What made you choose the Les Paul and stick to it?

[renzo_lao]

I started of playing because of and naturally, if I looked up to him, i'd go for a Les Paul. But the longer I played and the wider my knowledge of the Les Paul grew, I started to disregard the fact that Slash was using it so I used it to. I started to fall in love with the Les Paul and its tone. I have a Stratocaster and a RW Tele. They're great too but there's just something about the Les Paul that can't be beaten. I always come back to it at the end of the day. In my opinion, its simplicity and versatility makes it the best guitar.

What made you guys choose the Les Paul?

[Shawn Lutz]

I don't have an answer other that I just wanted one. I've primarily a strat body guy but I've tried just about evertything else and could never bond with them. I guess I figured an LP was next on my list. I really want an 3 PU LPC black beauty. I bought a 2012 Trad+ because I love to see the flame and woodgrains and to also see if I could get along with a LP. I've had it about 2 weeks and love it. and will get a custom some day. My strats ain't going anywhere, for the last 30 years its my favorite body style. Getting a Lester hasn't changed that but I'm happy I can get along with a LP body. I really like it.

[EasyAce]

I first heard how beautiful the guitar could sound by way of Mike Bloomfield way back in the year, when I had been bitten by the blues in the first place (thanks to B.B. King) and was going full and deep into discovering as much of the music as I could. Specifically, 1969, when I heard Super Session for the first time . . .

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "Albert's Shuffle"

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "Albert's Shuffle"

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "His Holy Modal Majesty"

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "His Holy Modal Majesty"

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "Really"

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "Really"

That was my first experience with Bloomfield, and I went from there to tracking him back to East-West, the Butterfield album on which he recorded with a Les Paul for the first time. (He'd used a Telecaster on the first Butterfield album.)

But I didn't actually get to play a Les Paul for many years to follow. After having played SGs for a good number of years, then a Stratocaster for about a year or two before it was stolen, and another SG which I had to sell when I hit some very hard times, I got to play again and tried a Les Paul. I'd tried other guitars in the interim---a Flying V or two here, an ES-335/355 there, a Telecaster or two yonder---and found them very wanting for what I wanted to do with the blues.

Trying that Les Paul, though, that was it. I had inspirations toward the guitar way back when (Bloomfield and others, like Peter Green, Eric Clapton, and Alan Wilson/Henry Vestine in Canned Heat) but I didn't actually get near one until a lot of years and a lot of trial and error otherwise.

I now own three, lucky boy me. They're the only three guitars I own. And I'll never look back. They give me what I wanted most as a blues player---they let me sound like me, not any/everyone else.

[tampa898]

They look cool. They sound great and they are easy to play. I think strats and tele's make nicer clean tones, but for in your face rock and blues it's hard to beat a LP.

[renzo_lao]

Originally Posted by EasyAce

I first heard how beautiful the guitar could sound by way of Mike Bloomfield way back in the year, when I had been bitten by the blues in the first place (thanks to B.B. King) and was going full and deep into discovering as much of the music as I could. Specifically, 1969, when I heard Super Session for the first time . . .

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "Albert's Shuffle"

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "His Holy Modal Majesty"

Mike Bloomfield (with Al Kooper), "Really"

That was my first experience with Bloomfield, and I went from there to tracking him back to East-West, the Butterfield album on which he recorded with a Les Paul for the first time. (He'd used a Telecaster on the first Butterfield album.)

But I didn't actually get to play a Les Paul for many years to follow. After having played SGs for a good number of years, then a Stratocaster for about a year or two before it was stolen, and another SG which I had to sell when I hit some very hard times, I got to play again and tried a Les Paul. I'd tried other guitars in the interim---a Flying V or two here, an ES-335/355 there, a Telecaster or two yonder---and found them very wanting for what I wanted to do with the blues.

Trying that Les Paul, though, that was it. I had inspirations toward the guitar way back when (Bloomfield and others, like Peter Green, Eric Clapton, and Alan Wilson/Henry Vestine in Canned Heat) but I didn't actually get near one until a lot of years and a lot of trial and error otherwise.

