The First Les Paul Burst!

[Texas07R8]

You know we all consider the "burst" to be the 58, 59 and 60 Les Pauls. But there was one burst that was made much earlier than 1958.

The first true burst was a 1951 yes, 1951 Gibson prototype that Ted took to Les for review and here's a few pics:






I don't know if this has been posted here before I did a search and couldn't find it. I believe this was a flat top too. later Ted and Les were talking and Ted talked Les into making the Les Paul and arch top like a violin because Gibson already had the tooling to do so and no one else did at the time, so Les says SURE, let's get it done!

[FUS44]

Wow! Is this really it? TM wrote it was a darker/non cherry burst.
The sharp cutaway is right for super early LP's isn't it?
Well, if it is indeed the one, that is so cool. Les definitely tinkered w/that one.

[shotgunlew]

I bet that thing sounded great! I wonder what happened to it???

[Texas07R8]

There is no doubt this is the original prototype. It's in the Les Paul book and is has a good bit written about that first one.

Les still has it from what I gather. He also has the original blonde Telecaster prototype that Leo gave him (looks like a 50's blonde tele but it is the true #1Tele). But yes, this is the original prototype that Ted McCarty took down and showed Les. See the groove under the bridge, Les and his buddy did that to get the action right, they used heated flat screwdrivers to gouge out the area to drop the bridge after reviewing the prototype and realizing the action was WAY too high.

[EEF13]

imagine how much that would be worth

[Texas07R8]

Originally Posted by EEF13

imagine how much that would be worth

More money than I'll ever see in my lifetime..

What do you think is going to happen to his collection when he passes on? He's got tons of guitars. I guess some will end up at the Hall of Fame but also wonder if there will be a public museum for all his stuff, he can certainly fill a hall or two with all his gear. I think the gear deserves a museum dedicated to Les Paul. I'd hate to see these get into the private collector market.

I think of these like fine antiquities, too unique and important to be owned by any one person. This needs to be on permanent display for the public to enjoy and doing so will insure the funding to keep these legends around for a long time for the next several generations to enjoy.

[shotgunlew]

I wonder how it sounds???

[Frutiger]

So in 1951 they were:
using parts not even designed until 1956 (TOM bridge)?
Knobs that weren't in production until early 1960?
Machineheads that weren't in production until early 1960?
Putting low-impedance pickups that weren't invented/put into production until the 70's?

Um, ok. I'd really like to see the article written about it because I don't believe it for a single second.

[Texas07R8]

Originally Posted by Frutiger

So in 1951 they were:
using parts not even designed until 1956 (TOM bridge)?
Knobs that weren't in production until early 1960?
Machineheads that weren't in production until early 1960?
Putting low-impedance pickups that weren't invented/put into production until the 70's?

Um, ok. I'd really like to see the article written about it because I don't believe it for a single second.

I didn't say that this photo was taken in 1951 did I??? I SAID it was MADE in 1951 and it was the prototype Ted gave to Les Paul.

If you know anything about Les you know he loves to mod his guitars, that's what he does.. For all I know this photo could have been taken in 2001. However Les Paul in HIS OWN WORDS says this guitar is the one. Go spend $220 on the signed book and see for yourself.

[Frutiger]

Originally Posted by Texas07R8

I didn't say that this photo was taken in 1951 did I??? I SAID it was MADE in 1951 and it was the prototype Ted gave to Les Paul.

If you know anything about Les you know he loves to mod his guitars, that's what he does.. For all I know this photo could have been taken in 2001. However Les Paul in HIS OWN WORDS says this guitar is the one. Go spend $220 on the signed book and see for yourself.

I am aware of the fact that Les Paul is renound for tinkering with his guitars, I just don't believe this is the first Les Paul ever built & said I'd like to see the article that you've based your post on.

I could go out & spend $220 on it. It's not a large amount of money when you put it into UK sterling.

