GIBSON LES PAUl
DESCRIPTION OF GIBSON LES PAUL:
The design of this instrument is due to Lester William Polfus , who became famous as Les
Paul. The project's origins date back to 1940 when Les Paul, making two cuts on the chest of
his Epiphone Les laid the groundwork for the creation of The Log ("trunk"), the first
prototype of the guitar the Epiphone factory built in, of Saturday, when there was no staff, so
that the machines were at his disposal. Following the exact continuation of the keyboard, cut
the body so as to divide it into three parts: 2 at the hole to "F", and the central one, which
subsequently covered with a plank of pine wood and attached to the body with screws
showy and metal sheets. In this way, the center was transformed into a rigid support for the
pick-up (which is designed and manufactured by the same Les Paul). The result was
interesting: an increase in tonal response and sustain.
A 1946 Les Paul Epiphone Les PaulNel decided to take the trunk to Maurice H. Berlin, head
of the Chicago Musical Instruments Company, the administration of Gibson. But the project
of Les Paul and his creature were too far ahead of its time, then The Log was discarded.
THE GOLDTOP
Since its first appearance in 1952, with the Goldtop, because of
the color, chosen by the Les Paul to give a more luxurious
appearance to the instrument.
This guitar was the first to benefit from technical and aesthetic
modifications. We use it to divide it into several series: 1952-53,
1953-55, 1955-57, 1957-58, 1968-69, 1970-71. In them we can
always observe an evolution, such as the trapezoidal bridge was
replaced first by the system then from today's wrap-around bridge
saddles 6 "tune o 'matic", with the "tailpiece" rear is another
example of pick-up passed out of the first three series with the
"soap" P-90 (single-coil) to the fourth Humbucker. The decision to
adopt the Humbucker in place of the single-coil gave birth to the
"Standard" series.
Standard
The Standard is characterized by a rosewood fingerboard and mother of
pearl trapezoid inlays typical; mounted Kluson, then replaced those
Schaller but many guitarists since the early sixties preferred the Grover
much more precise and cast steel; keys "Jumbo". It was available in several
colors, especially shades in 3 shades to highlight the striped maple (flame
top), including the '"Heritage Cherry Sunburst", or even "Brown Sunburst."
I pick up, unlike the first Gold Top that rode the P-90 Soap Bar, become the
humbuckers (combination of two coils wound) and many times, due to
lack of metal cover were left uncovered showing the color of the modules
that could be black or white, a name still used today and much
appreciation among guitarists is that of humbuckers "zebra" with a coil
that is white and the other black.
The Standard Series officially began in 1958, to "replace" the Gold Top
which were produced since 1952 with several modifications later and
ended in 1960 with the introduction next year of the SG model. (op. cit.
The Ultimate Guitar Book-Tony Bacon & Paul Day-Dorling/Kinersley
Publishers)
Classic
The first classic was produced by the late 80s to 2007, only to be resumed
in 2011 with a version different, however. This is a reinterpretation of the
latest model of the Les Paul series: that of 1960 (from 61 became the les
paul SG), characterized by a slender handle more than 50 years. It is
wrongly considered a more "economical" than the standard, it until the
end of the nineties it was instead a more expensive version because he
had some superior features as the top flamed series. In the United States
until the early 2000s had to list a higher price, while in Italy it was the
same price range of the Standard, a 1750 euro or so. Finally, the Standard
climbed the classic in the list (perhaps for marketing reasons) and it was
even offered with superior characteristics. Soon the classic series was
given as "discontinued" (2007). Except for the ceramic and the pick handle
"slim", the classic first version (up to 2007) can be considered to all intents
and purposes a standard (always pre 2007), with regard to the quality of
the finishes, the choice of woods and mechanical properties.
