Very sad news indeed.... Les Paul has died.

[Ian Price]

a death that shold be noted much more than the likes of Jade Goody or even Michael Jackson, but that will get a brief mention at the bottom of page 12 of the papers.

but a life that should be celebrated and remembered.  i picked up my Les Paul when i heard last night and played some music, surely the best way to remember him.

Thanks for everything Les, let's hope you're not the last of your kind

Agree with that - although it did make it on to sky text. I was surpirsed by that.

This is very sad but he did have a long and very, very good life. Imagine playing guitar for the majority of your life! Great stuff. I like the story about when he broke his arm when he was younger. He insisted on having it set so he could still play guitar!!

[MDV]

I generally find public grief for deceased celebrities rather distasteful, but this is one of the few (in fact, ONLY that I can think of) where my life would geniunely have been different were it not for them.

I find myself quite sad tonight.

Likewise, on all counts.

[Tellboy]

I generally find public grief for deceased celebrities rather distasteful, but this is one of the few (in fact, ONLY that I can think of) where my life would geniunely have been different were it not for them.

I find myself quite sad tonight.

Likewise, on all counts.

+1 - Only just heard as I have been visiting friends for a couple of days - very, very  sad.

[gwEm]

i've been trying to think what to put in this thread since it started. clearly he was a great man, and lived to a ripe old age - i'm sure hes rightly proud of his achievements!

i believe the les paul is also the first signature guitar too?

[Philly Q]

i believe the les paul is also the first signature guitar too?

Blimey, that's a tough one!  :?

I suppose the guitars Paul Bigsby built for Merle Travis and Grady Martin were sort of signature models (they had their names on!), but they were one-offs.

I'm wondering if any pre-1950s jazz players had their own signature models, but I can't think of any.

[PhilKing]

I saw him about 10 years ago because I thought that if I didn't I would kick myself later when he died.  I am glad I did, even though he had another guitarist playing a lot of his lead parts.  It was a great show, he was an excellent showman and to top it off we had an ex-Miss Australia at the table for dinner too!  He really did a lit of innovations.  I worked on a friend's Les Paul recording about 4 years ago and it had a great sound.  I never realised that the recording pickups sounded like P-90's without the hum!  He was also responsible for remote control recording, I think slap back echo was one of his too, and the man put an SM57 on a gooseneck with a volume onto his guitar so it was where he wanted it to be!  A big loss to the world.

[ericsabbath]

Ted Weber died this week too
wtf is happening? :(

[dave_mc]

^ yeah, i heard that, more sad news :(

[donovan.x]

I remember that I wanted a Les Paul before I evan new what a Les Paul was (courtesy of Steve Clarke, Def Leppard) What an amazing legacy to leave behind, such sad news but what a life to celebrate. R.I.P Les Paul and thanks for one of the most iconic guitars to ever grace the planet.

[_tom_]

True legend, he created the ultimate rock guitar! RIP

[HTH AMPS]

Thats really sad news, two in one week (Ted Weber of Weber Speakers also passed on).

Many thanks to Les for being responsible for my favourite guitar of all time and my continual enjoyment of guitar playing. 

+1 on the Steve Clark thing, I saw him with a Les Paul and knew I had to have one.

[donovan.x]

http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/les_paul_tribute/

Nice.

[Fourth Feline]

A great life lived indeed .   8)

It just shows how many  'useful' and enjoyable years you can add to your life, when pursuing something you love doing :  Les Paul and B.B.King being two examples.  As has already been said, what a staggering effect his work and influence have had on both guitarists - and the development of music as a whole. 

Thanks for everything Les !