I now own three, lucky boy me. They're the only three guitars I own. And I'll never look back. They give me what I wanted most as a blues player---they let me sound like me, not any/everyone else.

Wow. I've never listened to Mike Bloomfield before but I've heard of him. I must say that is some tone he's got there. Thanks for introducing his music to me! I too have 3 lesters 2 of which are Slash Epi Models (Tobacco and AFD). I recently ordered a 2012 R8 (Still waiting for delivery). She will be my first Gibson and I can't wait!

[River]

I wouldn't call them simple. It's all too easy to find a combination of the five controls that sounds like crap. Telecasters are simpler and more reliable. But they do some tones like nothing else can.

[LP-Viking]

I started playing guitar in 1991 because they forced me to in school But I was already a die hard G´n´R fan so it was all right. I wanted a Les Paul ever since I heard Appetite for Destruction the first time.
Since that I have wandered between many many makes and models. I currently own guitars from Gibson, Fender, Ernie Ball Music Man and Manson (guitar luthier making all guitars for frontman Matt Bellamy of Muse).
I find myself always coming back to the Les Paul because of outstanding playability and most of all that fat, rich, warm rock sound. In my opinion nothing comes close in that same field. There will always be several LP´s in my house as long as I live.

[renzo_lao]

Originally Posted by River

I wouldn't call them simple. It's all too easy to find a combination of the five controls that sounds like crap. Telecasters are simpler and more reliable. But they do some tones like nothing else can.

Hmm I always thought they were simpler compared to strats though. Yes, nothing beats the Tele's simplicity. But I agree with you, all of them have their own tones.

[EasyAce]

Originally Posted by renzo_lao

Wow. I've never listened to Mike Bloomfield before but I've heard of him. I must say that is some tone he's got there. Thanks for introducing his music to me!

You're welcome! Here's a gem from him on that Butterfield album, East-West . . .

The Butterfield Blues Band, "I Got a Mind to Give Up Living"

The Butterfield Blues Band, "I Got a Mind to Give Up Living"

Originally Posted by renzo_lao

I too have 3 lesters 2 of which are Slash Epi Models (Tobacco and AFD). I recently ordered a 2012 R8 (Still waiting for delivery). She will be my first Gibson and I can't wait!

Welcome to the family!

I have two Historics---an R6 (limited run, tobaccoburst) from 2007; and, the Bloomfield R9 from 2009. Funny thing is, I wasn't into sig models, not even his . . . until I got to play one blind last summer. Saw this yummy looking R9 on a wall and got to play her a bit through a Fender amp. (I don't like Fender guitars but I love their amps!) Played and sounded so beautiful. Only when I returned her to the wall did I realise I'd just played a Bloomfield burst---I didn't notice the cosmetics that give it away as the Bloomfield until then.

Come Valentine's Day, my lady bought me a Bloomfield as a Valentine's Day present. Once I recovered from the fainting spell and hugged the stuffing out of her (for openers, heh heh heh), she arrived three days later. This one was even better than the one I'd played blind. And everyone who's heard me play her since compliments how that guitar sounds as well as looks:



I love and play all three of my Les Pauls, of course, but this one's just so buttery. To the point where I quit thinking of her as the sig model and just think of her as just a particularly beautiful Les Paul who just so happens to look beautiful . . .

[Thumpalumpacus]

I started playing one because Ace Frehley played one. I stayed with one for fifteen years because it did everything I asked it to do.

I'm an SG guy now, but I'll buy another 'Paul one day.

[X–Ray]

__________________

not a very deep answer:

saw a photo of Jeff Beck playing one

he sounded and looked cool

that was 43 years ago

[LedZeppelin]

Originally Posted by X–Ray

__________________

not a very deep answer:

saw a photo of Jeff Beck playing one

he sounded and looked cool

that was 43 years ago

Same thing with me, except it was Jimmy Page

[Guitarhack]

The tone and sensitivity of the instrument are magic.

[JM2112]

I like Gibsons for their playability and sound/tone. IMHO, my SG is easier to play and handle than my Les Paul. Both guitars offer a unique sound/tone that I appreciate, and I enjoy playing both of them.

