Les Paul (1915-2009)
Les was by observation and accomplishment, rather industrious, clever, creative, hard working, succesful and loyal. Just an all around good person. He wasn't ever linked to excesses associated with the industry. He preferred the seconds when it came to guitars, (the guitars that have imperfections.) He was a proponent of low impedance or low resistance pickups.
He preferred analog as opposed to digital. (to me that makes sense why digitize an analog signal then return it to analog).
I owe a huge debt to the man, he provided me with the music and instruments that have filled my life, provided me with joy and ultimately monetary reward, thanks Les.
http://www.lespaulonline.com/
Les was an apparent pack rat. In the 90's it was reported Les was cleaning out his house and filled a few dumpsters with stuff. Stuff we guitar people would love to have.
It was written in Guitar Aficionado (http://www.guitaraficionado.com/) that Les was contacted late in the development of Gibsons' solid body. The article as it reads to me is that Les made a few minor suggestions and it was Gibson's need of a celebrity endorsement that lead to the naming of the guitar. The timing of the article seems like peeing in punch bowl. How much Les involvment Les had seems mute. The evolution of the instrument and recording was marching on and as with any science many people were working separately towards a common goal. Often paths cross and less often paths combine for a cumulative effect in this case , THE MOTHER F****'* Les Paul!
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul
"While experimenting in his apartment in 1940, Paul nearly succumbed to electrocution. During two years of recuperation, he relocated to Hollywood, supporting himself by producing radio music and forming a new trio. He was drafted into the US Army shortly after the beginning of World War II, where he served in the Armed Forces Network, backing such artists as Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and performing in his own right[21].
"What the F*** ? electrocuted, are you f***'*n kidding me? As a matter of fact it was the 40's n up until 30 years ago. You could plug in and have the polarities reversed, the metal stuff would be like touching line voltage, "MUTHA F*****, you're dead.
note: My Bandmaster is like that, plug in have polarities reversed and the metal panels and switches are straight line voltage or more.... Did that a few times loaded."-X
As a last-minute replacement for Oscar Moore, Paul played with Nat King Cole and other artists in the inaugural Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in Los Angeles, California, on July 2, 1944. Also that year, Paul's trio appeared on Bing Crosby's radio show. Crosby went on to sponsor Paul's recording experiments. The two also recorded together several times, including a 1945 number-one hit, "It's Been a Long, Long Time." In addition to backing Crosby, The
Andrews Sisters and other artists, Paul's trio also recorded a few albums of their own on the Decca label in the late 1940s.
In January 1948, Paul shattered his right arm and elbow in a near-fatal automobile accident in Oklahoma. Doctors told him that they could not rebuild his elbow so that he would regain movement; his arm would remain permanently in whatever position they placed it in. Paul instructed the surgeons to set his arm at an angle—just over 90 degrees—that would allow him to cradle and pick the guitar. It took him a year and a half to recover"
X- Another, What the F***, Have my arm fixed so I can hold a guitar? Ok, I'd do that.
He is was and will always be a Genius.
He preferred analog as opposed to digital. (to me that makes sense why digitize an analog signal then return it to analog).
I owe a huge debt to the man, he provided me with the music and instruments that have filled my life, provided me with joy and ultimately monetary reward, thanks Les.
http://www.lespaulonline.com/
Les was an apparent pack rat. In the 90's it was reported Les was cleaning out his house and filled a few dumpsters with stuff. Stuff we guitar people would love to have.
It was written in Guitar Aficionado (http://www.guitaraficionado.com/) that Les was contacted late in the development of Gibsons' solid body. The article as it reads to me is that Les made a few minor suggestions and it was Gibson's need of a celebrity endorsement that lead to the naming of the guitar. The timing of the article seems like peeing in punch bowl. How much Les involvment Les had seems mute. The evolution of the instrument and recording was marching on and as with any science many people were working separately towards a common goal. Often paths cross and less often paths combine for a cumulative effect in this case , THE MOTHER F****'* Les Paul!
The guitar likely had p-90s (single coils) and a trapeze style bridge.
Remember Ted Mc Carty hadn't finished the humbucking design.
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul
"While experimenting in his apartment in 1940, Paul nearly succumbed to electrocution. During two years of recuperation, he relocated to Hollywood, supporting himself by producing radio music and forming a new trio. He was drafted into the US Army shortly after the beginning of World War II, where he served in the Armed Forces Network, backing such artists as Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and performing in his own right[21].
"What the F*** ? electrocuted, are you f***'*n kidding me? As a matter of fact it was the 40's n up until 30 years ago. You could plug in and have the polarities reversed, the metal stuff would be like touching line voltage, "MUTHA F*****, you're dead.
note: My Bandmaster is like that, plug in have polarities reversed and the metal panels and switches are straight line voltage or more.... Did that a few times loaded."-X
As a last-minute replacement for Oscar Moore, Paul played with Nat King Cole and other artists in the inaugural Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in Los Angeles, California, on July 2, 1944. Also that year, Paul's trio appeared on Bing Crosby's radio show. Crosby went on to sponsor Paul's recording experiments. The two also recorded together several times, including a 1945 number-one hit, "It's Been a Long, Long Time." In addition to backing Crosby, The
Andrews Sisters and other artists, Paul's trio also recorded a few albums of their own on the Decca label in the late 1940s.
In January 1948, Paul shattered his right arm and elbow in a near-fatal automobile accident in Oklahoma. Doctors told him that they could not rebuild his elbow so that he would regain movement; his arm would remain permanently in whatever position they placed it in. Paul instructed the surgeons to set his arm at an angle—just over 90 degrees—that would allow him to cradle and pick the guitar. It took him a year and a half to recover"
X- Another, What the F***, Have my arm fixed so I can hold a guitar? Ok, I'd do that.
He is was and will always be a Genius.
posted by X at 10:57 AM
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