Les Paul's Signature

[JPizzzle]

Hey all,
I feel like going to the iridian jazz club in nyc on some monday to get les paul's signature on the back of my headstock. Do you guys know if he gives autographs. It would be kinda weird though bringing my guitar and sitting with it at a table. I wonder if a lot of people try this. Just wondering what you guys think.


JP

 

[im_b0r3d_]

DO IT!! I went in January thinking the same thing as you, I didn't bring my guitar, and when I got in there there were like 4 Les Pauls and an Sg waiting for signing. First come gets into the club first, and after the concert he'll wait to talk/sign anything for everyone who stays. Awesome Experience.

 

[loaded six string]

Ive heard some ppl on here talk about that. I wouldn't exactly count on it happening. Ive heard that he does sign autographs depending on how he feels that night. He is in his 90s and has bad arthritis, so, post show activities are limited.

 

[dubyatf]

Ive heard some ppl on here talk about that. I wouldn't exactly count on it happening. Ive heard that he does sign autographs depending on how he feels that night. He is in his 90s and has bad arthritis, so, post show activities are limited.

Yeah - we caught him in February up at the Iridium. If he's feeling up to it he'll sign things after he ices down his hand - and only after the second set. My advice is go - you'll be glad you did. I'm not a city kind of guy per se - but New York was wonderful. One of the cleanest cities I've been in lately!

He's the first celebrity I've met that I felt completely at ease - and walked away thinking holy crap - that was Les Paul. He signed a pick guard for me (yeah I know - how original!) - and a picture of himself on the inside jacket of a CD I purchased there. He puts on a great show with his band and has a great sense of humor. What a gentleman. All his band mates were outstanding musicians!

 

[AndyC]

My wife brought me and my son to NYC last fall as a birthday present to me to go to the Iridium. We got tix to the 2nd show. He signed autographs after the show. I brought a pick guard (of course) and he also signed a shirt that I bought at the Iridium, and my son's shirt.

My son, who was 7, was wearing a "Gibson" shirt he'd had for a while. Les signed his shirt. Later my son said "That old guy ruined my shirt". Ha! I said "Son, you have no idea how much you are going to love that shirt later on".. He was seriously mad.

Seriously, go see Les. He'll sign stuff after the 2nd set unless he's really not doing well. He's not getting any younger.

 

[notoperational]

I hope I can witness him in my lifetime.

I don't mean this as a joke or anything, but I better hurry!

 

[mobprop667]

he is pretty good about signing stuff and having pictures taken after the second show. he signed my epi goldtop and i had a picture taken with him a few years ago. he is a really friendly man, and it was a great show.

 

[JPizzzle]

Alright you guys have convinced me, i'm going to get my baby signed and witness the legend. Now the question remains should I have him sign the back bottom or the back of the headstock. Man i'm excited, to bad I gotta wait a few weeks for my gf to finish her semester in nursing school. Oh well. It's a gibson lp standard w/out pickguard so getting the guard signed is out. Any suggestions on where to ask him to sign it.

 

[LoKi]

Do the headstock. Its not as likely to rub off if you continue to play it *which I'm sure you will!*

 

[mobprop667]

have him sign your arm, then run to st. marks place to fun city tattoo and have them tattoo it on. you will never lose it then.

 

[JPizzzle]

have him sign your arm, then run to st. marks place to fun city tattoo and have them tattoo it on. you will never lose it then.

lol, hopefully that idea won't sound any better after a few drinks on that monday. Either way, whether it be guitar or arm, there will be pics.

 

[JPizzzle]

Do the headstock. Its not as likely to rub off if you continue to play it *which I'm sure you will!*

yea loki that's one thing I was worried about if I get the bottom signed.

 

[LoKi]

I love the tattoo idea as well. For a legend like Les, I'd love to have his signature tattooed on my body. I don't think anybody has affected my life more than him and his beautiful namesake.