I would not hestitate to buy any guitar that has great playability and sound regardless of who made it.

[Jackassrock]

I was always an Ace Frehely fan as a kid, and wanted one based on that. Expense kept me away from a Gibson forever though.

My first electric guitar was a BC Rich strat looking thing with a humbucker and two single coils. It had a whammy bar, which was always problematic. I'm sure that is common in cheap guitars. Eventually I upgraded to an Ibanez RG 570, that played super amazingly great. Problem there was the trem again. Those things can take hours to tune up when you change strings, and if you break one you're basically ****ed. Also, trem maintenance and setup were beyond my understanding at the time, and that was also a big issue. So I ended up getting a Washburn LP copy as a backup, for if and when I broke a string.

As you can imagine, the Washburn didn't have the slim neck like the Ibanez, but the sound of a guitar without the floyd type trem really spoke to me, as well as the ease with which I could change strings, and maintain the bridge. The WP80 quickly became my main guitar. About 4 or 5 years later I was able to get the cash together for a Gibson LP and a Marshall JCM 800.

The rest, they say, is history.

[blamo]

To be honest, they look bad ass!!!

Well.....and they sound okay too, I guess...

I started learning on a squier strat, my brothers guitar, and I hated the sound. Not enough grunt and balls. Went to the store tried a Paul and took it home.

Loved the classic looks, weight, feel, finishes on them.

Having said that, I'm really more of a semi hollow guy. Love my es-339 to bits even though I have 2 les Pauls.

If I could only have one it'd be a tough choice between my CR8 and my 339, but I'd sell it all for a Dave Grohl signature DG-335.

[bosnialove]

Starting from 0:10 & 2:26 ... That's why.

Divlje Jagode - Sejla - YouTube

Divlje Jagode - Sejla - YouTube

[nauc]

it fell out of the sky, and landed next to me. so i took it home

[The Refugee]

First time I heard of a Gibson Les Paul, as far as I can remember, was on this TV show Drake and Josh. The main character Drake played guitar, and he had a Les Paul in later episodes (I eventually figured out it was a Classic, using knowledge I gained from this forum).



Seeing him with it made me think "wow that's a nice looking guitar", and from there it just went on and on and on. He was primarily an actor, but he was also a musician.

Don't judge me

Now, I play the Les Paul because it sounds the way I want my gear to sound, and I like the guitar in general. No rocket science in it.

[Lysol]

It's a thick piece of Mahogany and as such it has the low end I like. That's pretty much it.

[music to my ears]

Originally Posted by renzo_lao

In my opinion, its simplicity and versatility makes it the best guitar.

Is the Les Paul really that much simpler than any other guitar I mean to the point where it's gonna make someone a better player? I think as far as the guitar is concerned people who play their original music tend to stick with one type of guitar because it fits their style/sound. Those who need more tones are the guys who are fill-ins or do cover stuff or studio musicians who absolutely need an enormous array of sounds/tones. Someone like slash all he needs is a Les paul and he's good to go. I'm not saying he doesn't own or play other guitars here and there but it's not really a thing to him. Just my 2 cents

[Backstage]

I saw Ace playing this guitar 30 years ago.

[framos]

Originally Posted by renzo_lao

I started of playing because of and naturally, if I looked up to him, i'd go for a Les Paul. But the longer I played and the wider my knowledge of the Les Paul grew, I started to disregard the fact that Slash was using it so I used it to. I started to fall in love with the Les Paul and its tone. I have a Stratocaster and a RW Tele. They're great too but there's just something about the Les Paul that can't be beaten. I always come back to it at the end of the day. In my opinion, its simplicity and versatility makes it the best guitar.

Exactly the same as me. Started playing because of the man, and fell in love with the axe I also own a strat, and honestly, I don't remember when was the last time I played it...

[Ratstar]

Learned to play on my dad's 197? Tobacco burst Standard in front of his giant Jimmy Page poster.
My two early guitar heroes Slash and Steve Clark reinforced it to where for me, owning and playing a Les Paul has taken on somewhat mystical proportions.

