Les Paul—70 Years: The Definitive History of Rock’s Greatest Guitar

Describing renowned guitarists as much as the revered model they played, Bitoun (Guitars and Heroes: Mythic Guitars and Legendary Musicians) provides a colorful celebration of one of the earliest and most enduring electric guitar designs. The Les Paul, named for and endorsed by the legendary jazz guitarist and recording pioneer who collaborated with then Gibson president Ted McCarty to produce this groundbreaking instrument, was one of the earliest solid-body electric guitars. That’s along with those made by Rickenbacker, Fender, and Bigsby. Premiering in 1952, the model has evolved through countless variations over the last 70 years, including pickups, inlays, tonewoods, and even robotic tuning pegs. The Les Paul was not always popular, however, and even experienced a radical redesign in the 1960s. Today it is a mainstay of Gibson’s production and one of the most iconic guitar models in history. Over time, the model also became a favorite for many outstanding musicians, especially in rock circles.