Custom
The Custom was designed as the luxury version of the Les Paul line. At first glance, compared to
other models stood out to finish, mother of pearl inserts (diamond on the headstock), black plastics
and golden metal parts. The first models, in black became known with the nickname Black Beauty,
is still used today to indicate this coloration. In 1956, the P-90 mounted in an unusual black. In
1957, following the patent PAF, got the "Humbucker", 2 or 3 depending on the version chosen, and
could also mount a lever vibrato "Master". Another peculiarity compared to other Les Paul were all
gold-plated metal parts (although there are exceptions with Custom parts nickel). The body was
constructed with Honduras mahogany, also used for the handle and with a keyboard in precious
ebony, enriched with inlays rectangular mother of pearl (starting with the first key, unlike the series
Standard). The model also has a thicker body of the standard model that features a more sustain on
guitar, given the greater breadth of tone chambers. The weight of 4.9 kg and the finish of the
handle and the body work on this model by representing the pinnacle of the U.S. House. Because of
his work, partly by hand, the Les Paul Custom is a factory built by the Custom Shop departed from
the production of other Gibson. Produced mainly in black, with finishes (binding) with triple strand
white-black-white for the whole body, was also conducted in colors "Alpine White" (white snow,
which becomes aging cream or sometimes almost banana!) shaded in various shades (tobacco or
cherry sunburst), in "Wine Red" (grape), natural (shown in natural maple top) and its rarer variant
of the mid-70s, known as "The Natural" (with top handle and keyboard both in natural maple).
Gibson SG
The production of the Les Paul, in its original form to single
cutaway, due to a decrease in sales due also to a higher production
cost that was reflected in the price of sale to the public much higher
than the models produced by the competition, was interrupted at
the beginning of 1961. In its place was introduced a model with a
more modern design with a body made entirely of mahogany
thinner than the original guitar, without the maple wood panel and
characterized by the presence of two missing back in the form of
"horn". This new Les Paul but not fully convinced the guitarist who
had linked his name to the previous model that broke the
relationship with Gibson, forcing a change in the name of the model
that became simply SG (solid guitar). In subsequent years, the
leaders of the Gibson Les Paul realized that produced in the years
1958 and 1959 were becoming much sought after by musicians and
fans, so they decided to return in 1968, the production of the
original model of the '50s.
DeLuxe
In 1968 he resumed the production Les Paul
original, model Custom (for the Standard it was
not until 1975), and are flanked by new models
such as the "Studio" of 1983 and the "De Luxe" in
1970. The De Luxe was a model different from
the traditional Standard series for various aspects
such as pickup trucks, mini-humbucker here, the
handle in 3 pieces and then the body "pancake",
maple neck, and mahogany. The most "famous" is
the one with the top in gold, the same gold
Goldtop, in fact, his full name was: Les Paul
Standard Goldtop Deluxe.
Studio
The Studio line was introduced in 1983 with the intent of providing
musicians who work mainly in the recording studio (hence the model
name), an instrument that had the same technical features and timbre of
a standard at a lower cost, due essentially to the lack of some
embellishments purely aesthetic as the binding (the band of light color)
around the chest and on the sides of the keyboard. Most of the line
models are provided with the table in maple, exactly as the Standard, even
if the timber used does not have the drawing flamed or marbled of Les
Paul more expensive. Other models have the case made entirely of
mahogany. There is also a version with the tuning fork of greater length,
called Baritone. In the variants most sought Studio has features and
components of the Les Paul Custom, and even as gold hardware ebony
fingerboard. Even on this line version is available robot, equipped with an
electromechanical system that allows the automatic tuning and switching
from a rapid automated tuning to another. In the "Studio" there is a
cheaper model, with table in mahogany instead of maple and matte
painting, called "Worn".
EPIPHONE
The reproductions or copies are very similar to the Les Paul in terms of
aesthetic and constructive. If until the 70s many brands, mostly Japanese
(Burny, Tokai), produced almost identical copies of the Les Paul, now, even
after several legal disputes, the "reproductions" are authorized in practice,
only the guitars produced by Epiphone, a company owned by Gibson since
1957.
"Copies" are similar guitars that do not violate the rights of "copyright" are
changed slightly in the line. In recent years, copies of the most amazing
quality and sound are the Vintage guitars produced by Trevor Wilkinson,
with the initials V100 (Les Paul) and VS6 (Devil) "plagiarize" the Gibson at
an affordable price, with good quality standards often best of Epiphone.
