiggertheMad · 2009-08-13 13:48 · Score: 4, Funny

Who is Pete Townshend?

Yes.

Who is Pete Townshend?

Yes.

Pete Townshend is Yes?

No, Jon Anderson.

Who is Jon Anderson?

No, that's Pete Townshend.

Who?

Yes.

Ah-ha, I have it now..

No thats Morten Harket.

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