 

[AndyC]

My son, who was 7, was wearing a "Gibson" shirt he'd had for a while. Les signed his shirt. Later my son said "That old guy ruined my shirt". Ha! I said "Son, you have no idea how much you are going to love that shirt later on".. He was seriously mad.

Seriously, go see Les.

Here's a shot of my son after Les signed his Gibson shirt. You can see Les was being funny and drew a line from his signature down the shirt. Jonathan was polite, but later outraged. Heh.. That's a keeper! The legend.

 

[decoy205]

wow when i went he wasn't signing anything i went in '07. I was really disappointed. I brought a custom pickguard to be signed. I was upfront too right in front of him for the whole show. It's expensive as hell too.

So I think it depends on how he's feeling after any given show. I'll have to try the second show this time. Maybe i'll have better luck. He is an amazing performer to this day even though he can't play as well. And the rest of the artists and guests are top notch.

 

[AndyC]

wow when i went he wasn't signing anything i went in '07. I was really disappointed.

I'll have to try the second show this time.

Yeah to my understanding he simply doesn't sign anything after the first show. I don't think there would be time after the first show anyway, because when I went (2nd show) about 80% of the people who were at the show stayed to get some kind of autograph. It must take over an hour to get all the autographs. And of course everyone wants to try to chat with him for a second. The only time he has a chance for all that is when the night is over. I'm sure after the first show they need to clear the place out, clean all the tables, he needs to rest, etc..

 

[dubyatf]

We went for both shows on the same night early and late. They don't make you go back out and come back in - and therefore you can upgrade your seat or move to a different location to get a better angle on the stage. They allowed still pictures to be taken anytime - before, during, after the show - but absolutely no video or audio at any time. Oh one more thing it's all ages - so there were some younger kids there - 12 and up or so - and you're okay in jeans and a t-shirt as they don't have a dress code.

 

[Belzeebub]

how would Les Paul feel if I brought in my Epi LP Standard to have him sign? I mean, its not a Gibby so, will it insult him? Its the only guitar i can afford.

 

[AndyC]

how would Les Paul feel if I brought in my Epi LP Standard to have him sign? I mean, its not a Gibby so, will it insult him? Its the only guitar i can afford.

He would be very happy to sign it. It's a Les Paul, right? He started with Epi, and Gibson had to lure him away over time. Les Paul is no snob or elitist. He'll be thrilled you came, and he'll sign whatever you want him to sign. He's great.

 

[mmcquain]

Yeah - we caught him in February up at the Iridium. If he's feeling up to it he'll sign things after he ices down his hand - and only after the second set. My advice is go - you'll be glad you did. I'm not a city kind of guy per se - but New York was wonderful. One of the cleanest cities I've been in lately!

He's the first celebrity I've met that I felt completely at ease - and walked away thinking holy crap - that was Les Paul. He signed a pick guard for me (yeah I know - how original!) - and a picture of himself on the inside jacket of a CD I purchased there. He puts on a great show with his band and has a great sense of humor. What a gentleman. All his band mates were outstanding musicians!

+1000 about Les Paul... a true legend and a really cool all-around guy (kinda' reminds me of a favorite granddad, the kind you loved to hang with and listen to his stories, etc.) The only one I've met that is like that is BB King. Both of these guys are national treasures in my book.

I've been lucky enough to see Les twice and both times he did the autograph thing after the second set. Both times the second show wasn't sold out so they let us stay if we covered the 2 drink minimum for the second show (not a problem!). The music is about the same but he ad libs some of the stories so you will end up hearing even more cool stuff if you catch both shows. The early show is a dinner show and the food wasn't that bad... considering you're in NYC, the price wasn't that bad either.

I got him to sign a pickguard but I made the mistake of bringing the black one off of my Custom and using one of those silver paint-like pens. The stuff never really dries on the plastic pickguard to you have to be careful of smudges. Of course the guard is now in a showcase (it would never last if on the guitar). I recommend you take a white (cream) pickguard and use a black Sharpie. Then put it up some place safe so that it will last for years.

Here's some pics from when I've seen him...