Epiphone currently produces in China and Indonesia as well as copies of
the classic economic models "Standard", "Custom" and "Studio" also
experimental models, or other "special" of the Les Paul, which are
produced under supervision Gibson to test the market about solutions or
innovative designs.
Differences between "Standard",
"Custom" and "Studio"
The diagram below shows the differences between the models "Standard", "Studio" and "Custom",
ie the best sellers, to help distinguish them. Gibson has recently released a conversion kit (Dress Up
Dress Up Standard or Custom, which contains specific pieces of metal and plastic, as well as the
mechanics, all to look like a guitar to another), but still can not to "mask" the differences of woods,
colors and quality (which is treated in the Custom). That said, it is useful to remember that contrary
to what logic might suggest models of Les Paul the most collectible are the "Standard" that can
reach prices up to $ 450,000 USD for some models of the late '50s
Les Paul Custom
Les Paul Standard
Les Paul Studio
Tastiera
Ebano
Palissandro
Ebano o Palissandro
Segnatasti
Rettangolari
MadrePerla
Trapezoidali MadrePerla
Trapezoidali MadrePerla
Manico
Mogano
Mogano
Mogano
Cassa
Mogano Honduras
Mogano
Mogano
Top
Acero Scolpito
Acero Fiammato
Acero o Mogano nelle
"Worn"
Stile Manico
'50's style
'50's o '60's style
'50's style
Meccaniche
Grover Dorate
Vintage Kluson
Vintage Kluson
Pick-Up
498T + 490R w/Alnico V
magnets
BurstBucker Pro w/Alnico
V magnets
BurstBucker Pro w/Alnico
V magnets (raro) o 498T
+ 490R
F
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THE FENDER STRATOCASTER
Designed and built by Leo Fender in 1953, the Fender Stratocaster is still marketed
without substantial differences from the original model. The result is a
revolutionary project: thanks to the innovative shape, the lightness of the
instrument, easier access to the higher notes of the keyboard due to the particular
shape of the excavated shoulder, the Stratocaster is considered among the most
advanced electric guitars of the time . The first Stratocaster on a commercial basis
was produced May 15, 1954. Among the Fender Stratocaster of 1954 is important
to remember the "Hard-Tail" which is the first prototype of the Stratocaster bridge
fixed, without tremolo, designed in about 20 pieces that became standard in
limited production by the end of March 1955. To date, the Fender Stratocaster is
due to its peculiarities a reference point in the sound of electric guitars thanks to
the choice of Leo Fender all oriented to promote a shrill sound, like the single-coil
pick-up and use of wood emphasizing the high sounds, in contrast to the lower
sounds deep and typical of Gibson guitars. This orientation towards sound brighter
still born years ago when Leo Fender in 1948 created the first electric guitar "solid
body" of industrial production (some experiments were carried out by other
makers, but never put up for sale), or the Fender Broadcaster, subsequently
evolved models Esquire, single pickup and Telecaster two-pickup.
FENDER MUSTANG
The Fender Mustang was founded in 1964, to complement the production
line Fender Student Model, which also included the Fender Musicmaster
and Duo-Sonic. In 1982, out of the market, to reappear in 1994 as a '69
Mustang Reissue, and in 2006 as a '65 Mustang Reissue, both built by
Fender Japan. The Fender Mustang is known to the public mainly due to
musician Kurt Cobain, who made ​it his favorite guitar, mostly for economic
reasons, since the Mustang had a more attractive price certainly the "big
sister" Fender Stratocaster. This allowed to Cobain buy many handles lefthanded parts, to replace those who broke concerts. However, the guitar
was appreciated by the leader of Nirvana, for its short-scale (61 cm),
which is well suited to his small hands. The famous guitarist John
Frusciante used a '65 Mustang, a period of his long militancy in the Red
Hot Chili Peppers. The models produced in the early sixties, known as preCBS, if they are stored in good condition, can achieve high market prices.
In 2012, Fender has released a version of the signature Mustang: the Kurt
Cobain Mustang, dedicated to the homonymous musician.