On a more down to earth level, I love the sound, the look and the weight of them, if not the price.

[renzo_lao]

Originally Posted by EasyAce

You're welcome! Here's a gem from him on that Butterfield album, East-West . . .

The Butterfield Blues Band, "I Got a Mind to Give Up Living"



Welcome to the family!

I have two Historics---an R6 (limited run, tobaccoburst) from 2007; and, the Bloomfield R9 from 2009. Funny thing is, I wasn't into sig models, not even his . . . until I got to play one blind last summer. Saw this yummy looking R9 on a wall and got to play her a bit through a Fender amp. (I don't like Fender guitars but I love their amps!) Played and sounded so beautiful. Only when I returned her to the wall did I realise I'd just played a Bloomfield burst---I didn't notice the cosmetics that give it away as the Bloomfield until then.

Come Valentine's Day, my lady bought me a Bloomfield as a Valentine's Day present. Once I recovered from the fainting spell and hugged the stuffing out of her (for openers, heh heh heh), she arrived three days later. This one was even better than the one I'd played blind. And everyone who's heard me play her since compliments how that guitar sounds as well as looks:



I love and play all three of my Les Pauls, of course, but this one's just so buttery. To the point where I quit thinking of her as the sig model and just think of her as just a particularly beautiful Les Paul who just so happens to look beautiful . . .

That's a sweet looking R9 HAHA hopefully one day, I'll find someone to hand me an R9 hehehe I started getting tired of signature models after I got the AFD one from epiphone. It was just a disappointment
compared to the Tobacco one. The AFD was just a pretty guitar. Just for show you know? It sounded cheap in my opinion. The wait for my R8 is KILLING ME!! I can't wait for my R8 any longer!!!

[renzo_lao]

Originally Posted by The Refugee

First time I heard of a Gibson Les Paul, as far as I can remember, was on this TV show Drake and Josh. The main character Drake played guitar, and he had a Les Paul in later episodes (I eventually figured out it was a Classic, using knowledge I gained from this forum).



Seeing him with it made me think "wow that's a nice looking guitar", and from there it just went on and on and on. He was primarily an actor, but he was also a musician.

Don't judge me

Now, I play the Les Paul because it sounds the way I want my gear to sound, and I like the guitar in general. No rocket science in it.

When i saw this episode, I wasn't even playing yet! I just remember him freaking out over it and I think Josh or someone cut its strings with a scissors!

[ddroz60lp]

When I was a little kid, I went into my older brothers room and saw a poster of Joe Perry playing the now famous Darkburst relic using his talkbox. I knew then that I had to have one.I was maybe five?I didn't actually get one of my own until my thirties.Les Pauls will always be my favorite because of the sound, feel and design. Imho, the best designed guitar ever. And the flames, Ohhhh the flames! Some of the tops I see on here make my heart stop.

[renzo_lao]

Originally Posted by framos

Exactly the same as me. Started playing because of the man, and fell in love with the axe I also own a strat, and honestly, I don't remember when was the last time I played it...

I got my strat from my old teacher it was a '93 Made in Korea Fender but with the little squire logo at the end of the headstock. It was one of the ones made at the Cort factory. Interesting find. Perfect for Pink Floyd songs.

[major]

Saw a pic in "Beat Instrumental" (UK mag) in 1965 of "session player" Jimmy Page with his black Custom.

They didn't sell 'em at the Guitar store - but I wanted one ..........

[renzo_lao]

Originally Posted by music to my ears

Is the Les Paul really that much simpler than any other guitar I mean to the point where it's gonna make someone a better player? I think as far as the guitar is concerned people who play their original music tend to stick with one type of guitar because it fits their style/sound. Those who need more tones are the guys who are fill-ins or do cover stuff or studio musicians who absolutely need an enormous array of sounds/tones. Someone like slash all he needs is a Les paul and he's good to go. I'm not saying he doesn't own or play other guitars here and there but it's not really a thing to him. Just my 2 cents

I don't know. There's just something about the Les Paul. Probably not best described as "Simplicity and Versatility" like I said. my bad..