Les Paul Electric Guitars

Les Paul Electric Guitars are one of the most popular electric guitars in the world. Not only are they pristine musical instruments, they have played a major role in creating some of the major icons of our culture. Jimmy Page with his trademark cherry burst, Slash and TOP HAT, icon material for sure. Zak Wylde’s target Les Paul is definitely one of the most recognizable Les Pauls in the world of rock. It’s hard to separate the Les Paul from the iconic image. My first was the three-pickup black Les Paul Custom.

When these guitars first hit the market a few of the more obvious benefits were the bound neck and maple top which added a bit of natural sustain, no 60 cycle hum associated with single coil pickups, superior tuning, and a very womanly shape. They were and still are the Rolls Royce of electric guitars and even though they cost a bit more, once you have one, there’s no going back.

I have owned several Les Paul Electric Guitars and have played hundreds of others, each one is like a different universe. My first and favorite was a Framtonesque three pickup black Les Paul Custom. My brother bought it for me in the summer of ’77, the year before, Frampton Comes Alive was released sporting that guitar on its fold out cover. All electric guitars are cool but the Les Paul is one of the few that can be called a classic, time tested champion of American ingenuity and craftsmanship.