JAGUAR
The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar made ​by Fender since 1962, based on the Fender
Jazzmaster. In the years before the introduction of the Jaguar, Fender was often accused of
producing instruments too spartan compared to other manufacturers who were ushering in
the new market for electric guitars. The Jazzmaster guitar did not get the expected success
because the community of jazz musicians did not seem to appreciate the solid-body electric
guitar as the traditional semi-acoustic archtop electrified, and then to introduce the thought
Fender Jaguar as an evolution of the ameliorative Jazzmaster.
Originally touted as guitar surf music, became quite popular in the sixties. In the nineties, he
found a new youth in the alternative and grunge music: among others, was used by Kurt
Cobain and Sonic Youth.
Compared to previous models boasted a greater shielding to interference, due to various
metal plates, as well as a greater quantity of controls that allow to obtain a wide variety of
sounds. The special equipment controls derived from circuits that Freddie Tavares, for many
years to come leading designer at Fender had designed and mounted on his guitars private.
A unique feature that differentiates still the Fender Jaguar from the rest of the production is
the reduced length of the tuning fork, the vibrating portion of the string: the Jaguar is
shorter, 610 mm instead of 648 mm of traditional Telecaster and Stratocaster, thanks to the
fork more short, the Jaguar allows a more comfortable fingering on the more extended
intervals, with a lower tension of the strings with respect to instruments from the tuning
fork longer.
FENDER SWINGER
The Fender Swinger (also known as Fender and
Fender Musiclander Arrow - as the emblem of
"Swinger" are often missing from the headstock)
was a model of electric guitar made ​in small
numbers by Fender, designed by Leo Fender in
1969. The Fender Swinger was an attempt by CBS
(which had bought the company in 1965) to
extract cash from unused inventory by combining
the bodies of the Fender V bass marred with
parts from Fender Musicmaster.
FENDER TELECASTER
The Telecaster produced in the early fifties, today replicated in the
model American Vintage '52 Telecaster Reissue, is distinguishable
from the successive models for the big handle section with "U", for
the grommet on the scoop-shaped button, for slotted screws used
to join the various components, for the three saddles screwed on
the bridge-shaped ashtray and to the particular circuitry of the
pickups now known as vintage wiring. In particular, the threeposition pickup selector allows for the following sounds: bridge
pickup with the tone control (position 1), neck pickup with the tone
control (position 2), neck pickup tone control without a frequency
high cut
The Telecaster guitar is a versatile: it can switch between the
sounds of a steel guitar to the warm tones of blues guitar, while
maintaining a sound of its own, recognizable, which distinguishes it
in every situation. Even today, the simplicity of the instrument
makes many musicians prefer to country, blues and rock.
Telecaster Thinline
The Fender Telecaster Thinline is a semi-acoustic version of the
Fender Telecaster with an ash body, two pick-up Fender Wide
Range humbucking bridge and normally used in the classic Fender
Stratocaster.
At the end of the sixties Fender was facing a shortage of supply of
light ash compensated by the supply of heavy ash. The task of
producing a Telecaster with the lighter body was entrusted to the
famous German luthier Roger Rossmeisl who took charge of digging
the body design and traditional cuts to "f". The first version of the
Thinline was born in July 1968 with a list price of $ 319.50. At that
time it was produced with the traditional single-coil, only in 1971
were replaced with two Fender Wide Range humbuckers designed
by Seth Lover, so the pickguard was changed to accommodate the
new pick-up.
Telecaster Custom
The Telecaster Custom mounts a humbucker
pickup to the handle and is equipped with a
double-tone control and volume. This model
has become very popular since it is used by
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and
Luciano Ligabue during his concerts with the
sticker "ALL AREAS".
Telecaster Deluxe
Such as the Telecaster Thinline, Fender
Telecaster Deluxe features two humbucker
pickups. From the first, however, is
distinguished by the body Solid body solid
wood and for the presence of 2 volume
controls and 2 of tone. The body has softened
edges as the Fender Stratocaster, this guitar
also comes from the handle with the
traditional blade produced in the 70's
THE END