[cryptozoo]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that things is fugly and looks like some Norlin voodoo business. I'm glad they didn't put those into production.

[kluson]

in the Les Paul Legacy Book they talk about 12 prototypes, and indeed one of them is sunburst, the one they show is natural with P90's though.
Although I would imagine Texas07R8 is right having seen it Les's own book,
Let's keep this civilised lads, no need to get bent out of shape over it
To be honest Les fiddles with all his guitars and frankly I have to agree with Cryptozoo everything he sorts out is ugly as sin, he does get the sound he wants though..

That one really is one ugly guitar, only a mother could love that one , that's a great guitar for Radio!

[diceman]

I think it it sweet looking.

I'm glad they went another direction, though!

[Mike60]

...1951 prototype reflectors?...

[Big John]

.

[cryptozoo]

I can hear the convo between Les and friends... "This guitar looks too good. What can we do to it to make it fuglier? Norlin's doing some really hip stuff these days, let's talk to them and see what they've got lying around..."

[Danelectro]

Obviously, its been tinkered with a ton over the years. The bridge is a wired ABR (post (1962). The pickups are low impediance with the molded logo (1972-1973), knobs are black reflectors (post 1960). I'd guess that originally, a huge pickguard didn't exist at all. The finish may not even be original.

Here are photos of another 1951 prototype from Robb Lawrence's book. The top photo is before restoration, the bottom photo shows it restored to its original state (based on the recollection of people familiar with it back then)

[FUS44]

That tobacco sunburst one MAYBE the one that Ted McCarty references in BOTB.

although I doubt it had hums.

[joebonsai]

Prototype yes, but for the Les Paul Recording!!! Produced in the 70ies!!!!

[mojofilter]

Originally Posted by cryptozoo

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that things is fugly and looks like some Norlin voodoo business. I'm glad they didn't put those into production.

I 2nd that! man she sure came a long way,baby!

[JasonC]

Originally Posted by joebonsai

Prototype yes, but for the Les Paul Recording!!! Produced in the 70ies!!!!

That's what it looks like to me as well.

[Texas07R8]

OK, I guess some people think they know more than others.... I won't name names.

But here's a larger shot from the book Les Paul IN HIS OWN WORDS. So if you don't believe me now I think you should call up ole Les and ask him yourself.

Sheese, I try to provide some information on a rarely seen item and I'm basically called a frikkin liar.

I'll be watching this thread for further posts.

Here's the PROOF:


Another shot of the full guitar with accompanying article:

[Red Baron]

Even though I'm looking at those pictures I still don't believe it... just about everything I see on that guitar makes no logical sense to me. For starters a recessed TOM, reflectors, the tuners... there is no way that's a '52 prototype exactly as we see it in those photos.

[Mike60]

...it was sent back to the factory for a re-do,so alot of what you see has been changed.

[JasonC]

Originally Posted by Texas07R8

OK, I guess some people think they know more than others.... I won't name names.

But here's a larger shot from the book Les Paul IN HIS OWN WORDS. So if you don't believe me now I think you should call up ole Les and ask him yourself.

Sheese, I try to provide some information on a rarely seen item and I'm basically called a frikkin liar.

I don't think anybody was doing that, people were just pointing out that much of that guitar cannot be original if it was truly the first.

Well according to Les, it was indeed modified... originally was a Goldtop, low impedence pickups (same ones from the Recording model)... as well as all the crazy electronics that go w/ those pups.

[Texas07R8]

Like Les said, prototypes are made to be changed up and modified and that one sure got it's share.

Nonetheless, that guitar, modified and all is still the very first Les Paul ever made and that's just cool as hell and I hope you all can appreciate it for what it IS rather than what it isn't.

[FUS44]

Hey I meant no ill will.I think this is a great thread and the post of book tells the story. Anyone who is disagrees on this one is ignoring the truth me thinks...Les is old but still sharp. I think he knows which guit is which.

[jkinnison90]

Wow I think that t